‘I never imagined myself living somewhere like this’: $30M ‘home’ for youth and families opens in London’s core

Youth Opportunities Unlimited’ s Joan’s Place opened Monday – an affordable housing development for young people. CTV London’s Sean Irvine reports.

A grand opening was held Monday for a new downtown building best described as ‘home.’

Joan’s Place will shelter youths, young mothers, and their families.

The multi-million-dollar centre at the corner of Richmond and York will also serve as a one-stop shop for multiple services supported by Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU).

More than 200 Londoners learned the facility is already changing the lives of young people once lost to the system and the streets.

“I’ve been homeless since 2022. I accessed shelters in Toronto, but it didn’t last,” said one new resident.

Those staying in the studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments will pay 60-65 per cent of market-rate rents.

That figure is the difference between shattered dreams and new beginnings.

“I never imagined myself living somewhere like this. And on Friday, I will be moving into my own apartment in my own home,” the youth shared.

Joan’s Place houses 39 units.

A further two floors of space will offer everything from safe meeting rooms to mental health care, education, addiction services, and career counseling.

$30 million in public and private funding and generous personal gifts have made it all happen.

“This is really an example not just for our community, not just for the province, but for the entire country. And at the core of it, is partnership,” said London North-Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos.

“People living in this space, having their lives changed. And that is thanks to everyone in this room and everyone who’s contributed to making this possible,” added London Mayor Josh Morgan.

The biggest contributors are the family of the person the building is named after, the late community advocate and politician Joan Smith.

Her daughter Catherine Martin fondly recalled her mother’s commitment to youth in need, adding, “she would celebrate it (Joan’s Place) for its uniqueness as an important gathering place, a safe refuge where young people could come together to live, for a time.”

As a safe and solid family unit said the longtime head of YOU Steve Cordes, who often broke with emotion, as he spoke of the impact the centre is already having on those living in the largest apartments.

“And those 10 families all together have 13 children. And two are prenatal moms. Now, they know that they have a place to call home and they’re not going to lose their children. And that’s what would have happened if this place didn’t come along at the right time.”