Community WrapAround Program Empowers Clients to Build a Brighter Future

There is no shame in reaching out for help. For Cheryl MacLeod, the encouragement she’s receiving through WrapAround, a new program at The Salvation Army’s Hamilton, Halton, Brant Housing and Support Services (HHB), has started to turn her life around.

Now several months into the nine-month WrapAround program, Cheryl is actively looking for professional employment as she strives to build a brighter future and move away from her past, which included time spent in the corrections system.

“I don’t know where I would be without this program. I think I would be in a very bad and depressed situation,” said Cheryl. “WrapAround has been a tremendous support for me and the boost from everyone at The Salvation Army to keep me moving forward and stay strong has really helped.”

The WrapAround program is designed to provide essential supports to vulnerable individuals as they move from a system of care – homelessness, hospital stays, or corrections – back into society.  Meetings take place bi-weekly or monthly with the participant and their chosen team to ensure the client is empowered in meeting self-identified goals to better their employment, housing or personal situations. This WrapAround team is made up of supportive friends and family and faith leaders and facilitated by trained community members.

To make this innovative program come to fruition, HHB received $50,000 from The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory, through their Innovation Grant program. Other essential supports offered through WrapAround is Critical Time Intervention (CTI), community based-supports that include both psychological and social goals tied in with spiritual transformation.

“The Critical Time Intervention approach connects individuals in transitions to appropriate housing supports by ensuring they have strong ties to their new community during critical periods in their lives,” says Eminet Dagnachew, Regional Director of Programs with Hamilton, Halton, Brant Housing and Support Services.

The model ensures that participants are given the necessary supports, tools and resources that ensure they will thrive in their new homes or apartments and to lessen the chances of returning to emergency housing or correctional institutions. Through WrapAround, participants are empowered to reshape the village around them, a village of people that will effectively support them in taking charge of their life and moving forward.

“These transformative sessions are led by a trained community-based facilitator or one of our chaplains. We get together by-weekly or monthly to talk success stories and revisit some of the goals that participants have set for themselves,” said Jonathan Miedema, Regional Director of Spiritual Care with HHB Housing and Support Services. Jonathan is part of Cheryl’s WrapAround support network.

With her support network in place, Cheryl has recently moved to a new community to start over, creating a fulfilling and productive life away from the correctional system. She currently volunteers with St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton and is looking to increase the time she spends working to support others in need.

“If it wasn’t for the WrapAround program, I really don’t think I’d be here. That is how strongly it’s helped me,” Cheryl says.