CommUNITY HUB Outreach
Victoria Davis
Toronto
Victoria’s project provided meals and support for houseless community members in her church’s courtyard. With a focus on kindness and respect, the project team built relationships with community members and provided resources to help them empower themselves.
A Year of Supporting Houseless Community Members
Victoria completed her diploma in The Assaulted Women and Children’s Council and Advocacy (AWCCA) program at George Brown College in 2023 and continued her education in Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Victoria began attending the Church of the Holy Trinity, was baptized, volunteered, and eventually worked with them. Victoria views herself as a peer worker, alongside the church community that shares their wisdom and pain with her.
Near the beginning of 2024, the CommUNITY HUB Outreach program was initiated by Kevin Healey, a psychiatric survivor diagnosed with schizophrenia. In addition to providing meals for houseless community members in the church courtyard, Kevin wanted the program to have the capacity to meet with community members to discuss personal challenges and seek support to navigate housing, mental health, and social service systems. After Kevin’s passing in October 2024, the volunteer team continued to fulfill his vision.
Houseless community members are resilient by necessity and loyal to spaces that treat them with kindness and respect.
By December 2024, the City of Toronto evicted the encampment and offered alternative spaces. Houseless community members continued to travel to the program. Some community members returned with reports on housing, shelters, and a range of support systems. Others returned frustrated by returning to the streets and by the physical pain of sleeping on the ground. Staff kept an eye on community members who consume substances alone and sat with them until they were confident that the riskiest point had passed.
One challenge was the impact of weather changes on the team’s abilities and the program’s location. The coffee station was relocated several times to ensure visibility in warm spaces during the extreme winter and out of the sun during the extreme summer. This program was not a part of the official church program, meaning it relied heavily on donations for refreshments. There was a desire to establish an edible garden in the planters around the church, located on City of Toronto property. The weeds in the planters were removed, and new plants were planted, primarily provided by The STOP. Canadian Tire discounted several bags of soil, and nearby construction workers shared home-laid eggs.
Victoria connected with houseless community members to create safe spaces for difficult conversations and navigate through further access needs.
Victoria’s connections helped her adapt parts of the program to allow guests to stay indoors for more extended periods. Victoria also liaised between the church’s congregation members and volunteers to help plan a fundraising Gala.
The Ontario Changemakers Grant offered the confidence that Victoria’s visions could be achieved and provided the financial opportunity to continue employment with the church as a full-time outreach worker. Introduced by the church in the fall of 2025, the outreach worker position involves creative planning, skill-sharing workshops, and support for volunteers and community members.
The Church received a three-year grant to fund improvements, including roof repairs, the purchase of new computers, and human resources support. The program will continue and expand over the next three years. The goal of the program is to share skills and tools with community members to empower them and advocate for their needs. The program also aims to promote a future where affordable housing is available to everyone.
About Victoria Davis
Victoria Davis is a current student of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University and works at the Church of the Holy Trinity as an outreach worker. With a desire to build bridges across the various communities in the downtown Toronto core, Victoria draws on her previous experience in Hospitality and Tourism and the corporate world to develop plans for the CommUNITY HUB Outreach program that will foster empathy and care.
Instagram: @trinity.community.hub
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