SUMMER 2012

YONGE STREET MISSION HOPE IN THE CITY SINCE 1896

By Kathleen Magladry
Ruth Ewert, R.N., winner of the rst Toronto Star Nightingale Award for exceptional nursing in 2002

In this Issue
Prince Charles visits the Mission (Page 6)

uth Ewert has been at the helm of Evergreens Health Centre since its beginnings in 1994. Prior to that, she put her nursing skills to work in East Africa for 14 years. The lack of basic medical care and prevalence of preventable illness that she witnessed in Africa are a reality here When I smell real bad, on the streets of Toronto as well. Heartbreaking stories unfold every day in the Health Centre. I often ask myself how our society can let young people suffer so much, Ruth says. Here she relates the story of Tania.*

people dont want to get close to me. When they dont get close to me, I dont get hurt.

Tania limped into the Health Centre, asking for some band-aids to cover her bleeding blisters. I asked her to remove her shoes so I could take a look and was hit by an overpowering smell. In fact, her whole body and all her clothes reeked of urine and other smells of the back alleys where she took shelter for the nights. I offered her a shower, but she refused. (Continued on next page) VOLUME 14 / ISSUE 3
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I learned that Tania had been diagof 40 young people every day nosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Her mother had been drunk in the Health Centre. most of the time while she was pregnant. As a tiny girl, she had been sexually exploited by her father and his friends. When she was old enough, she ran 100 homeless or underaway to the streets of Toronto. Sadly, not much changed for her housed young women more there. The streets are cruel too, and she continued to be raped than any other agency in Toronto. Our nursery services and and assaulted day after day, night after night, year after year. parenting programs enable some 90% to keep their children and parent successfully without Childrens Aid Society intervention Tania explained that she didnt take showers. When I smell real or apprehension of their children. bad, people dont want to get close to me. When they dont get I was just 16 with a new baby and not as resourceful as close to me, I dont get hurt. I am three years later, wrote one young mom. I cannot say I plastered ointment all over her sores, gave her a pile of enough about all the help we got from Evergreen Nursery. That band-aids and new socks. I wanted to hug her and tell her that included formula, diapers, baby food and lots of good, free nothing bad would ever happen to her again. But I knew that parenting advice! We dont need to come any more but we will would be a lie, concluded Ruth sadly. be forever grateful. She and her boyfriend are almost nished college and their healthy, thriving, happy son will start Ruth and her team see an average of 40 young people every Kindergarten in the fall. day in the Health Centre. Many have no valid health insurance and receive high quality care they would not have been able to The Health Centre is witness to stories of unbearable sadness access. Thanks to donations from Apotex Inc. and a few other and suffering. In their short lives, many youth have experienced pharmaceutical donors, we can supply youth with prescription sexual abuse, war, family rejection and violence. Still, some drugs as well. resilient ones, with caring support and practical services, do turn In addition to daily medical care for infections, illness and pregnancy, the Health Centre also provides daily dental services. Optometry, psychiatry, chiropractic services, addictions counselling, traditional Chinese medicine, physiotherapy, sexual health education, ID clinic and a foot care clinic are provided each week. A dedicated roster of 60 volunteer medical professionals make all these services possible, saving the provincial health care system over $2.5 million annually. Evergreen treats street youth with acute medical needs every day, said one long-time volunteer physician. I volunteer because I think I have an obligation to give back to the ones who are left out in society and also because I appreciate the comprehensive support and respect for the youth that I nd here. Last year Evergreen provided prenatal and post-natal services for their lives around. Matt* is one such success story. Matt was a tentative, self-conscious person whose teeth had been wrecked by years of substance abuse. He never smiled and covered his mouth with his hand when he talked. Through various supports, including Evergreen Centre programs and staff, Matt had been able to overcome his drug addiction, but was left with a mouthful of 42 cavities and low self-esteem. Through Evergreen Health Centre Matt learned about the services offered by volunteer dentists. After a dozen visits, countless white llings and crowns, and over $10,000 worth of free dental work, he walked out with a handsome smile. His life was transformed, in more ways than one. Now, Matt has a steady full-time job, and more importantly, self-condence. He keeps in touch with Evergreen staff and is proud to report on his new life. Thanks to generous donations and faithful volunteers, Evergreen Health Centre offered vital care, loving concern and hope for a better future to over 3,700 street-involved youth last year. Your support makes a difference! *names changed

Ruth and her team see an average

LEFT: Volunteer dentists offer cleaning and emergency dental services daily RIGHT: I wore the same socks and shoes for months and my feet were blistered and so painful. Thank you for taking care of my feet and for the new socks and shoes! youth visiting foot clinic

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