Oak Bay service club funds futures for at-risk Greater Victoria youth

The Threshold Housing Society currently supports about eight young people with post-secondary education. A $10,000-windfall from the Oak Bay Rotary Club has already helped four youth with tuition and supplies such as this laptop. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)

Oak Bay Rotarians Dave Maxwell and Wendy Townsend alongside district governor Lorna Curtis hand over $10,000 to Colin Tessier, executive director for Threshold Housing. Threshold supports about eight young people with post-secondary education. The Rotary donation has already helped four youth with tuition and supplies. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)

Four young people can actively pursue post-secondary schooling thanks to funds raised by an Oak Bay service club.

Threshold Housing Society provides safe housing, support services and community to at-risk youth aged 15 to 24. The society also serves youth aging out of government care, fleeing violence or experiencing homelessness with 45 youth in the organization’s five homes and 18 units across Greater Victoria.

Of those young people, eight are currently expanding educational opportunities, development manager Jasmine Campbell said. With $10,000 recently donated by Oak Bay Rotary, four received funds including tuition toward a nursing degree; high school upgrade classes; high school equivalency diploma and access to the technology required for their studies.

“For some of them, going to post-secondary has been a dream they could not accomplish,” she said.

The local service club specifically earmarked the funds for an area Threshold isn’t always able to help with, such as tuition. “We don’t have the budget to be able to support youth fully in post-secondary beyond helping them apply (and) apply for scholarships – this actually allows their tuition to be paid for. It ensures that it’s filling a critical gap that often is overlooked,” Campbell said.

c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Housing oak bay supportive housing