Youth Opportunities Unlimited 30 bed Youth Shelter (Photo provided by YOU)
“In a time where many services have been reduced or eliminated, Youth Opportunities Unlimited continues to offer all of its programming,” explains Youth shelter manager at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Max Doucet.
While continuing to respect COVID-19 health and safety best practices, Doucet says if there’s a way to offer support to youth who need it, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) is certain they’ll find a way.
On Aug. 17, 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic, YOU opened a 30 bed youth (ages 16-24) homeless shelter in hopes to help tackle the youth homelessness obstacle in London. Since Aug. 30, 2020, Doucet says YOU Housing First Youth Shelter has almost always been at maximum capacity.
“Since we’ve been open, the demand in the community has been very high. We see upwards of 20 turn-aways per week,” Doucet expands. “That means there’s 20 different individuals attempting to access shelter on a weekly basis.”
By the numbers
- 60% of individuals in London were under the age of 30 when they first experienced homelessness
- 26% of those accessing shelters are 24 years of age or younger
- 76% of these mentioned youth have experienced at least two forms of abuse in their lives
- 68% of youth experiencing homelessness come from foster care, group homes or a youth centre
Since opening
Although shelter may not be a home, the Housing First Youth Shelter provides a safe place while transitioning from homelessness to a secure and permanent housing solution. Doucet says with the help of the case worker team at YOU, finding those solutions have been a success.
“We’ve so far secured permanent housing solutions for 24 individuals and to date none have returned back to shelter which is really great to see!”
To help slow the numbers, YOU also provides diversion work for youth experiencing homelessness. Doucet explains this process as mediating conversations between participates and their families to see if they can return home.
Saying, this isn’t always the case for some youth but since opening, 22 individuals have been diverted away from shelters through this family reconnection process.
Services
Currently operating virtually (and in person when necessary), Doucet says there are many services for youth to take advantage of during the pandemic:
- Social Enterprise program allowing youth to gain valuable employment experience through skills training
- Youth Action Centre is open for drop in support, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m to offer supports with basic needs
Doucet explains how these services are extremely beneficial to youth when transitioning from homelessness to permanent solutions, however; when you age out of the program, things become less easy.
“When you age out of the program, the access to services and the level of support we provide at the youth shelter can be tough to find.”
Doucet says they try their best to work with individuals to find permanent solutions before they age out of the program.
“We recently had an individual who was turning 25. They sat down with me and explained how they had been in shelters for nearly two years now and their birthday was shortly approaching,” the youth shelter manager explains.
“Knowing this, we were able to work together and find this individual housing in three months and that’s what YOU stands for. Giving youth who haven’t been dealt the best cards a shot to survive in our community.”
Mission: YOU supports youth to build skills, confidence and independence to reach their potential.
Vision: A community where youth are embraced and will thrive.
Values: In all that we do, we remain accountable, collaborative, compassionate, courageous, innovative and persistent.
To find out how you can help: Get involved with YOU
To attend an upcoming event: Special events at YOU
Comments