Camille FarragStrategist, Youth & Prevention

One Plan: Many Perspectives

1. August 29th, 2007: 53 young people and community wide agencies

2. May 7th & May 8th, 2009: Youth Summit - 25 young people actively participated in developing the agenda and planning for the Summit, over 160 people attended.

3. July 2010 – June 2011 ; On-going consultations on a Draft Plan to End Youth Homelessness which included the Youth Sector, young people and the wider community. All 80 pages!

Population facts about Calgary

Total population of Calgary: 1,230,248 (2008/ 2009 estimate)

Total Homeless Population: 4,060 people were homeless in Calgary on any given night (2008)

Total number of homeless youth:• 355 under age 18 (unaccompanied youth)• 327 youth between ages 18 and 24.

Total: 682 youth on any given night

Defining Youth Homelessness

“A homeless youth is an unaccompanied person age 24 and under lacking a permanent nighttime residence. They can be living on the street, in shelters, couch surfing, in unsafe and insecure housing, and living in abusive situations. They may also be about to be discharged without the security of a regular residence from a care, correction, health, or any other facility”

Setting the Course: A Blueprint to End Youth Homelessness in Calgary, 2009

Strategy 1: Build a coordinated system to prevent & end youth homelessness (system of key components)

Strategy 1: Coordinating activities and tools that help link the key components

1) a common objective: “to end youth homelessness,”

2) collective support for Housing First policies and practice,

3) a shared understanding on quality standards of care,

4) collection and sharing of high-quality research,

5) a common assessment framework and central referral process,

6) shared tools and resources, such as the HMIS, and

7) system and program outcomes, and performance measurement.

• add housing for youth who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness• work with the government to create family-style homes

Strategy 2 – Develop an adequate number of housing units and supportive homes

Strategy 3 – Improve data systems knowledge and influence public policy

•implement the HMIS;•gain a detailed understanding of youth homelessness;•advocate for a provincial effort to end youth homelessness;•adopt an inclusive definition of youth homelessness;•encourage more Children and Youth Services support for homeless youth under 18;•build income supports for young people transitioning into independence; and•provide better access to post-secondary education.

Create an understanding the uniqueness of youth homelessness….

Youth homelessness is unique because young people:

• young people (under the age of 18) have distinct legal entitlements and restrictions separate from those of adults.

• Attached to these separate legal entitlements and restrictions is a dedicated justice system, education system, child protection system and health services.

• enter into homelessness with little or no work experience;• are often forced into leaving their education (i.e. junior high and high school)

as a result of their homelessness;• experience high levels of criminal victimization, including sexual exploitation;

and• often enter into homelessness without life skills such as cooking, money

management and job searching.• are physically, emotionally, and socially still developing – they are adults-in-

progress with unique strengths and assets;

After the Youth Plan launch....

• Establishing a Youth Advisory Panel• Consultations on implementation of the Youth Plan (November 2011)• Discussing ways to work with a new government