St. Christopher House
Encyclopedia
St. Christopher House is a multi-service neighbourhood centre serving west downtown Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
since 1912. The non-profit charitable organization provides a wide range of programs to all age groups in downtown west Toronto. St. Christopher House integrates community development approaches with direct delivery of social services. The community served by St. Christopher House includes the diverse immigrant and mixed income neighbourhoods of Trinity Bellwoods, Niagara, Palmerston/Little Italy, Little Portugal, Dufferin Grove, Parkdale, Liberty Exhibition and Roncesvalles.
In 2006, St. Christopher House served approximately 10,000 individuals with 200 part-time and full-time staff and 700 volunteers. This same year, St. Christopher House was also involved in social policy development, including the Task Force for Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults co-led with the Toronto City Summit Alliance as well as partnering with the Centre for Urban and Community Studies at the University of Toronto for the community research/policy project: Neighbourhood Change: Building Inclusive Communities.
St. Christopher House will work in partnership with the community to promote personal and social change in order to achieve a safe, healthy and accepting society for all. To this end, we will work with our resources and the strengths of the community to:
build bridges within and across communities; promote access to full participation in society by addressing barriers such as illiteracy, inadequate incomes, unaffordable housing, and discrimination of all types; assist people to meet individual and family needs; provide the tools and opportunities for people to control their own lives and to take on leadership in the community; and to advocate for changes in social systems that will ensure dignity, quality of life, and equal opportunities for all.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
since 1912. The non-profit charitable organization provides a wide range of programs to all age groups in downtown west Toronto. St. Christopher House integrates community development approaches with direct delivery of social services. The community served by St. Christopher House includes the diverse immigrant and mixed income neighbourhoods of Trinity Bellwoods, Niagara, Palmerston/Little Italy, Little Portugal, Dufferin Grove, Parkdale, Liberty Exhibition and Roncesvalles.
History
St. Christopher House was founded on June 12, 1912 by Sir James Woods in Kensington Market in Toronto. St. Christopher House was one of Toronto's original neighbourhood centres and was part of the "settlement house" movement that began with the creation of Toynbee Hall in London, England.In 2006, St. Christopher House served approximately 10,000 individuals with 200 part-time and full-time staff and 700 volunteers. This same year, St. Christopher House was also involved in social policy development, including the Task Force for Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults co-led with the Toronto City Summit Alliance as well as partnering with the Centre for Urban and Community Studies at the University of Toronto for the community research/policy project: Neighbourhood Change: Building Inclusive Communities.
Mission and guiding principles
St. Christopher House's mission is to enable less-advantaged individuals, families and groups in the community to gain greater control over their lives and within their community.St. Christopher House will work in partnership with the community to promote personal and social change in order to achieve a safe, healthy and accepting society for all. To this end, we will work with our resources and the strengths of the community to:
build bridges within and across communities; promote access to full participation in society by addressing barriers such as illiteracy, inadequate incomes, unaffordable housing, and discrimination of all types; assist people to meet individual and family needs; provide the tools and opportunities for people to control their own lives and to take on leadership in the community; and to advocate for changes in social systems that will ensure dignity, quality of life, and equal opportunities for all.