Groups like the Youth Advisory Council, run by the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, is grappling with the overwhelming issue of youth homelessness and advocating for the most vulnerable. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

homelessness action week

Advocates shedding light on youth homelessness

Oct 17, 2019 | 10:06 AM

NANAIMO — Advocates say a fundamental shift in services helping those experiencing homelessness are needed to save the most vulnerable from living on the street.

Joey John Patrick Carlson, a member of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre’s youth advisory council, told NanaimoNewsNOW there’s almost nowhere to go for youth who find themselves without a home.

“It’s like you’re in survival mode, just living. A lot of problems people have is having a shower, getting clean clothes or finding food.”

Carlson was homeless for roughly six months after moving to Nanaimo to be with a family member. Thankfully, he was taken in by the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre when there was a rare opening in an available housing unit.

He said with so few housing options available for youth, it would be difficult for him to not advocate on the issue and try to help others.

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Carlson is one of 10 youth on the council who’s been touched by the homelessness crisis in some way.

Council coordinator Ruby Barclay said available services are predominantly geared to adults, not those who were never even given a chance to succeed.

“It’s differences in services, vulnerabilities and in a way needs for protection. To be safe and be able to continue developing and growing and starting adulthood off in a good way. There’s not a lot of spaces where youth can find other young people, where they can be in a safe space together.”

The council identified several key ways the Nanaimo community and City council could help alleviate the housing and poverty burden on youth.

Recommendations included creating a coordinator position specifically to engage with youth, as well as creating more housing options, supporting advocacy on existing boards and making sure to recognize the voice of experience youth have on matters affecting them.

One success Barclay showed was creating a bus stop outside a youth safe house, which helped them not miss their curfews and in turn keep living in a safe space.

She said it was unfortunate they had to press to make sure the bus stop was built and it should have been considered by planners without their advocacy.

They also created a resource guide small enough to fit inside a shoe which has contact numbers for important agencies youth can turn to in a time of need.

“We want our young people to inherit this community in a good way,” Barclay said. “They can’t inherit a community when they’re facing homelessness. So we need to take this incredibly seriously.”

The awareness campaign by the council comes during Homelessness Action Week, which finishes on Sunday, Oct. 19.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit