Living Rock MINISTRIES-Youth Resource Centre,

 exists to be a safe place of community &  support for youth

Living Rock Ministries has provided programs that engage, encourage and equip youth

towards their personal development goals for 39 years in Hamilton.

For 39 years, Living Rock Ministries has been a vital resource for youth in Hamilton, responding to over 22,000 visits last year alone. We serve one of the city's most vulnerable populations: young people aged 13-25 facing challenges such as family loss, poverty, substance misuse, and mental health issues. Living Rock Ministries has been committed to engaging, encouraging, and equipping youth to pursue their personal development goals, offering support and hope in their journey.

Navigating social systems can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to meeting essential needs like food, education, and shelter. Living Rock Ministries addresses these challenges through a comprehensive range of programs and services, providing a continuum of care. Our initiatives offer youth and their children access to basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and facilities for showers and laundry. In addition, we provide opportunities for personal growth, life skills development, and employment training, helping youth build brighter futures while feeling celebrated and supported along the way.

SUPPORTS WE OFFER YOUTH 13-25

• FREE Meals and Drop-in 7 days a week
• Hamilton’s only Youth Food Bank
• Grocery Delivery and Wellness Checks
• Youth Laundry Room
• Access to Showers and Hygiene Products
• Educational Assessments & Support
• Prenatal & Parenting support
• Life-Skills & Work Readiness Support
• (i.e. CPR First Aid, Resume Creation,
• Emotional Regulation, Budgeting)
• Computer and WIFI access
• Food Service Training
• Recreation opportunities
• Crisis Support
• Housing Support
• Recovery Support
• Chaplaincy
• Employment Training & Work Placements
• 
  

***The TRI-Rock Employment Program is available for youth 18-30

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Living Rock Ministries recognizes and acknowledges that its organization is located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabek and the Attiwonderonk nations. These territories have been protected and preserved for millennia by the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island through their ways of being, co-existence with the land and each other, as well as their protection of their knowledge. These lands are covered by Treaty 3, 1792 Between-the-Lakes purchase; as well as The Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant which extends across the province of Ontario, where the notion that resources be shared and replenished after each person takes from the bowl, so that all may have a chance to equally benefit; this extends for all living things, especially between settlers and Indigenous Peoples as an ongoing understanding and commitment to one another.

From pre-contact to present day settler arrival, we must recognize, give thanks and work together with the original land owners towards a true path of reconciliation. Ensuring accurate education of Indigenous Peoples and “Canadian” history, being mindful and educated on the historical, cultural and societal impacts that have been passed down through generations. To begin the process of being genuine allies, we understand that presence is the bare minimum and that listening to Indigenous communities as well as being transparent, respectful, trustworthy, and standing in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is what is needed to begin building long-standing relationships.

Through our own journeys and walks of life, we have ended up here in what is currently known as Canada; we are neighbours with each other, we eat from the same roots and drink water from the same streams; but we cannot bear ignorance for the mass disproportionate amount of Indigenous Peoples in Turtle Island who continue to face colonial violence perpetrated by our own systems and individual mindsets. We must work to undo and move forward. When we protect each other,
we protect our future. A common saying in Indigenous communities both here on Turtle Island and around the world is think 7 generations ahead; not only for them do we stand here today, but we stand as a community ready for action as true allies.