By STEVE DOHERTY

Communities across Canada are declaring an epidemic of homelessness.

The kind of encampments once only seen in our largest cities are now commonplace in small communities. Food banks are serving more people than ever before. And as the cold weather settles in, people are dying.

While multiple levels of government are working to find solutions for homeless adults, the often-hidden population of homeless youth is being left behind.

In Canada, homeless youth are mistakenly viewed with the same frame through which we see homeless adults. This stigma needs correction.

Homeless youth are not the baggy-clothed figures you pass on the streets. They are high school and university students. Some play on the school basketball team, others are acting in the school play. They have the same issues other kids have – insecurities about their clothes, teen crushes, and big dreams.

About 40,000 youth between 13 and 24 are homeless in Canada, and this number is rising. Right now, they make up 20% of the homeless population. Between 6,000 and 7,000 are looking for a safe place to be sheltered tonight.

In Toronto alone, up to 2,000 youth are homeless on any given night. Many more are experiencing hidden homelessness – couch surfing with a classmate or sleeping in a car. Family breakdown, economic hardship, mental health struggles, and inadequate support systems contribute to this rise.

And the lack of affordable housing and job opportunities perpetuates the cycle.

The solutions for adults do not neatly transpose onto younger demographics. We know that the resilience and strength of young people experiencing homelessness are formidable, but they need the right support to unleash their potential. We witness this strength every day – be it through their determination to complete their schooling and graduate, or the bravery exhibited in asking for help when they feel unsafe or alone.

We are at a critical juncture across Canada as challenges are mounting. The pandemic exacerbated youth mental health issues, amplified destructive and violent behaviours, and heightened feelings of hopelessness. The surge in violence, addictions, and mental health crises speaks of the deep scars left by this societal disruption. The extraordinary measures to treat youth overdoses and suicide attempts at McMaster University has tripled. A stark indicator of the urgency.

Across Canada, provinces and municipalities have made commendable strides in policies aimed at homelessness prevention and diversion. But these are just steps in a marathon that requires sustained and specialized efforts.

Let’s be clear: shelters are a Band-aid solution to massive systemic failings and inequities.

To meaningfully address youth homelessness, we must focus on reducing barriers to education and employment, and most importantly, uncluttering lives filled with instability. A roof and a bed are necessities, but so is equipping these young people with life skills that many take for granted – budgeting, cooking, shopping. Skills that foster independence and self-reliance.

To achieve this, homeless youth need wrap-around services like case management, education, employment, life skills development, mental health care, and housing and aftercare support.

These services are entirely funded by donations, yet Canadian charities are reporting lower revenue and fewer volunteers than before the pandemic. Fewer Canadians have disposable income in this affordability crisis, and smaller charities with less brand recognition are disproportionately affected by donation decline.

Without an increase in donations or new government funding, the very services that can break the cycle of homelessness for youth are in jeopardy.

Young people are not just little adults with the same needs, they are kids who need wrap-around supports to stay in school, find a job, and make their way in the world. Working with homeless youth requires being driven by stubborn hope and a relentless belief in better futures for kids.

The hope we invest in every young person that walks through our doors is validated by the success stories we see unfold weekly. But we cannot do it alone.

We urge policymakers to recognize the role that youth homeless organizations hold and provide immediate financial support. We also ask everyday Canadians to donate your time, and if you are able, your money to help ensure kids don’t get left behind.

Together, we can build a foundation for futures filled with potential, dignity, and triumph.

– Steve Doherty is the Executive Director of Youth Without Shelter

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OPINION: Often-hidden population of homeless youth being left behind

4 0
15.12.2023

By STEVE DOHERTY

Communities across Canada are declaring an epidemic of homelessness.

The kind of encampments once only seen in our largest cities are now commonplace in small communities. Food banks are serving more people than ever before. And as the cold weather settles in, people are dying.

While multiple levels of government are working to find solutions for homeless adults, the often-hidden population of homeless youth is being left behind.

In Canada, homeless youth are mistakenly viewed with the same frame through which we see homeless adults. This stigma needs correction.

Homeless youth are not the baggy-clothed figures you pass on the streets. They are high school and university students. Some play on the school basketball team, others are acting in the school play. They have the same issues other kids have – insecurities about their clothes, teen crushes, and big dreams.

About 40,000 youth between 13 and 24 are homeless in Canada, and this number is rising. Right now, they make up 20% of the homeless population. Between 6,000 and 7,000 are looking for a safe place to be sheltered tonight.

In Toronto........

© Edmonton Sun


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