COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

MOVING FORWARD
All people long for connection and community – it inspires us, provides us with a sense of
security and belonging, and helps us become better versions of ourselves. Connection and
community are particularly important for young people who face exclusion on the basis of their
identities, experiences, or challenges (Abramovich, 2012).
In the absence of community spaces, youth reported that some
young people turn to gangs, drug use, or sex work in order to feel
connected with others.
These findings suggest that the provision of
recreational and community spaces are an important
component of youth homelessness prevention. Many
youth were enthusiastic about the development
of “community hubs” in their communities;
spaces where they could access services, get
involved in local politics, create art, join a sports
team, learn about healthy relationships, grow
community gardens, reengage with education and
employment, and build positive relationships with
peers and adults. Indigenous youth also discussed
the importance of funding Indigenous Friendship
Centres and community spaces, particularly because
colonial violence has fractured many Indigenous
youth’s connection to their culture, community, and
heritage (Thistle, 2017).
“There are places where kids
can go and play basketball but
it’s terrifying and drug-ridden to
go to, so why would someone
go there in the first place? …
Being able to have those services
where kids could say, ‘yeah, my
mom’s off doing this all night,
and I have nowhere to go, I don’t
have this or that, at least I have
somewhere to go that’s safe.’
That’s not running away from
home, and that feels safe - not
somewhere that’s rundown.”
CALGARY YOUTH
More broadly, it is also important that staff and leaders in various systems that support youth
(e.g., child welfare, youth homelessness sector, healthcare) consider how their organizational
culture, approach, and structure can provide opportunities to build bridges between youth
experiencing homelessness and the broader community.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 114