It’s not just a shelter: This sanctuary in Victoria is helping at-risk youth recover and thrive

Sanctuary Youth Centre is located in the basement of Church of Our Lord in downtown Victoria.

This article was created for Victoria Foundation, and produced independently by Capital Daily. It was approved by Victoria Foundation before it was published.

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Every month, more than 170 youth experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and family trauma find a safe space at the Sanctuary Youth Centre in downtown Victoria.

From Thursday to Sunday each week, the centre provides drop-in youth with access to showers, meals, groceries, mentorship and extracurricular activities that foster meaningful relationships on an individual level.

But it’s not just a shelter. What sets Sanctuary apart is the team’s dedication to each and every person that accesses the space, providing endless support and individual counselling to young adults experiencing challenges.

Nicole Hutchinson, a wellness specialist at Sanctuary, says the “drop-ins are very casual”, in that visitors are welcome to speak and engage with each other, or to simply scroll through their phones while relaxing on a couch.

The centre is run by a group of dedicated volunteers who are excited to meet visitors when they come in. Seeing an average of 15 youth per day, the centre offers every person a warm meal and caring environment that encourages people to connect with each other.

Activities to create a community

While many youth come alone, Sanctuary hosts several activities to create a sense of community and belonging for those who might not have it.

“One of our favourite things on Thursdays is the community meal. Everyone sits around the table together and shares food like a family,” said Hutchinson.

Youth who are struggling with substance abuse can also sign up for Wellness Wednesdays, where the Sanctuary staff and volunteers bring together individuals on a path to recovery. These are just two examples of the many events the centre hosts for its visitors, Hutchinson said.

Outside of event programming, the space is also equipped with activities to enjoy at any time. Anyone is welcome to play pool, pick up an instrument, or paint together.

Hutchinson says the drop-in centre has a big impact on the community as a healthy space for at-risk youth to coexist and, if they wish, share their personal experiences with staff and volunteers.

“We like to develop mentorship-type relationships with the youth so they get to know the volunteers and can really develop relationships,” she said. “Research has shown that having a mentor can really help change the trajectory of someone’s life when they come from a risky home situation. So we try to foster that.”

Sanctuary’s positive impacts are carried throughout someone’s life

Becca Bishop, a formerly homeless youth who turned to the centre while she struggled with substance abuse, says her story is a perfect example of the impact the centre can have on peoples’ lives. She now works there as a volunteer.

Looking back on her first visit as a vulnerable 16-year-old, she described an experience similar to being welcomed by a family.

“I had this group of people who weren’t even related to me by blood make me feel more at home than my own family did. It helped me see what I wanted for myself in the future and be able to grow my own family,” said Bishop.

Bishop is now an active member of Sanctuary who makes a point to engage with drop-ins, using her own experiences to relate to them in meaningful ways. By sharing her story, she has already helped several people toward a path of recovery.

“I’ve been told I’m considered as the ‘cool big sister’ there,” said Bishop amicably.

“We want to be able to help the kids, but you really have to meet them on their level. I find that’s where my expertise is. I know what it’s like [to experience addiction], and it can get better,” she said, adding that Sanctuary staff really go out of their way to let young people know that they are worth so much in this world.

Bishop is currently applying to college programs to study mental health and addiction as well as psychology and behavioural analysis, so that she can continue to help people in the future. She sees her own trauma as a unique superpower that can fuel hope in others.

Sanctuary Youth Centre has been able to operate largely thanks to funding through the Victoria Foundation and individual donations accepted on its website. With continued help from the community, the centre can continue providing exceptional support for at-risk youth in Victoria, allowing them to thrive in an environment of unconditional love and support.