In one of my previous blogs, One Step at a Time, I shared that two of our Step-Up youth had been accepted into a university course. It was more than just a course; it was a doorway, a turning point, and a chance to step into a future they had never fully allowed themselves to imagine. Today, the rest of the OIM team and I are incredibly proud to share that the two youth have successfully reached the finish line. Graduating from this course is not simply an academic achievemen

Recently, I had the honour and privilege to attend a memorial for a Veteran. I know the first thing most will think of is, how is that an honour? Let me explain. When these men and women sign up with our military, they sign a blank cheque indicating they will follow orders and do what is necessary for their country and to keep the citizens safe from harm. Again, most will look at this and say “and...?” However, I challenge each of you to think about that for a minute. Recentl

“I hate the thought of dying alone,” he said as we parted ways. Last week, while out on street outreach, we met one of our street friends who has been living on the streets for some time now. We stopped, chatted for a while, and listened. We listened as he shared some of the weight of his story; his loneliness, the rejection he has faced, health issues and the deep hurt and hopelessness he carries. As I listened, I silently asked God, “What can we say? How can we help encoura

I used to think volunteering had to be something big. Something planned and structured. something where you could clearly say this is the difference I made. But over time, that idea started to change. Growing up in Brazil, I spent time volunteering in different neighbourhoods, helping where I could. Many of those places had families and kids living with very little, at least on the surface. I remember going in thinking I needed to make a big impact. Like I had to change somet

There is good news on the Veterans front for ORH. This seemingly never-ending battle of homelessness, especially precariously housed Veterans who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless, saw a definite ray of sunshine as we approach spring. I speak of ORH’s latest victory in alleviating Veterans Homelessness. Let’s call him "Bill." Bill contacted me some time after Christmas and was in dire need of transitional housing to get him out of a bad situation. He was heavily in de