Since April 1st, we have been highlighting the ongoing issue of youth aging out of government care at 19 years old. Why? Because youth age out of care, whether they are ready or not! At an age that is often already challenging and stressful.
-Aging out of care without appropriate supports in place is often cited as risk factor that leads to experiences of homelessness.
-In 2018, the B.C. Coroners Service report found youth leaving government care died at five times the rate of the general population of young people in British Columbia.
– There is an over representation of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness, which can be directly linked to the over representation of Indigenous youth in government care. This is an outcome resulting from the ongoing legacy of colonialism.
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In British Columbia, when a youth in government care turns 19 years old they often lose access to essential support services, such as their housing, social worker, mental health services, and financial support. Youth age out of care, whether they are ready or not – at an age that is often already challenging and stressful. Due to the unprecedented times we are living in, youth in BC have just been granted a reprieve from aging out of care. This is an encouraging step in the r