COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

Youth across Canada were clear:
We are waiting too long to
intervene when a young person
is at risk of homelessness.
Youth showed us that, by building a response that is primarily reactive, we not only condemn
youth to hardship and trauma, we actually ensure it by refusing to provide youth with
resources, services, and supports they need until after they become homeless.
Youth were resolute – this must change, and it must change now.
Adopting a proactive approach to youth homelessness means addressing the intersectional
drivers of marginalization, discrimination, poverty, and inequity that put youth at risk.
Importantly, consultations with young people revealed the unique importance of homelessness
prevention within systems – including education, child welfare, healthcare and addictions
services, the youth homelessness sector, and the criminal justice system. Most youth traced the
origins of their homelessness back to systems failures - inadequate policy and service delivery
within systems that contribute to homelessness for young people. In fact, our conversations
with youth indicate that many of the personal and interpersonal challenges we identify as
risk factors for homelessness – such as family conflict or health challenges – often become
pathways into homelessness when systems failures occur. Youth explained that when they were
provided with access to the right supports and services, their risk of homelessness decreased
dramatically. Given this, many youth felt that systems change is where youth homelessness
prevention efforts could be most effective.
“We just need more partnerships and collaboration with the levels of government. Working with
non-profits and social services and people that experience it. And developers. Just reminding
the government that it’s not just one ministry’s issue to deal with housing—it’s all of them. Like,
from the collective earlier this year, we went to a meeting and we were just telling them that,
“Hey...Children and Youth and Government Care, it’s not just the Ministry of Children and Family
Development...it’s not just their guardians. It’s like all of you guys! It’s the BC government, it’s the
Ministry of Health, and Education, and Environment, and Transportation. Like, it’s all of you guys.”
VANCOUVER YOUTH
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 20