Crossroads Program
History of Crossroads
Walter Huculak House – known as the Crossroads Program, is a 15 bed residential facility for federally sentenced adult males over the age of 18 on conditional release from a federal institution. Crossroads opened its doors in 1985 to provide ex-offenders with the transition resources necessary to re-enter the community and become responsible community members. The transition process gives Crossroads clients an opportunity to turn their lives around, while lowering the risk of recidivism and creating a safer community.
Crossroads’ staff works closely with Correctional Services Canada (CSC) Parole Officers in addressing “need areas” that will assist clients in living as crime-free members of the community. · Although the Crossroads Program staff works with “legislated release” clients who are scheduled for release back into the community, programs are aimed at keeping ex-offenders out of jail by addressing the conditions and behaviours that resulted in criminal activity. Services include intake assessments, individual goal planning, counselling and referrals. Crossroads Program staff are skilled in crisis intervention, assessment of risk/needs, intervention development, and have a strong working knowledge of community resources.
All Crossroads Program clients are monitored for safety to themselves and the community and staff works closely with CSC and the local police on ensuring community safety.
Beginnings
St Leonard’s House – Crossroads was founded by a group of concerned individuals who wanted to meet the residential needs of recently released prisoners returning to the eastern part of Toronto. The Corporation was officially registered in February 1976 by Walter Huculak, Howard Dale, Lawrence Hill, Harry Nigh, and John Aldred. The Corporation (No. 315083) was incorporated without share capital subject to the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act and The Charitable Gifts Act. The first Board consisted of the above and Ted Wanless, Ken Lewis, Lorraine Williams, R.L. Johnson, Mara Pavelsons, M. Cunningham and Cyril Abbass.
During its early periods of activity, the Corporation approached Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to apply for developmental money to carry out a site search. Also during this period both Federal and Provincial governments were approached to secure a commitment for operating funding. These activities, however, ended without a contract for operating funds, and St. Leonard’s House decided not to pursue property acquisition. With no guarantee of money to operate a residence, St. Leonard’s House as a reality ceased to exist, but the Directors continued to meet in an informal way.
In June of 1981, the Board of Directors met to discuss the imminent closure of 63 Bellwoods Avenue, an existing half-way house for ex-offenders, and decided to try to salvage that operation by acquiring a lease on the property. A successful meeting was held with Brian Caughey and John Lawrence of Correctional Services Canada (CSC) to arrange a fee-for-service contract. In late August, the principals of 63 Bellwoods decided not to again lease the property to a group outside St. Mathias Church.
The Directors met in September and decided to approach CSC and ask for an increased commitment of residential beds. In November of that year, as the waiting list of Federal day parolees continued to grow, the Directors discussed a 15-bed residential facility with CSC.
In December 1981, the Board of Directors decided to approach CMHC again for capital funds. In February 1982, St. Leonard’s House was granted seed money to develop its concept and pursue a Federal contract for operating funding.
On February 25, 1982 at the Annual General Meeting of St. Leonard’s House – Crossroads, a new slate of Directors was elected. Walter Huculak agreed to serve as President for an additional year. The other Board members were: John Aldred, Ted Wanless, Frank Grieve, Allan Kaplan, John Sawdon, Godfrey “Jeff” Shanahanan, Harold Levy, Joseph Barbaro, Lawrence Hill and Marceline Cunningham. In the fall of 1982, after a period of searching for a suitable property, the Corporation conditionally acquired a large house on Glen Manor Road in the beaches area of Ward Nine.
Not in my Backyard
Some of the neighbours organized to prevent the establishment of a half-way house. Others quietly supported the St. Leonard’s House. Those opposed were joined by a person campaigning for election as an alderman. He made his opposition to the group home an issue in the municipal election campaign. He won.
The public education program that charitable homes engage in prior to opening, called “community consultation”, may be confused with the community’s perception of a right to choose who their neighbours will be. St. Leonard’s House battled against that reaction recognizing that such a right does not exist in our democratic society. After an initial public meeting with significant opposition, several more meetings saw a high degree of acceptance among the majority of the neighbours.
St. Leonard’s House was proceeding with the acquisition when the Solicitor General of Canada, acting on interventions by politicians, announced that he was withdrawing financial support. The half-way house proposal was abandoned.
Opening of Crossroads House
A year and a half later, St. Leonard’s House received word from Ottawa that the Solicitor General was prepared to support a project. That the need for a half-way house in the east end of Toronto was still there, and that funding would be available if St. Leonard’s House-Crossroads were to proceed.
In the fall of 1984, CMHC suggested that St. Leonard’s House engage a community resource group to facilitate the acquisition and approval of a property. Lantana Non-Profit Homes Corporation was chosen. With the end of the year approaching, and the possible disappearance of a unit allocation from CMHC, events had to move rapidly.
A large house at 419 Jones Avenue was purchased conditionally; a suitable renovation was agreed upon, CSC funding was committed, and CMHC capital funding was obtained. The purchase closed on April 25, 1985
The battle was almost over, but not before some of the neighbours mounted a court challenge to St. Leonard’s House’s right to establish a half-way home at 419 Jones Avenue. With the support of the senior alderman and a school trustee, certain of the neighbours attempted to have the building permit revoked. Other neighbours joined the Board and/or lobbied for acceptance of the group-home. The attempt to revoke the building permit failed.
The house opened in August 1985, with its first Executive Director. Three of the original founders: Ted Wanless, Walter Huculak and Jack Aldred, had remained with the project to see it to fruition. During the years that Crossroads House had looked for a place to call home many new, capable people had been involved with the Board. At the time of opening Walter Huculak was president of the board of Directors. Benn Kerr, Peter Moore, and Rosemary Aubert joined the Board that consisted of Jack Aldred, Ted Wanless, Jeff Shanahan, Allan Kaplan, Frank Grieve, Pamela Deans and Phillip Dowd as Crossroads House was finally born.
In August of 2005, Crossroads celebrated 20 successful years of operation at 419 Jones. Unfortunately this milestone event was preceded by the death of one of the founding board members, Mr. Walter Huculak. With a community forum planned for November 2005 to celebrate the 20th anniversary, St. Leonard’s Society of Toronto’s board of directors chose to take the opportunity to rename the CRF in honor of the man who gave so much of himself in order to see it come into operation. And so, on November 18, 2005, with attendees from the community, Correctional Service of Canada, affiliate agencies and past and current SLST staff, Crossroads House was officially renamed “Walter Huculak House.” From that time Walter Huculak House, known as the Crossroads Program, began to review all applicants for residency based on potential risk to community, risk level for recidivism, motivation for change and individual commitment to program compliance.
All programs and services offered by St. Leonard’s Society of Toronto are based on the assumption that mutual respect is needed among clients, among staff, and between staff and clients in order for the clients to gain the self-respect and respect for others that will enable them to take responsibility for their future lives. The Society aims to provide environments in which clients may develop the skills and attitudes that will allow them to live as law-abiding members of the community during and after their involvement with the criminal justice system.