In many cases, the women who use June's Centre programs receive social assistance. Some live on their own while others live with their family or with a partner. They most often live in families with incomes well below the Canadian poverty level. They average a grade 10 education and feel stigmatized because of their pregnancy. Some withdraw from school and peer relationships. Poverty affects every part of their lives, particularly their access to appropriate housing.

Unless subsidized housing has been acquired, most teen families spend 75 per cent of their income on rent. Housing is consistently inadequate for both parents and children. It is often impermanent and many families are forced, through low income and lack of access, to use women's or family shelters as temporary housing. Since such a large portion of their income is needed for shelter, any remaining money is quickly used on food, clothing, baby equipment, transportation, laundry and other essentials. It is a constant struggle for these families to provide basic necessities. These serious financial pressures create obstacles to long-term planning, and transient housing makes it difficult for adolescents to stabilize plans for themselves and their children.

Approximately, one-third of teen parents (who use June's Centre) report histories of physical or sexual abuse; 44 per cent have been abused, either during pregnancy or subsequently, by their current partner. As well, one-third of these young mothers are at increased risk of poor physical health due to poor living habits. Smoking, drinking and drug use are risk factors often identified by the teens themselves during intake.

Family support is an important factor in parenting. However, for many adolescents, family contact is minimal or non-existent. Often the adolescent's own family is struggling with poverty issues and therefore, while their intentions may be positive, concrete assistance is often limited.

Many young parents have had a history of institutional and agency involvement before their pregnancy. They often view agencies, teachers and social workers as intrusive and insensitive.

The City of Toronto is a multicultural, multiracial community and women using June's Centre are representative of this diversity. Services need to be provided in a relaxed, non-judgmental style which is open to different cultural values and choices. It is particularly important that support is provided, and felt to be provided, for both members of the family - the child and the parent.

The provision of practical assistance has proven to be an effective means of attracting young women who may have had previous negative experiences with social service or health systems. In offering tangible services, such as a Swap Shop (provided through donated clothing and equipment), emergency supplies of infant food and supplies, child care, meals, bus tickets and 24-hour respite care, June's Centre demonstrates that it is aware of the daily reality of life for families living in poverty. June's Centre also provides an environment of emotional support which comes, not only from the staff, but also from the other young women who use the centre.