BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness releases COVID-19 response report to province

1) What are the impacts and challenges arising from COVID-19 for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness?

2) What are the promising practices to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in B.C. communities for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness?

3) What are the recommendations for our provincial government to support youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BC Coalition co-chair, and A Way Home Kamloops executive director Katherine McParland says having a contingency plan for youth in care is crucial so young people do not become homeless as a result of COVID-19.

According to the input gathered, McParland says there is a lot of uncertainty for youth who are about to age out of the system. With physical distancing requirements, the opportunities for homeless youth to “couch surf,” have reduced, so the need for housing and food has increased.

“We applaud the province for pausing the process of aging out for youth in care, however non profits across the province anticipate a ground swell of young people aging out, and are not sure if they’ll have adequate resources to be able to respond to that large of a cohort at one time.”

McParland says technology has also been highlighted as a key area of need for youth to be able to access education and information. Many of these individuals who would normally go to a public library for Wi-Fi or computer access are not able to, and currently have a disadvantage in getting their educational needs met.

Communities in the report also cited an increase in substance use, and mental health struggles for young people at this time. With many services limited, McParland notes it has become harder for at-risk youth to get the psychiatric care they require.

McParland says they have sent out the report to provincial ministries for consideration, and hope to discuss it further with them.

“We really feel there is a need for an inter-ministerial response,” she says. “If one ministry takes on the role of mom and dad, we need all the other ministries to be aunties and uncles. Especially in a time of unprecedented crisis such as today.”

Report recommendations include:

– Provide universal and comprehensive after-care supports post-19 for all youth in the foster care system regardless of their circumstance with waitlists eliminated.

– Provide reliable technology to all youth in need. The inequities in access to technology are resulting in increased disparity in access to education – and potentially life-saving support to vulnerable youth.

– Develop a Contingency Plan for every youth in care that includes alternative housing options and supports, including considerations and plans based on the youth’s culture.

– Support foster parents with increased pay or respite to help youth remain in the home. Provide education to the youth and foster parents around social distancing.

– Ministry of Children and Family Development may need more resources (perhaps hire more intake and assessment staff) to address backlogs and inaccessibility.

– Develop youth-specific emergency housing options in light of COVID-19. These should not be at the same hotels as the adult response and should be tailored to the youth’s unique developmental needs.

– Ensure all youth shelters are accessible for youth at this time (many closures reported).

– Provide increased resources to non-profits to respond effectively to the needs of youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

– Provide additional support staff that can help youth sustain housing and wellness during these challenging times.

by Dylana Kneeshaw

BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness releases COVID-19 response report to province

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