MOOSE JAW — After eight months of planning with other young people, Aria Swanson is delighted that a new youth-focused integrated community services program is officially opened in Moose Jaw.
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The six core areas focus on mental health and addiction services, physical health services, education, employment and training supports, community and social services, peer supports, and cultural and traditional supports.
The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS) provides operational and administrative support to the four communities in which Homebase now operates, while in Moose Jaw, it has contracted out the day-to-day work to the YMCA of Regina.
Homebase’s motto is “By Youth, For Youth,” since young people offered advice about the services they wanted. The program also meets people — between ages 12 and 25 — where they are in life and helps with their specific needs.
More than 30 people packed into Homebase’s new home at 52 High Street West on Nov. 14 for the grand opening. An arch of balloons was the backdrop for the ceremony, while dignitaries cut a red ribbon to officially launch the program.
Swanson, a graduate of A.E. Peacock Collegiate now in her second year at the University of Regina, was one of several local young people who sat on a youth impact committee.
MOOSE JAW — The group gave advice about how Homebase should operate and how the spaces should look, right down to the colours, furniture choices, brochures, fidget toys and other “soothing tools for self-compassion.”
She also helped create promotional videos more than two years ago to acquire funding for the initiative.
“I’m so grateful for the space. I just think it’s so youth-friendly and can really just help kids feel comfortable and safe in this space,” Swanson said. “So, (it’s) very suitable for diverse youth.”
The Peacock graduate most appreciated the venue’s many multipurpose rooms because they were designed well with appropriate colours and paintings. Furthermore, she looked forward to the completion of a First Nation-focused room because artist Sadi-Rose Vaxvick was painting a mural.
Swanson said she would attempt to visit Homebase when she could, particularly during its movie nights and book clubs, because she wanted to make friends. She also thought the program would be important in building community.
“I think that the more the word comes out and that people hear about this space, the more that people will recognize this as a safe space for all youth,” she added. “And the more that we reach out … to the community members, I think that people will love this space and really take advantage of it.”
, said adults think they know what’s best for young people, but that’s not always true. So, she was grateful that the youth impact committee challenged the adults to listen and consider changes to the program, aesthetics of rooms, and wording to materials.
Meanwhile, she appreciated the support that Moose Jaw’s many partners offered and how they rallied around the program. She thought it was heartwarming that the community wanted to ensure youths received the proper care.
Steve Compton, CEO of the YMCA, thanked his board for “taking a leap” of faith in supporting this initiative, because while he didn’t have all the answers when he pitched the idea, the positive intent to help youths was there. Moreover, he thanked other important people because it took “many hands” to develop Homebase.
“We are honoured to be the lead agency on this … ,” he said, noting The Y paused its youth-focused work in Moose Jaw several years ago but was now working to reintroduce programs. “We are very, very proud to be in the Moose Jaw community (again).”
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