Homeless. Unhoused. Rough sleepers. Humans.
Every day, rain or shine, Ve’ahavta’s Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness vans, supported by Daily Bread, travel around Toronto and Scarborough bringing compassion and connection to our city’s most vulnerable. Serving hot meals and providing warm clothing, blankets, hygiene kits, and harm reduction supplies, the staff working from these vans are more than just a lifeline—they’re a bridge to a brighter future.
But what’s just as powerful as what’s handed out from the van is what happens around it.
“There’s something incredibly humbling about hearing the stories of the people we serve,” says Natalie, Manager of Ve’ahavta’s Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness (MJRH) outreach van program. “Generally, the homeless population is invisible in society. They don’t often get the chance to sit down and have a cup of coffee with someone who’ll just listen.”
Sometimes that warm drink or simple conversation can be life changing. Natalie recalls one client telling her that “what you said last week got me through a really tough time.” She adds: “I might not even remember what I said, but they do.”
That kind of interaction can open the door to long-term change. “I remember one woman I met while working on the van,” Natalie continues. “At first, she barely spoke. After a few visits, she pulled me aside and we had an emotional conversation. After that, I helped her enroll in a few of our wraparound programs. She did so well, she was named valedictorian. Now she’s housed—and thriving.”
Beyond food and outreach, Ve’ahavta offers a range of pivotal programs designed to support people as they move forward. These include the Recipe for Success culinary training program, which Daily Bread supports by providing ingredients the interns use to prepare the hot meals distributed nightly by van outreach staff.
Additional programs, like Ve’ahavta Skills Academy, Ve’ahavta Life Stabilization program, and case management services equip individuals with practical tools, emotional support, and personalized guidance to help them build a strong foundation for success. Each program is rooted in dignity and care—just like the work done through the vans.
According to Who’s Hungry 2024, Daily Bread member agencies saw an alarming 420% increase in unhoused clients, which can include forms of hidden homelessness, like couch surfing or living in a car.
That’s why programs like those offered by Ve’ahavta are so vital to members of our community. When we see people not as homeless, but as human, everything changes.
Donate today to help ensure everyone—no matter their housing status—has barrier-free access to food, dignity, and support.
