Arts program for homeless youth forced to find new space

An arts program for homeless youth in Ottawa is itself looking for a new homeafter being forced out of its downtown studio.

On Saturday morning, Jay Labovitchand a dozen other youth with Ottawa InnercityMinistries met for the last time at St. Peter and St. Paul's Anglican Church, which is about to undergo major renovations.

Theypackedup their easels, canvases and musical instruments, filling the moving truck waiting outside.

"It's so hard to pack up where you've made your memories," Labovitch said."We're going to find something. We're going to make it work."

Every Wednesday and Thursday evening, dozens of youth gather at the downtown church, creating art and sharing a warm meal provided by OttawaInnercityMinistries staff.

As part of the program, youth arepaired up with an adult mentorwho helps them set and achieve personal goals.

After living on the street for several years, Labovitch, 21, said shefelt at home when she joined Ottawa Innercity Ministries two years ago.

"When I come here, I let loose," she said. "It means so much. We have hundreds of dollars of equipment. When I was homeless, I didn't have three dollars to go to the dollar store to buy a canvas."

Steering clear of trouble

Labovitch credits the friends she's made through the programforhelping her stay sober,having overcome anaddiction to amphetamines.

"So many of us can appreciate what OIM has done," shesaid. "It kept us yearning for something. Knowing we have this every Thursday, it definitely keeps me going."

Like Labovitch, Larissa-Jean Hannah-Nikolai, 24, has been attending the program for the past two years.

Besides giving her opportunities to give back to her community, Hannah-Nikolai said the studio hashelped her and her friends turn away from drugs and crime.

"They all have pardons on their criminal records, because they've been coming here instead of going out and getting into more trouble," she said. "I don't have a criminal record, but it prevents me from getting one."

Scrambling for a new space

It's those kinds of changes that keep the program's executive director Ken MacLaren going.

"We can't afford to let this program be lost," he said. "It's just too important."

The program has helped youth get back into school, find part-time work andsecure a spot indrug rehabilitation programs,MacLaren said. Some youth are even reuniting with parents.

Though renovations were plannedat the church, MacLarenexpected he would have until the summer to find a new location.

Butthechurch sped up its construction schedule, he said, leaving the youth program scrambling.

'We're not done yet'

MacLarensaid he's grateful for the support he's received so far from the community.

DymonStorage has provided a moving truck free of charge, along with free storage space, while MacLarensearches for a new home.

MacLarensaid he's contacted more than 70 groups hoping they might have space available, addingthat it's hard to compete with other organizationswho can more easily afford downtown rental rates.

The Ottawa School of Art has offered to host the program temporarily in theByWardMarket, butMacLaren hopes he'llfind a new permanent home soon one that can offer about 1,200 square feet and access to kitchen facilities.

"We're not done yet.This is not over," MacLaren said."There's another chapter yet to open up for us."