Jessica Yan
Jessica Yan is a Project Lead for Health for Homeless, a non-profit organization that develops initiatives to advocate for health equity among unhoused communities and emergency shelters. As of 2026, her team has developed and delivered over 400 portable health and wellness kits to various emergency shelters in the Greater Toronto Area, and run a sponsored workshop at Sun Life Financial in downtown Toronto.
Supporting Unhoused Communities: Care Kits
The Care Kits Project advances health equity by providing individuals experiencing homelessness with portable kits, each containing 10-12 essential first-aid, hygiene, and winter items. In partnering directly with emergency shelters, we ensure that our support is community-informed and tailored to address the unique and immediate needs of the individuals they serve.
https://www.healthforhomeless.ca/
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
Led by a team of six coordinators and two ambassadors, this project will develop and deliver 400 personalized kits to two health centers in the Greater Toronto Area by January 2027.
Project Impact
The health effects of chronic stress and cold environments on individuals experiencing homelessness are often left unaddressed. The Care Kits Project was designed to mitigate these stressors and empower them to navigate these challenges with greater dignity, safety, and self-efficacy.
Project Mission
The Care Kits Project aims to develop and deliver health and wellness kits to emergency shelters, ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness can easily access resources to safeguard their health.
Project Team
Our team consists of university students and high school ambassadors across Ontario.
- Jessica Yan, Gabriella Bonanno, Ysabel Fine, David Shen, Marjan Tajik, Shaaminy Kathir, Aysha Lafir, Kylee Toner
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