If you take a look at downtown St. Thomas Ont., it’s hard to ignore the issue of homelessness, especially on Talbot St. How much it’s growing, and how common it’s becoming within our communities are two areas of concern. But it’s youth homelessness that’s on an exponential rise.
“It’s largely hidden,” says Kyle Rolph, manager of the Upper Room youth emergencies shelter.
“About three quarters of the youth that have come are teenagers…Kids come in that were sleeping between dumpsters, under playground equipment, and under bleachers.”
The Upper Room is a program of Youth For Christ, an organization promoting the betterment of youth wellness in all areas including mental health and physical living arrangements. Rolph and volunteers at YFC organized a Coldest Night of The Year (CNOY) fundraiser and surpassed their goal of $20,000, which doubled their total from last years event.
“It’s given us some money now to be able to make meals, give gift cards, clothing and other necessities, and it goes to paying for the training of our volunteers.”
Their volunteers are trained to administer standard first aid and take part in Safe Talk, a suicide alertness program that specifically addresses the suicide risk in children. Saying that ‘children are not small adults,’ Rolph says the behaviour is different.
“It’s not an easy conversation. A lot of us have trouble asking an adult if they’re thinking about suicide, let alone a six or seven year old child.”
YFC doesn’t rely so much on government funding but support from families, community organizations and local businesses. And despite the COVID-19 pandemic financially effecting millions, the community support in the continuation of the Upper Rooms programs and services has allowed Rolph and his team to further help those in need.
“We had one lady that came through back in January, and she probably wouldn’t have been alive had we not been open that weekend,” explains Rolph.
“She came to us at night and it all came together. This girl is alive and well and we found her some more permanent housing.”
“It’s really good to have the opportunity to hear some of those stories later on about where they’re at,” says Lora Bernardo, a core volunteer of the Upper Room.
“It’s not necessarily one person or one story because I think every story and every person that you meet kind of touches you in a different way. But a combination of all of them just kind of make you feel like it’s an important thing in the community.”
Rolph says they can host up to 6 young people at a time and the target groups are ranging from 16-24 year olds.
“The main reason that they’re not in their homes is mostly due to a serious breakdown in family relationships,” says Rolph.
“It’s not like ‘I want to play Xbox for the next couple hours and my parents are taking it away from me,’ there’s some abuse going on. Emotional abuse, physical abuse, that’s part of the reason why kids are not staying in their places and need some support.”
For over 5 years, the Upper Room has given youth in need of support a safe, warm place to sleep and they’ve connected them with other non-profit organizations to ensure the continuation of that needed support is met.
Whether that be permanent housing or needing help signing legal documents, the money raised from this years CNOY fundraiser will go to supplies, meals, and volunteer training. All key aspects of keeping the doors to the Upper Room open.
The Upper Room/Facebook
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