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About

Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an innovative community development program of Sherbourne Health. SOY works to support the health and well-being of all 2SLGBTQ youth 29 years old and under through our groups, programs and events and by providing one-on-one support.

what is SOY?

Based at Sherbourne Health, SOY is a collection of health and well-being programs and services for 2SLGBTQ youth 29 years old and under. SOY provides you with goal planning and health and wellness programming through our Youth Resource Workers; mental health and primary care service providers; mentors and peers; dietitians and housing supports; urban and newcomer health services; and community partners and referrals.

We can support you in many ways

At SOY we support your positive mental health and self-determination, your relationship skills, life skills, and your spiritual, physical and creative coping skills. We can also support you in figuring out your day-to-day, like finding a place to live, applying for money to support yourself, getting job search or career help, getting support with school or finding affirming counsellors and medical care. Come find support, especially as:
  • a racialized/BIPOC youth;
  • someone experiencing homelessness;
  • a youth from another country or small town;
  • someone who has been in the child welfare system;
You can find queer and trans friends, mentors and community in SOY’s programs, and learn about 2SLGBTQ communities, histories and issues. Come express yourself, build your confidence and leadership skills, celebrate and more.

SOY’s Goal Planning Services (GPS)

We have five Youth Resource Workers who will:
  • meet with you regularly to work with you to identify and achieve your personal goals;
  • support you with arranging appointments, such as those with your: landlord, addictions or mental health counsellor, medical practitioner, school counsellor, Ontario Works representative, immigration lawyer, CAS worker, and others; and
  • go with you to meetings with your family, however you define family.

SOY’s Health and well-being programs

Explore your goals with peers in our weekly health and well-being groups

 SOY GROUPS
Soy Joy: A brand new SOY drop-in group for all 2SLGBTQ youth! Come make friends, learn new skills, and connect with your community!Mondays, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Trans Fusion Crew: trans, non-binary and gender-questioning youth and young adultsTuesdays, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Express: Newcomer and refugee youth/ young adultsWednesdays, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Black Queer Youth (BQY): Black, African, Caribbean or multiracial youth/young adultsThursdays, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Connect with mentors or develop your leadership skills through Mentorship and Peer Leadership Programs

  • Group Mentorship: Mentors support your goals during weekly health and well-being groups
  • Individual Mentorship: Mentors are matched with you personally to support your goals
  • SOY Lead: This paid peer leadership program provides advanced training in peer education to those of you who are 29 and under and have faced barriers
Learn more about SOY’s mentorship programs.

See if a unit has become available in our Internal Housing Program

Together with St. Clare’s, SOY provides 20 rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units of housing, available to LGBT2SQ Youth 27 years old and under to apply for when units become available. Learn more about the Internal Housing program.

Learn more & access our services

You can drop by our intake office on Fridays from 11 am to 5 pm. We’re in Room 2070 at Sherbourne Health, 333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, Ontario. You can also reach us at 416-324-5077 or email us at soy@sherbourne.on.ca.