Reintegration & Intake Worker
St. Leonard’s Place Peel
Nominator Comments:
About 10,000 people in the Region of Peel access housing services each year and 75% of them are men. As Intake worker, Nealia works collaboratively with a variety of agencies across Peel to secure suitable housing for men experiencing homelessness because of mental health and addiction.
Nealia’s positive interactions with community partners make her a go-to source for social services providers. Her colleagues nominated her for her partnership with the Ontario Correctional Institute, supporting men who are leaving the institution with no housing plan. Research shows that the recidivism rate nearly doubles for men exiting institutions who have nowhere to live.
Because of Nealia’s leadership with the Ontario Correctional Institute, more than 18 men who would have otherwise been homeless after leaving prison have now transitioned to short-term and long-term housing. This has helped to reduce their potential to re-offend, resulting in safer communities across the Region.
2019 Greater Toronto Bhayana Family Foundation Awards
Recognizing the extraordinary staff of United Way-funded agencies who make a difference every day.
Date: Monday, November 18, 2019
Venue: The Old Mill
Keynote: Deb Matthews, Former Deputy Premier of Ontario
Attendees: MP Julie Dzerowicz, MP Majid Jowhari, MP James Maloney, MP Maninder Sidhu, MP Arif Virani, MPP Daisy Wai, former Senator Dr. Asha Seth, former MP Harinder Malhi, former Councillor David Cohen
Local Change Makers Celebrated
It’s a sector that reinforces crucial community safety net, but the people working the front-lines of the GTA’s community agencies don’t often get the public appreciation they so deserve. The Bhayana Family Foundation Awards recognize extraordinary contributions made by frontline staff and middle managers who are tackling #UNIGNORABLE local issues at United Way Greater Toronto-supported agencies.
On November 18, winners were awarded for helping and people and their communities thrive through their dedication, innovation and creativity, leadership, teamwork and partnership.
