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By Dylana Kneeshaw

ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

B.C Coalition to End Youth Homelessness asking for provincial action plan

Jul 29, 2020 | 3:50 PM

KAMLOOPS — Advocates for ending youth homelessness in B.C are calling on the provincial government to create a plan to help struggling young people.

A second report from the B.C Coalition to End Youth Homelessness (BCCEYH) was released today (July 29). It outlines the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on homeless youth.

The group is calling on the province for a large scale plan to end youth homelessness. “The pandemic has really impacted those most marginalized youth,” says A Way Home Kamloops Executive Director Katherine McParland. “And the recovery plan is really going to need a focus on creating youth-specific housing options, decreasing the affordability gap, as well as ensuring there are those pathways into education and employment.”

The new report’s information was gathered from speaking with community organizations and youth with lived experience.

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McParland says communities are reporting an increase in youth sleeping outside. She says the latest report notes there are fewer opportunities to couch-surf during the pandemic, along with limited shelter spaces.

“Additionally, we’re seeing a lot of young people facing sexual exploitation over the Internet,” explains McParland. “And there have been some scary situations where youth have been exploited around their need for housing.”

The province paused the aging out process during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s not known how long the extension will last. McParland says she’s particularly concerned about the lack of details.

“What we’ve seen is that the foster care system, in particular the process of aging out, is a super-highway to homelessness. So the sector is anticipating with this larger cohort aging out, we’re not going to have the housing or supports that youth need,” she says. “Additionally, youth are unable to transition plan in this state of uncertainty.” McParland says the coalition wants to know what will happen when the extension period runs out.

The new report also found that there has been an increase in youth overdosing during the pandemic. A worry for the BCCEYH is Bill 22, which proposes amendments to the Mental Health Act. It would allow youth who overdose to be involuntarily hospitalized for up to a week after they overdose.

McParland says the group does not support Bill 22 without adequate access to treatment.

“Our worry is that young people are going to be detained for seven days, and they’re going to be released from hospital without a treatment option, reduced tolerance so we know there is an increased risk of overdose, and a mistrust of support.”