Are there really 150,000 homeless Canadians? This number might shock you!

BY JONELL PANTLITZ

On any given night, are you aware of how many youths in Toronto are homeless?

It is no secret that COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on the most vulnerable youth. 360ºkids reported an extended level of stress, anxiety and depression in young people due to our current disaster. There has been a number of teenagers seeking out help lines and counselling agencies across the country. 360ºkids noted, “With the Public Health directive to isolate at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing the mental health of youth starting to decline and, in some cases, we anticipate that this will lead to increased youth homelessness.”

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had an opportunity to talk to Maaha Farrukh, who is the Project Coordinator for a new Youth Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stabilization Strategy, funded by the United Way. It consists of 38 community partners who support young people. This strategy will be a collaborative approach to effectively prevent youth homelessness, and shorten the amount of time young people experiences homelessness. It will involve bringing together the community, youth, agencies, stakeholders, businesses, government and those with lived experience, to develop a strategy that will be reflective of the voices of those it intends to serve.

Maaha explained, “We have to understand that even though shelters may not be able to offer the services that they normally do at that capacity, they are doing their best to cater to the homeless population in other ways.”

Youths who are homeless are struggling to find meals, get entry to shelters and basic needs. This is where 360ºkids intervenes to help youth, overcome crises and transition to a state of safety and stability. They aim to ensure youths and children have access to a safe home.

The Charity began over 30 years ago as two separate agencies. The Markham Neighbourhood Support Centre was created to respond to the needs of young families with children who sought support. Youth Housing Markham provided safe and supportive housing for youth who could no longer live at home. These two agencies eventually amalgamated in 1998 to form Pathways for Children, Youth and Families of York Region Inc.

Maaha, told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “I think one of the things that really distinguishes 360ºkids is the fact that we offer not only housing, but we also offer a wide range of services as well.”

Services offered by 360ºkids included wellness and support, mental health, education, housing etc. 360ºkids serves over 3,500 youth, each year from every municipality in York and this number has grown significantly since the move to Richmond Hill.

A recent snapshot estimates there are about 150,00 homeless Canadians, including 65,000 young people, but the real number might be as much as twice. Understanding that many of the homeless are considered the “hidden homeless”, in York Region, experts estimate that there is about 300 youth between the ages of 16 and 26 who are homeless right now.

Maaha told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “Even before the pandemic, I believe there should be more investments in the mental health system. Not only for youth but for individuals from many different demographics, we have to understand we live in a very multicultural and diverse society, and not every kind of mental health service is carter to helping every individual.”

“We value the youths as the drivers of our work, so in that sense we do have a youth council that consists of youths who were previously homeless who have undergone the program and services, and are in a much better position now. It’s one thing for a bunch of people to sit and develop a strategy about homelessness who have never been homeless, so I think it is very important to actually reach out to the individuals who have experienced this and go from there.” This strategy will be fully functioning in the next year or two.

As a community, we can help by donating to their cause at 360kids.ca. If you are in need of help you can contact 360kids.ca

Resources
http://ontario.cmha.ca
http://Yws.on.ca
http://360kids.ca