Claire Bentley
READING TIME: 3 MINUTES
The Teen Resource Center (TRC), located at 28 Richmond Street, Saint John, offers programs to support youth and help them reach their full potential. Their programs offer services to help youth who are unhoused and opportunities for volunteering. The TRC also partners with organizations like United Way Saint John, the Saint John Sexual Health Center, and OPTIONS Outreach to maximize their support for youth.
Drop-In
An easy-access TRC program is The Zone (Drop-in). The Zone is for teenagers ages 13-18 years old. When attending drop-in, you can connect with the TRC team. The team is there to support you and guide you to other TRC services. Drop-in is from 3-6:30 p.m., Mondays – Thursdays, and 3-5 p.m. on Fridays.

Teen Resource Center/Facebook
Case Management
Case Management is a program that helps youth (ages 16-24 years old) who are unhoused, have precarious housing, and live in vulnerable situations. Case Management offers guidance to find stable housing and employment. This program also helps young adults open bank accounts and connects them to educational programs. Case Management also offers mental health support. These supports are available through a mix of TRC resources and external services. The TRC also has Oasis that provides showers, washrooms, laundry services, and hygiene items.
“Independent living is the skillset we foster most. Our programs develop youth autonomy through education, material support and community connections. We also foster autonomy by curating spaces that are equipped with everyday necessities like food and hygiene products so that youth can focus on being themselves when they’re here. We are adaptable: youth input and sentiment guide all changes to these supports.”
The Case Management program is essential for students who are struggling financially. University homelessness is a growing problem. Dr. Weissman, a sociology professor at UNB Saint John researches homelessness. In 2018, he stated that 3.5 percent, or 70,000 post-secondary students in Canada are facing homelessness. In these situations, students do not have enough resources to pay for housing, food, education, and other necessities. As a result, they end up living in their cars or outside, so they can continue their education. No one should have to worry about where they will sleep at night or if they will be able to eat. The Case Management program is there to help students struggling to complete their degrees with the rising cost of living.

Teen Resource Center/Facebook
Volunteer opportunities
If you do not need TRC services but want to help at-risk youth, there are ways to volunteer! The TRC offers volunteering through the Corporate Citizenry program. Volunteers prepare meals and snacks for youth and create a welcoming space by gardening, litter retrieval, and interior decoration. You can also be a tutor for the Pathways to Education. Pathways to Education helps high school students academically and financially. This TRC program is crucial to helping high school students graduate, and it provides resources to help them in their after-graduate endeavors. When tutoring students, you can help them better understand their courses, improve their grades, and gain confidence at school. Volunteering for Pathways to Education is an opportunity for you to combat the barriers to education.
Jeff Cook began as a volunteer and is now the Administrative and Communications Coordinator for the TRC.
“As soon as I was interfacing with the TRC I knew it was a great place to work. The building, and the people who work here, exude encouragement for self-expression, comfort and compassion.”
He started volunteering to help young people learn about music and the music industry.
“I’ve since had the opportunity to help young people record their first song, book their first show, sell their music and perform live for the first time.”
The Teen Resources Center offers a myriad of programs to help at-risk youth and combat barriers to housing and education. Whether you utilize their services or volunteer, the TRC will always support youth and young adults.
To find out more about the Teen Resource Center you can check out their website and their Facebook page