Yes! We Need A National Day of Recognition For Youth Homelessness

Mahatma Ghandi once said: “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

It may come as a surprise to many that there are legions of homeless youth in the country.  They are voiceless, invisible and desperate. On October 12, 2012, a commentary appeared in the Times Colonist by Mark Muldoon, the Executive Director of the Threshold Housing Society, calling out for a special day to bring the country to its senses.

Last year, Ontario MP Carolyn Bennett introduced Motion 546 requesting Nov. 17 to be declared National Youth Homelessness Awareness Day.  It may come as a shock to many people that such a day needs to be declared, but the level of youth homelessness has reached “epidemic” proportions. That was the term used by Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group when he was enlisted to help raise national awareness about the crisis.

The statistics are startling.  Conservatively, there are estimated to be 65,000 homeless youth in Canada between the ages of 16 and 24. This is about one-third of the estimated homeless population in the country; some non-governmental organizations estimate the numbers are much higher. In the past 25 years, there has been a 450 per cent increase in the number of youth shelter beds in Toronto. There are between 1,500 and 2,000 homeless youth in Toronto on any given night. In the 2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count, the youth homeless population increased 29 per cent from 2008. In any community, about 40 per cent of the youth who are homeless belong to the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community. First Nation youths are also disproportionally over-represented.  The suicide rate for street-involved youth is about 10.3 times he national average for Canadian youth. Research shows that 87 per cent of Canadians are unaware of just how many homeless youth exist in our midst.

"Innocence Stolen Everyday on our Streets"

There is a rather crass cynicism in the general public that at-risk youth of being homeless are on the street, or living precariously, because it is either a type of “rite of passage,” an adventure, or they are simply going through a rebellious stage of their adolescence.  For the most part, such thinking is a myth.  Many near-homeless or homeless youth today were thrust out of their homes forced by neglect or abuse or graduated from the foster-care system when they reached nineteen.

There are a lot of dangers a youth faces once ejected from his or her familiar surroundings.  The most pervasive one is the anxiety of not have a safe place to sleep and the gnawing dread of never finding one.  But the most insidious danger is that of sexual exploitation, or the draw of the sex trade to simply survive.  In this week’s Monday Magazine (September 20, 2012), Simon Nattrass’ column (posted below) forcefully exposes this dark reality in our midst. His words are eloquent and his message blunt.  His last paragraph hits close to the heart of the matter.  Allowing any youth to be sexually exploited murders a vital spark in their inner being, that is, their living flame of self-worth that feeds their dreams and hopes.

After a long stint of living in shelters, Marie was finally doing well. She had all the right supports: housing, drug and trauma counselling, and even volunteering in the community. But when personal trauma became overwhelming and her addictions resurfaced, she couldn’t hold on to her supported housing and, once again, her only option was the street. Weeks later, she was on a corner in Rock Bay, surviving in the best way she knew how.

“Innocence Stolen Everyday on our Streets”

There is a rather crass cynicism in the general public that at-risk youth of being homeless are on the street, or living precariously, because it is either a type of “rite of passage,” an adventure, or they are simply going through a rebellious stage of their adolescence.  For the most part, such thinking is a myth.  Many near-homeless or homeless youth today were thrust out of their homes forced by neglect or abuse or graduated from the foster-care system when they reached nineteen.

There are a lot of dangers a youth faces once ejected from his or her familiar surroundings.  The most pervasive one is the anxiety of not have a safe place to sleep and the gnawing dread of never finding one.  But the most insidious danger is that of sexual exploitation, or the draw of the sex trade to simply survive.  In this week’s Monday Magazine (September 20, 2012), Simon Nattrass’ column (posted below) forcefully exposes this dark reality in our midst. His words are eloquent and his message blunt.  His last paragraph hits close to the heart of the matter.  Allowing any youth to be sexually exploited murders a vital spark in their inner being, that is, their living flame of self-worth that feeds their dreams and hopes.

After a long stint of living in shelters, Marie was finally doing well. She had all the right supports: housing, drug and trauma counselling, and even volunteering in the community. But when personal trauma became overwhelming and her addictions resurfaced, she couldn’t hold on to her supported housing and, once again, her only option was the street. Weeks later, she was on a corner in Rock Bay, surviving in the best way she knew how.

Quilts for Kids at Thrifty Foods in October

During the entire month of October, Threshold’s tins “Quilts for Kids” will be placed at every Thrifty Foods’ cashier in the region. This is a total of 13 stores. The “Quilts for Kids” program was started by a group of quilters who felt it important that youth in transition have a tangible object that would represent care, hope and the need for a sanctuary.  Each youth that leaves a Threshold House, and the scattered housing program (SHY), receive a quilt.  It is a sign that their life is precious, that someone cares about them, and that they deserve a safe place to live.  Often, the quilt is the only object of beauty they possess.  The quilting program is currently run by Fran McArthur.  Producing a quilt is a labour of love and Threshold is honoured to have people willing to devote so much time to their production.

If you are in a Thrifty store, please think of the youth in transition and donate what you can to this cause.  We all sleep better in the warmth of love. 

Homeless youth are hidden victims of society

Andrew Wynn-Williams, the Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homeless has spearheaded, during this season of “back-to-school,” a campaign to bring awareness about youth homeless in our community.

Kudos to Andrew and his staff for  highlighting this issue. In the August 30th copy (2012) of the Times Colonist, Andrew wrote an op-ed piece that gives focus and direction to combating this pathway into adult homelessness.

September is just around the corner, and students and parents are busy shopping for school supplies, choosing back-to-school outfits, and stocking the fridge with juice boxes and snacks.

Homeless youth are hidden victims of society

Andrew Wynn-Williams, the Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homeless has spearheaded, during this season of “back-to-school,” a campaign to bring awareness about youth homeless in our community.

Kudos to Andrew and his staff for  highlighting this issue. In the August 30th copy (2012) of the Times Colonist, Andrew wrote an op-ed piece that gives focus and direction to combating this pathway into adult homelessness.

September is just around the corner, and students and parents are busy shopping for school supplies, choosing back-to-school outfits, and stocking the fridge with juice boxes and snacks.

Groups call for resources for young ‘hidden homeless’

The following article appeared in the Times Colonist, August 30th, 2012; written by Judy Lavoie.

 Around a table at a Vic West house, three young people are tucking into beef stew, mashed potatoes and fruit salad. It’s dinner night at the transitional home for youth run by Threshold Housing Society, and life-skills coach Peggy English has been teaching cooking skills. “That means I cook it,” she said.  Matthew, 20, and Katherine, 19, have aged out of the foster care system, while 18-year-old Cody left foster care early. All are grateful to have one of the few spots in Victoria for the growing number of homeless youth. Matthew, who had been with his foster parents since he was nine, doesn’t like to think about the alternatives.

    “If I hadn’t got it, I would have been on the streets,” he said.

 Young people have become the “hidden homeless” of Victoria, said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. It is estimated that about 600 youth between 19 and 24 are without homes and couch-surfing, living in vehicles or camping. Although accurate counts are difficult to conduct, Victoria is likely seeing a trend like Vancouver’s, which had a 29 per cent increase in homeless youth over three years, said Wynn-Williams.

Groups call for resources for young 'hidden homeless'

The following article appeared in the Times Colonist, August 30th, 2012; written by Judy Lavoie.

 Around a table at a Vic West house, three young people are tucking into beef stew, mashed potatoes and fruit salad. It’s dinner night at the transitional home for youth run by Threshold Housing Society, and life-skills coach Peggy English has been teaching cooking skills. “That means I cook it,” she said.  Matthew, 20, and Katherine, 19, have aged out of the foster care system, while 18-year-old Cody left foster care early. All are grateful to have one of the few spots in Victoria for the growing number of homeless youth. Matthew, who had been with his foster parents since he was nine, doesn’t like to think about the alternatives.

    “If I hadn’t got it, I would have been on the streets,” he said.

 Young people have become the “hidden homeless” of Victoria, said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. It is estimated that about 600 youth between 19 and 24 are without homes and couch-surfing, living in vehicles or camping. Although accurate counts are difficult to conduct, Victoria is likely seeing a trend like Vancouver’s, which had a 29 per cent increase in homeless youth over three years, said Wynn-Williams.

Quilts for Kids

In the month of August, “Quilts for Kids” tins have been gracing each BC Liquor Store’s cash-out counter. The tins were designed by Kyra Henry (Administrative Assistant) and Fran McArthur. Fran heads the quilting group that has supplied numerous quilts to youth as they leave our transitional housing program. It doesn’t matter if they stay for a week or a year, each youth receives a quilt; it is given normally in the context of farewell dinner party where they are reminded that the quilt represents their need for safe sanctuary and that they are worthy to seek and to have such a special place.  It is also to remind them that the quilts were stitched with love, as a sign of hope for their dreams and future.

This is the second year that BC Liquor Stores have enabled us to tell a little bit of what we do in the community. The monies from the collection will go to purchasing materials for the quilting program. Thank you BC Liquor Stores and the great employees who helped to promote this program!

Intact Insurance Believes in Giving Youth a Hand Up

On August 3, 2012 Mr. Peter Norton of Intact Insurance presented Threshold with a large financial donation that will go towards the new life-skills program.

Intact Insurance gives a high priority to socially responsible actions in the local communities where they operate, as well as having a national focus. These range from youth homelessness, to climate change adaption programs, the Carbon Disclosure Project to intense employee volunteer engagement.

Mr. Peter Norton (Intact Insurance) and Mark Muldoon (Threshold)

Currently, the Intact Foundation has entered into a strategic partnership with Raising the Roof (Toronto), Canada’s only national charity seeking long term solutions to youth homelessness.  As their website states, the estimated 65,000 homeless youth in Canada is just too “shocking a statistic” to do nothing.

Sign up for updates from Threshold Housing Society