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In recognition of World Homeless Day: A Look into Youth Homelessness and how NIȽ TU, O Child and Family Services is Supporting Prevention through Partnership

October 10, 2024 – News Release – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Territory

On World Homeless Day, the Our Children Our Way Society calls attention to the issue of youth homelessness, its interconnections with the child welfare system and the need to address poverty as the root cause of both.

Youth homelessness is a signal of systems failures. When our young people fall into homelessness, our systems have failed to provide a substantively equal opportunity to thrive.

For all Indigenous Child and Family Services Agencies (ICFSAs), addressing poverty and homelessness in their communities is a driving force that determines how they approach their work.

“We need compassion. And it is not as difficult as you think. It is so basic. Our Sweet Dreams, Safe Sleep bed program is an example: if kids are being removed because they don’t have a proper sleeping place, then let’s provide them with a bed. If their washer and dryer are broken, let’s fix it or get them a new washer and dryer.”          Katharina Stocker, Executive Director, NIȽ TU,O Child & Family Services Society

Poverty is a deeply rooted, systemic problem, and requires multi-pronged collaborative solutions. Partnerships are a critical pathway through which ICFSAs have been able to bring together resources and build collective capacity to address poverty and prevent youth homelessness.

For example, Carrier Sekani Family Services and Nezul Be Hunuyeh Child and Family Services Society have partnered with BC Housing and the Prince George Native Friendship Centre to open Nenanute K’et (“Our Place to Dream”), a new housing project for young adults.

NIȽ TU,O Child & Family Services Society and Threshold Housing Society have created a partnership grounded in their shared values and holistic approaches to offering supports. Through this partnership, they have launched numerous initiatives to better support Indigenous youth in Southern Vancouver Island.

These initiatives include the Re-design of Threshold’s Forrest House facility, an 18-unit youth centered housing project that will utilize traditional building practices and Coast Salish design elements. The project will offer 24/7 support to the youth living there. As an outcome of the partnership, four units will be held in perpetuity for Indigenous youth affiliated with NIȽ TU,O.

NIȽ TU,O also supported Threshold in developing their Indigenous Wellness Program which provides Indigenous youth with opportunities to learn about and connect with their families, communities and cultures.

On World Homeless Day, the Our Children Our Way Society raises its hands to the good work being led by NIȽ TU,O Child & Family Services Society and Threshold Housing Society, as well as the various organizations and Nations who are coming together to address youth homelessness in their own communities.

We know that solutions are found through the efforts and input of many, and we thank you for bringing your hands, hearts and minds together for our youth, who are our future.

Learn more:

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For further comment, please contact:

Jennifer Chuckry, Executive Director, Our Children Our Way Secretariat

[email protected]

 

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