Latest Kamloops youth homelessness count shines spotlight on support gaps

Executive Director Katherine McParland says the count found 136 young people were either currently homeless or had been in the last year.

This was up slightly from the 129 identified in a 2016 survey, however McParland says part of that could be due to changes made in their survey design.

McParland says what stuck out to her was the contrast between what is normally found to be homeless youth couch-surfing, to simply living on the streets.

“63 per cent of the youth identifying visible homelessness were sleeping in public spaces.”

Youth Advisor and Peer Navigator, Kira Cheeseborough, was one of the voices with lived experience that provided valuable insight into what questions needed to be asked.

“We helped kind of form what the survey was going to look like,” Cheeseborough explains, “so we brought the survey to Youth Against Youth Homelessness, and we invited other youth that we were connected to from our housing services to ensure that it was youth-friendly language that was being used and that it was comprehensive.”

75 per cent of homeless youth the survey identified were from Kamloops, and many who have gotten back on their feet now work with the organization.

At one time homeless herself, Angell Olsen says being a part of the effort from A Way Home Kamloops to improve the lives of others has been rewarding.

“Helping the community kind of brought a sense back into myself that I am a good person, and I can do things like connecting with other people. It really helped bring me back to life.”

According to McParland, the bi-annual report found a number of sub-populations were more at risk of winding up without a home.

“We definitely see Indigenous youth are over-represented. 55 per cent of youth (surveyed) identified as Indigenous,” she says, “and so we definitely see the need to have those cultural services that will help youth find that connection.”

The majority of young people who identified as homeless at one point or another cited unaffordable rent and family conflict as reasons for their living situation.

McParland says family mediation is often a focus their support workers have once a young person comes to them for help.

“We definitely look at how we can support that young person to reconnect back home because that is the ideal solution,” she stresses. “We know that if that family home is safe, and that young person can reconnect back home, their likelihood of experiencing homelessness again in the future is significantly reduced.”

A number of recommendations came from the report, including providing housing options, financial assistance, employment and educational support.

“If we can create communities where young people feel a sense of connection, belonging, and a sense of purpose, we know that young people will transcend the streets forever.”

The next count from A Way Home Kamloops will be held in 2020.

by Dylana Milobar

Latest Kamloops youth homelessness count shines spotlight on support gaps

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