Lee Stuart says two things over and over: housing first and kids don't choose to be poor.
The executive director of CHUM is thinking of the 80 kids and their families housed at the Steve O'Neil Apartments, families that experienced long-term homelessness before finding a home at the permanent supportive housing complex.
Things are hopping at Steve O'Neil as staff and families celebrate its one year anniversary. Parenting classes for adults, early childhood pre-K, afterschool activities for older kids four days a week and Saturday programs and field trips.
It's all part of our obligation, says Stuart, to care for the poor and to fix the system so we don't keep generating these levels of poverty.