Youth Hostel and drop in resource centre: Open 24/7 - 17 Centre Street, in St. Catharines ( View Map)

  • Phone: (905) 984-4365 / 1-833-984-4365
  • Email: Click here

Neighbourhood Awakening

The RAFT works with communities throughout Niagara by generating initiatives to create a positive impact in the neighbourhood and with young people.

Community development initiatives seek to empower individuals and groups to make positive changes in their communities.

They target stressed neighbourhoods and are designed to strengthen communities, engage young people and foster empowerment, independence and self-esteem.

In the past these initatives have included:

  • neighbourhood gardens
  • greening initiatives
  • neighbourhood conversations
  • neighbourhood houses
  • community events

The RAFT works with neighbourhoods across Niagara to bring communities together and make sustainable change.


  • Project Reclaim - Update

    Project Reclaim is a social enterprise initiative that combines employment training, green initiatives and community development to improve the lives of at risk youth. The program addresses unemployment through job training, education credit recovery and LICO through the creation of a social enterprise to reinvest funds generated from product sales back into the participating community.
    Read more »

  • Community Development - Western Hill

    Awakening Neighbourhoods Initiative has been working in St. Catharines over the past year to revitalize stressed neighborhoods by making positive changes. Through the Community Animator the RAFT is working with individuals in St. Catharines to help build healthy and strong communities.
    Read more »

  • Market Garden

    Participants learn about urban farming, while becoming active in their neighbourhoods. The program is funded by Niagara Prosperity Initiative.
    Read more »
News & Updates

The Home Depot Canada Foundation Launches TradeWorx

Sep 28th, 2021

The Home Depot Canada Foundation launches TradeWorx to help youth experiencing homelessness establish careers in skilled trades.

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What People Are Saying
  • The budgeting program is a great for helping people plan a budget for when they are living on their own. They take the time to listen to what kinds of things people need to put in a budget, and they explain how to spend within a specific budget, and save money by using coupons. They also showed us how to save for college! These guys are perfect.
    - Sierra, Age 17
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