From a plumber to an instrumentation and control engineering tech, Homeward Bound Peterborough is celebrating the graduation of seven of its single mothers as they pursue new careers and, ultimately, new lives.
Homeward Bound is an award-winning comprehensive four-year program that aims to help precariously housed single mothers in Peterborough city and county achieve lasting economic self-sufficiency. The program aids mothers, aged 19 and older, who are facing multiple barriers such as unstable housing, a risky financial situation, and limited or no access to education, childcare, and sustainable employment.
The initiative strives to open doors for mothers by providing childcare, training, education and housing, and creates a pathway to independence and family security.
“It has been a dream of ours for a long time to bring the program to Peterborough,” said Maisie Watson, housing support worker, who has been with Homeward Bound since 2017 when the program was in its infancy stages in Peterborough.
Today, Homeward Bound is currently celebrating the first seven graduates of its program.
“We encourage our women to study in areas that aren’t usually traditional for women and that will give them a decent, sustainable full-time job,” Watson told kawarthaNOW. “We currently have two (women) in school — one in plumbing and one in carpentry and renovation.”
There are also two participants who are currently upgrading their skills and pursuing nursing as their careers.
“The whole goal is to break the cycle of poverty,” Watson said.
Homeward Bound Peterborough is operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC), which is the largest community housing provider in the city and county of Peterborough. PHC owns and manages 1,200-plus units of senior, single, and family units, providing homes to more than 4,000 residents.
Starting with a vision of bringing Homeward Bound to Peterborough in 2004, PHC made a corporate commitment to make the vision a reality in 2018.
The program has four phases, each of which must be completed before the women move on to the next phase.
Phase one encompasses skills training and academic upgrading. Participants receive training in life skills, computer and financial literacy, employability skills, networking opportunities and academic upgrading for college entrance.
The second phase is community college. The women enroll in a two-year diploma granting program at Peterborough’s Fleming College, in a discipline that is geared towards meeting current demand in the labour market.
The third phase of the program is employment skills. This is a 12-week program designed to enhance employability by developing hard and soft skills that will allow them to be successful in the workplace. The fourth phase involves an internship, employment, and the departure from the program.
Homeward Bound aims to connect women with opportunities for full-time employment and support them to transition into their new lives.
Women live in furnished apartments, for a maximum of four years, until they graduate and find permanent employment. Certified childcare is offered on site for young children.
Each participant receives guidance, counselling, support and develops regular action plans throughout the four phases. Homeward Bound continues to be available to provide support to its graduates and their children after the program ends.
Homeward Bound was developed by Toronto social services agency WoodGreen and launched in 2004, as a four-year education and employment program that provides intensive wrap-around services to eliminate the barriers that single mothers face in trying to move out of poverty, according to the WoodGreen website.
Watson and her chief executive officer, along with Homeward Bound’s partners, visited WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound program several times before bringing the program to Peterborough.
To be eligible for Homeward Bound in Peterborough, women must be:
- 19 years or older
- Experiencing the effects of poverty
- A resident of the city of county of Peterborough
- A Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or convention refugee
- Have a child or children under 17 years old, with at least one child living with the mother
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be a couple of credits away from having a diploma
- Be capable of reaching college-level academics within six to eight months
- Be receiving or eligible to receive OW, ODSP, or EI benefits
- Have no unresolved OSAP debt
- Have no current criminal proceedings
- Be addiction-free for at least one year
- Be able to commit to participating in a full-time program.
Homeward Bound in Peterborough currently has space for four women and their children.
For more information or to apply, visit www.ptbohousingcorp.ca/building-healthy-communities/homeward-bound/.
As Homeward Bound does not receive ongoing government funding, the program accepts charitable donations. To learn more about how to support the program or make a donation, email Maisie Watson at mwatson@ptbohousingcorp.ca.
