Empowerment - Equal Mentoring

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE CONNECTION

Mentor/Mentee Canada uses the power of lived expertise of recovery in connective Peer mentoring to empower stable lives by reducing the chaos brought about by poverty, homelessness, under-employment, trauma, and leaving main stream systems. Person-to-person mentoring relationships improve lives through sharing the skills and positive social networks for Peers (living experience people) to:

• Become safely housed/remain housed

• Navigate and connect to the best social services and supports

• Heal from trauma and violence

• Become employed/remain employed

• Continue education

• Steer away from law involvement

• Improve parenting skills

The Mentor/Mentee program vision accomplishes this through:

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE RECOVERY

Providing Peers from complex homelessness (oppression, marginalization, poverty and stigma that may result in mental health issues/illness, harmful coping addictions, victimization, law involvement) with the time and trust investment of Peer Support and Peer Mentoring to accelerate recovery and independence.

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE INVOLVEMENT

One-on-one Peer Mentoring and Peer co-designed, co-developed and co-created groups inspire, motivate and re-empower abilities, talents and skills that change the face of homelessness from vulnerable to successful. Overcoming oppression and stigma is through discovering wellness paths, meaningful involvement and living passion and purpose to life in connection and recovery - holistic recovery that includes financial wellness.

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE EMPOWERMENT

Skills training and ongoing learning is shared through Peer Mentoring for Peers self determined needs and core root holistic care to begin and continue the journey forward. A Peer Supporter is an ally in that journey, connecting Peers to other positive relationships in community. Foundational wellness skills are shared to equip Mentees to thrive in the right housing, transition to purpose from oppression, transition to lived experience leaders in the workforce and sustain independence.

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP

Many Peers choose to train in Peer Support, and support another in their wellness journey modeling recovery for their Peer, and continuing to learn advocation, leadership and community organizing skills. Peer Support training is foundational for advocating for the vulnerable to become successful through accessible, community developed programs, community involvement and organizing, collaborative cross sectoral work, and work in service leadership that holistically benefit mainstream system improvement.

LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS LEARNING ALONGSIDE LIVED EXPERIENCE:

Collaboration is key with Organization Leaders, Managers, Front Line Workers and Lived Experience People to grow understanding of Peer Value as an Essential Social Service for true recovery. Equal Mentoring will speed success and fill in the gaps ending crises and benefiting communities, systems, and society including the most marginalized.

Mentor/Mentee Canada actively bridges relationships and collaboration among Peer Sectors - homelessness - mental health - out of incarceration to grow the Peer Movement. Together, we can impact change for leaders and organizations to learn alongside us.

A CYCLE OUT OF ‘HOMELESSNESS’ FROM WITHIN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY

This is our work to end ongoing ‘homelessness,’ ongoing housing precarity, oppression, trauma, and unintentional dependence instead of empowerment even after housing. Lived expertise of Peer Supporters who have acquired the ‘right’ housing, who continue to heal and develop financial wellness, and have navigated challenges in tenancy and community are those with the wisdom and innate understanding at Mentor/Mentee Canada to help more Peers accelerate forward with safe housing, and less stressors in transitioning to, and in sustaining independent housing.

AVAILABLE TRAINING & PROGRAMS FOR ALL HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS:

Peer Support Services including implementing, organizational training, Peer Support training, supervising. Group and One-on-One Peer Support.

Recovery Based Peer Support Employment essential training as foundation for healthy relationships and healthy communication.

Healthy Homes training co-led and co-designed by Tenants to stop the costly uphill battle in housing environments and better support safety.

Healthy Lives training co-led and co-designed by Tenants to personal and community wellness.

Leadership and Advocacy Skills training to become Peer Leaders in community development.