The Refuge
Since 1999, The Refuge has been working with youth experience homeless, live at a street-level, are at-risk of experiencing homelessness or who are struggling.
Today, The Refuge serves around 500 different youth annually and interacts with youth close to 10,000 times each year. More than a place to get breakfast, lunch, dinner (on Friday or Sunday), The Refuge seeks to be a place where youth experience love, nurture, encouragement, safety and belonging…a place to heal and gain a hope for the future…a place to experience the love of Jesus first hand.
Our Programs
The Refuge offers a wide variety of programs designed to help with food, housing, overcoming difficulties and finding the joys in life.
Our mission
To show Jesus Christ’s love and kindness to the youth of our community through practical and compassionate means of intervention and prevention.
Our vision
To see people restored to the truth that they are created in the image of God with gifts, abilities, the capacity to make positive decisions and to affect change in the world around them. We desire to see people reveal God’s glory through careful stewardship of their lives, communities, resources and relationships.
get involved!
Volunteer
The Refuge depends on volunteers to keep programs going, to run special events and around Christmastime. Click to fill out a volunteer application.
Employment
The Refuge has job openings (part and full time) from time to time. Click to see any job openings for which we are seeking candidates.
Pray for The Refuge
Prayer is an important part of helping the youth who come to The Refuge. Join our prayer e-mail list to receive regular prayer requests. Click to fill out a prayer partner form.
YPI
Are you part of a high-school class participating in the Youth in Philanthropy program? If so, check out our answers to commonly asked questions.
Placement Student
Looking for a placement for your educational program? Whether you are a high-school, college or university student, The Refuge might be a fit for you. Contact Alexis Smid for details.
New Leaf
Catering
Did you know that The Refuge has a social enterprise catering company called New Leaf Catering. We provide catering for weddings, corporate events, larger family functions and the like. Hiring our youth, New Leaf Catering provides an excellent product with outstanding customer service.
The Refuge seeks to be transparent in our finances and the way we operate. We believe that every dollar given by you, the donor, should be treated with honour and respect and to be used for the purpose for which it was given.
Meet our Staff Team
(click on a staff member's name to send them an e-mail.)
Amanda Armbruster
Amanda is our Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator and is responsible for handling volunteers and assisting the Executive Director.
Mariah Cartwright
Mariah is one of our evening program Rec. Room workers.
Jocelynne Fothergill
Jocelynne is one of our Housing First for Youth case managers and helps youth find housing and stay housed while achieving their goals.
Arya Jahed
Arya is one of our Housing First for Youth Case Managers
Clarence Keesman
Clarence is the executive director and has been working at The Refuge since 2005.
Andrew Luguterah
Andrew is one of our floor workers
Cindy Mills
Cindy is in charge of donations, tax receipts, banking, data tracking, foundation and grant writing and, overall, a great person to talk to.
Alex Misiaszek
Alex is our floor worker and is responsible for planning and implementing the various programs of The Refuge for the youth.
Angie Sauve
Angie is our therapist. She provides registered counselling services to the youth.
Alex Smid
Alex is our Director of Social Services. She provides informal counselling, guidance and positive life choice options and support to the youth. She also is responsible for placement students.
Camille Strachan
Amy is one of our Housing First for Youth Case Managers.
Amy Suski
Amy is one of our Housing First for Youth Case Managers.
Joe Tyrrell
Joe is one our floor workers.
Taylor Uden
Taylor is our Director of Housing Services and is responsible for overseeing the Housing First for Youth program and eventually our affordable housing program at 357 Simcoe Street South
Greg Van Staveren
Greg is our Kitchen Manger and oversees all things food related including our New Leaf Catering Program.
Peggy Van Staveren
Peggy is our Floor Manager and oversees the floor workers and activities of The Refuge.
Chevonne Wint
Chevonne is our education officer and implements our In Another's Shoes program with school and community groups.
Visit us
The Refuge is located at the corner of Barrie and Court Streets in the basement of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
357 Simcoe Street South
Oshawa, ON L1H 4J2
Call us
Office hours are typically Monday-Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm. After hours you can always leave us a voice mail.
905.404.2420
Contact us
You can send us an e-mail or connect with us on social media via the icons below.