The author visited Good Shepherd, a homeless shelter, and learned that it serves not only homeless individuals but also those with homes who are struggling financially, such as seniors living on fixed incomes. The author realized how fortunate they are to have parents who can provide for them, in contrast to families who cannot afford food or go days without eating. The author also learned about two other agencies - Birkdale Residence, which houses pregnant teens who have been rejected by families and partners, and Variety Village, a recreation center accessible to those with and without disabilities. Variety Village provides challenges for those with disabilities due to its location and transportation requirements. The author enjoyed learning about agencies that help vulnerable groups meet their basic needs and feel included

1. GC&E Reflection Paper for ECEP-232 Understanding and Communicating With Families
Visiting my agency Good Sheppard my eyes were opened to a lot of different reasons for why
people go to homeless shelters. One specific element that had a major impact on me was that
being at the agency made me feel so sad. Because talking to the priest he explained to me that
not only homeless people come to this shelter. People that come to this shelter can have homes
but are struggling to make ends meet. An example he gave us of people that might come into the
agency are seniors, and people with children, but the agency is for men so if women of people
with children come in they are re-directed to another agency that could help them also given
information on that agency. Seniors who are retired aren’t getting enough pension to provide for
a roof over their head plus food so they have to make a decision on either keeping their houses
and mortgage or food so that is how they end up at the agency. This really impacted me because
I have grandparents and I wouldn’t want my grandparents to be struggling and not tell I and my
family anything about their struggles because I would want to help my grandparents as best as
possible. Also when I look at my life I realize how lucky I am to have 2 parents who can provide
for me and give me everything I have ever wanted and it makes me sad to know that there are
people with families who cannot afford to feed their children and sometimes even go days
without eating.
I learnt a lot about 2 specific agencies from other group presentations for example Birkdale
Residence and Variety Village. I never heard anything about these 2 agencies before I learnt that
Birkdale Residence is for teens who are pregnant and have nowhere to go when families, friends
and even partners turn their backs on them. The agency gives a homes to teens who are 16 and
pregnant also they provide them with money for their financial situation and give them
counselling for them to get back on their feet for example get a job, and a place of their home.
The agency also provides school age program for the girls to be there and get an education, the
girls can attend a workshop about parenting and life skills about jobs and the building is wheel
chair accessible for girls with disabilities. Also I would’ve never thought that being a Residence
like that you would have a curfew but the girls do after 1 they must be back and not allowed boys
after late evening hours. The agency called Variety Village at first hearing the name I thought it
was a place where you can donate clothes like good will but then I learnt that it’s a place for
people and children with or without disabilities to go hang out and workout. The agency is
created with everything accessible to people with disabilities and people without disabilities for
example the workout machines they have can be transformed into a workout machine for
someone in a wheel chair. This center is in Whitby and I learned that people with disabilities its a
bit of an incontinence because in order for them to get down to that center they need to book a
public wheel transit at least 42 hours before and I never knew that I thought you could call
whenever you want to go somewhere and they will come immediately, also if you’re not waiting
on the bus an hour before and they come they will leave without you. I really enjoyed learning
about Variety Village because I think it’s a really good idea to have a center for people with
disabilities to go and a place for them to feel safe and can be around others who they can relate to

2. and have counselling. Financially people with disabilities don’t have to pay hst but they are
assessed to 6% of their income.