Safe place for homeless youth needed locally, say advocates

NEW GLASGOW - A youth resource centre with beds is needed in Pictou County, say members of a volunteer group focused on meeting the challenges presented by youth homelessness.
Members of Pictou County Roots for Youth, formerly known as the Pictou County Youth Homelessness Committee, say they have enough evidence - both statistical and anecdotal - to justify such a centre.
"We have concrete evidence to support our belief," said Roots for Youth member Ken Francis. He refers to a school-system wide survey of students between Grades 10 and 12 taken two years ago, which equates to approximately 1,900 youth.
Asked if they knew of peers in a situation where they would be considered homeless, 27 of the group self-identified. But Francis points out that the number doesn't take into account the entire demographic.
"There were a lot more that they knew of. So we're looking at approximately 75 students, young people."
Halifax has facilities similar to the one Roots for Youth is proposing, but he believes the need exists here.
In fact, it's actually to keep youth from gravitating to cities that drives part of the push for a local centre.
"A lot of these kids, there's nothing here for them. So they go to Halifax and wander the streets of Halifax. They might find some services up there, and that's why they're going, but they'll end up on the street and picked up by who knows," said Crissy Adamson, another Roots member.
Marlene Hamel can attest to the need for such a centre firsthand. She experienced homelessness in cases where she made poor decisions - but also in cases where she simply didn't have any support. And it lasted with her throughout her teenage years and into her 20s.
She says she sees others in Pictou County heading down the same road.
"I meet kids whose parents want nothing to do with them - one of them didn't have any issues with drugs or anything like that, she just didn't have anywhere to go," she said.
And all that's needed is a place to sleep and a place to eat.
"Anyone who doesn't see it in this area is blind. They're pretending they don't see it," she said.
"It's gotta change and unless we're focused on it, steadily focused on it, it's not gonna change. Because there's not enough people who pay it any attention at all."
Jon Linthorne, Roots member and manager of the Trenton Youth Centre, said a local centre would keep youth who find themselves homeless where their 'support systems' are - keeping them in the same community as their friends, their own schools and near relatives.
"You end up in a city where three people know your name - and they're three people you've met in the last few weeks. What support system is there?" he said.
Often it leads to couch surfing, which is what could be described as relative homelessness.
Donna Smith, another member of the group, said those situations leave youth vulnerable.
"A lot of youth who are couch surfing end up in places where they're very vulnerable and not safe - inadequate housing, possibly not getting food. So we're looking for a safe place, a caring environment for youth to access," she said.
Now, they say it's just a matter of bringing community partners and government into the fold to make these plans a reality.