Eva Smith (1923-1993), a Jamaican immigrant, activist, and Black community leader, brought attention to the often-hidden issue of youth homelessness. Eva demonstrated tenacity and perseverance in highlighting the extent of the problem to decision-makers and rallying supporters to take action. Eva’s advocacy underscored the fact that adult shelters were ill-equipped to provide the specialized support that young people needed to avoid chronic homelessness.

“Eva touched the lives of many, and her single-minded focus on giving of one’s self to help others continues to echo in our hearts as we hear her name,” – Mavis E. Burke

Although Eva passed away in 1993, her indomitable spirit continued to inspire our organization. In 1994, just one year after her passing, Eva’s Place, our first physical shelter for young people, opened. After that, Eva’s Phoenix launched to provide youth with transitional housing and the skills they need to find and maintain housing and employment in the long run. In 2001, our organization’s name changed from the North York Emergency Home for Youth to Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth in honour of our visionary founder.