"It's like a dream come true!"
Looking back on your career, you might remember your successes, challenges and achievements. Meaningful employment is rarely a walk in the park and finding good work can be difficult at the best of times. Ever more so for youth experiencing homelessness.
Add to the usual barriers facing youth looking for work - inexperience, balancing school and other commitments, transporation -- the particular challenges of homelessness and you begin to get a sense of the long road to employment. Liam, a young man involved with Phoenix, exemplifies how homeless youth embark on and weather the journey.
When you meet Liam you'll note his enthusiasm and easy conversation style. He exudes a quiet confidence and a steady determination. Although obvious to others, it took Liam a little longer to see himself in such a positive light.
“I was a kid that didn’t want to go to school,” says Liam. “I was young, naive and stubborn. If people gave me direction and help, I would purposely fail them. At sixteen I visited the Phoenix Learning and Employment Centre. Although it was the beginning of my journey toward success, I still wasn’t ready to take my life seriously.”
Now 23 years old, Liam has spent the past seven years in a variety of small jobs, housing changes and even homelessness. As he endeavoured to find his true vocation, Liam counted on the support of Phoenix.
“Phoenix is a great place to go, especially when you’re running into trouble. Whether it’s help with work or education, food or clothing, I’ve always been able to count on them to give me support and encouragement.” Indeed, it was through Phoenix that Liam discovered his true calling.
In the Fall of 2008, a Phoenix staff member asked Liam and his brother if they would like to work as videographers for an exciting pilot project called the Phoenix Fathers Group. Although Liam had no experience in film, he was eager to take on this new and challenging role. After spending ten weeks filming eight young fathers, Liam knew he had found his passion.
Excited to explore his dreams, Liam joined the Phoenix Transition Program in the fall of 2009. The Phoenix Learning and Employment Centre created this 16 week program for youth ages 16 – 24 who are out of school and unemployed. The Transition Program helps youth that have little work experience and are ineligible for employment insurance. Liam, along with nine other eager Phoenix youth, enrolled in this program.
The Transition Program taught Liam much about life and the working world. Aside from learning the basics of resume development, interviewing skills and time management, Liam secured a work term with Pink Dog Productions. This term had Liam involved in interviewing, writing, filming and editing.
“It’s like a dream come true! I have a career and a place to live. Two years ago I was just a homeless kid,” reflects Liam. “I’ve come a long way from couch surfing and sleeping outside in parking lots. I am proud to say that after job shadowing with Pink Dog Productions, I start official employment on April 6th.” 
Although still young at 23, Liam’s experiences make him wise beyond his years. When a Phoenix staff member asked Liam what had prevented him from succeeding in the past, he was quick to respond. “I had never completed anything in life - I always gave up and never saw things through to the end. I’m not like that anymore. On the day of my graduation from the Transition Program, I realized that I had actually finished something. Finally, I had seen something through from beginning, middle to end… and it felt great!”
