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BACKGROUND

Youth without secure housing. BACKGROUND. Town of Fort Erie’s Community Health and Wellness Initiative was approached regarding the closing of the Holy Family Boys Home. Local stakeholders and service providers met

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BACKGROUND

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  1. Youth without secure housing BACKGROUND • Town of Fort Erie’s Community Health and Wellness Initiative was approached regarding the closing of the Holy Family Boys Home. • Local stakeholders and service providers met and determined that youth homelessness study was necessary to assess and address the issue. • A report was completed in 2006 and as a result, the Youth without Secure Housing (YWSH) committee was formed. • At the time, the St. Catharines Transitional Youth Housing Committee was addressing similar concerns and objectives so both groups decided to amalgamate. This took place in December 2007.

  2. Youth without secure housing BACKGROUND • VISION • Youth in Niagara Region will be able to access services and supports within their community. • MANDATE • Provide advice, direction and counsel to all stakeholders regarding implementation and delivery of YWSH community plan. • ROLE • Annual review of YWSH community plan; engage and build partnerships within Niagara and all levels of government; engage stakeholders through consultations; and identify leaders for the development of support continuum for youth.

  3. Youth without secure housing COMMITTEE Members are associated with: LHIN Pathstone Mental Health (formerly Niagara Child and Youth Services) Port Cares Project SHARE The RAFT Southridge Start Me Up Niagara YWCA Youth Resources Niagara • Various organizations • Big Brothers and Big Sisters • Boys and Girls Club Niagara Falls • Canadian Federation of University Women • CMHA • Community Health Centres • DSBN • Family and Children Services • The FORT • Hannah House • Hope Centre • Various government divisions • City of St. Catharines • Niagara Region Community Services • Niagara Region Public Health • Niagara Regional Police • Service Canada • Town of Wainfleet

  4. Youth without secure housing STATISTICS • Roughly 65,000 youths are homeless in Canada at some point during the year • Between 8,333 to 11,000 on any given night. • 80% of Niagara youth identified “conflict at home” as the cause of homelessness of which 69% of the cases were the result of parental behaviour (Baker Collins, 2010). Sources: “No Way Home.” CBC News. The Fifth Estate, 10 Mar. 2004. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_nowayhome.html Baker Collins, Stephanie. Sofas, Shelters, and Strangers: A Report on Youth Homelessness in Niagara. Rep. 2010.

  5. Youth without secure housing FINDINGS FROM LOCAL STUDIES • Homeless youth do not identify themselves as homeless; • Median age of becoming homeless is 16; • Youth homelessness is a consequence of multiple stressors in a young person’s life; • Youth recognize their own need for help: “I don’t want to be on my own, I’m not ready for it. I would probably die. I don’t want to be alone with so much responsibility at my age. I want to live with a supportive adult.” • 80% of adults in one of the studies stated childhood events had an impact on being homeless as adults. Sources: Nikolau, Jamie, Rebecca Raby and Skott-Myhre, Hans. Fort Erie Youth Living Without Secure Housing. Rep. 2006. Baker Collins, Stephanie. Sofas, Shelters, and Strangers: A Report on Youth Homelessness in Niagara. Rep. 2010.

  6. Youth without secure housing STATISTICS • Housing situation of homeless youth in Niagara: • 35% stayed in shelters; • 50% stayed in apartments  (45% were couch-surfing); • 7.5% stayed with parents; • 7.5% stayed in transitional housing, motel or an abandoned house. Source: Baker Collins, Stephanie. Sofas, Shelters, and Strangers: A Report on Youth Homelessness in Niagara. Rep. 2010.

  7. Youth without secure housing STATISTICS: THE COST OF HOMELESSNESS Source: “No Way Home.” CBC News. The Fifth Estate, 10 Mar. 2004. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_nowayhome.html

  8. Youth without secure housing STATISTICS: THE COST OF HOMELESSNESS • Annually, the average homeless person uses $4,714 in public health care whereas an average Canadian uses $2,633. • This results in an extra $416.2 million to$624.3 million spent PER YEAR* in health care to treat the homeless population. • Other costs (annual): • *Based on estimates of 200,000 to 300,000 homeless individuals . • Source: • “No Way Home.” CBC News. The Fifth Estate, 10 Mar. 2004. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_nowayhome.html

  9. Youth without secure housing WHAT HAS BEEN DONE • Youth Reconnect • Coordinates access to services for at-risk youth in Niagara • Outreach- keeping youth connected to their school • Supported research studies concerning youth homelessness in Niagara • ‘Fort Erie Youth Living Without Secure Housing’ • ‘Sofas, Shelters and Strangers’

  10. Youth without secure housing IN PROGRESS • System Discharge Planning • Address the concern that youth lack sufficient supports after discharge from various systems. • YWSH Business Plan Development • Tentatively to start in Fall 2011. • Promoting the YWSH committee • Report activities • Recruit new members

  11. Youth without secure housing BEST PRACTICES • Committee members share information regarding program updates and trends in their community • Support research studies about homeless youth in Niagara and distribute findings through various mediums (i.e. local news outlets, websites)

  12. Youth without secure housing BEST PRACTICES • Agency Collaboration • Decline in shelter usage Source: Niagara Region Community Services (figures based on The RAFT and Nightlight statistics)

  13. Youth without secure housing GAPS • Lack of AWARENESS for: • Youth Homelessness in Niagara • Public attitude and perception of youth; • Causes of youth homeless; • Effects of youth homelessness on families; • Reconnecting youths with their families. • YWSH Committee

  14. Youth without secure housing GAPS • Lack of RESOURCES including: • Support services in the community that youths can rely on or connect to (even after leaving an agency) • Programming • Affordable & Appropriate Housing • Youth Mental Health Services • Individualized Case Planning and Management

  15. Youth without secure housing NEXT STEPS • Connect with other staff/organizations (such as recreational departments) for programming support • Raise awareness and build partnerships amongst the community and all levels of government

  16. Youth without secure housing ASKS • Share YWSH-related information with the community • Upload PowerPoint to municipalities’ website • Link community, municipal staff and council members with the YWSH committee • To connect and engage youth in recreational programs; • Form connections to assist youths in navigating the service system • Support youth-related initiatives that are recommended to Regional Council

  17. Youth without secure housing Invisible Homelessness

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