WHY WE’RE WORKING ON THIS Commitment and call to action in 2014 Many CFY clients come from outside St. John’s Best practice: meeting them closer to home and support networks A focus on prevention

CFY PROVINCIAL EXPANSION Six sites across the province within the next 2 years “Sites” has a broad definition – anything from CFY locations to providing training and support Also involves participating in the provincial policy conversation

WHAT WE KNEW GOING IN Young people make up a large % of the homeless population, and being homeless has life-long impacts Many people experiencing homelessness in St. John’s are from elsewhere Youth face distinct struggles in NL

COMMON THEMES

COMMON THEMES, CONTINUED

MENTAL HEALTH Universally cited as a primary challenge Anxiety, in particular, reported much more often Very limited access to care in small communities Exacerbated by other challenges such as poverty and exclusion

CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND TO PLACE Important to both Indigenous peoples and settlers Major impacts on mental and physical wellness Connection to community and desire to remain home Threatened by climate change

A GROWING DRUG CRISIS Harder drugs at younger ages Cocaine use following large resource projects Significant regional hotspots Communities looking for direct supports (ie needle exchange) and for infrastructure to engage youth in more positive behaviours

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT Many employment and training programs out there – but almost none that fit the most vulnerable youth Lack of employer capacity for this support Many business opportunities that could be filled by social enterprises

THE CHALLENGE OF STIGMA Particularly evident in small communities Troubled youth quickly become know to landlords and employers Major barrier to service access: being seen Challenges with service providers who have grown up alongside youth

RURAL-URBAN CONNECTIONS Some young people will always need to leave home and come to St. John’s These journeys can be risky and chaotic Failure in town can precipitate a major crisis There is room for a more organized reception for youth when they arrive in the city

YOUNG ADULTS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS Outside of St. John’s there are almost no resources targeted at young people over age 18 Young people aged 16-18 who exit care face severe risks and limited support Most physical gathering spaces aimed at this age group have closed

TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES Very little public transportation outside of St. John’s and Corner Brook At-risk youth often lack access to a vehicle Attending programs in person is very important Community organizations use a great deal of time and money to move people

EMERGENCY AND HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS Very few emergency shelter beds outside of St. John’s, especially for young men Options for transitions into longer- term supportive or affordable housing also limited Lots of interest in scattered-site supportive housing using vacant or underused buildings

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY Consistent desire for better coordination of services for young people – a “front door” The most vulnerable youth feel excluded from existing spaces Some groups already working on co- location Powerful way to reduce stigma in smaller communities

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY Nearest opportunity for system change for youth Part of the conversation through “Towards Recovery” and the report of the Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes Closely tied into the upcoming housing and homelessness plan

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY Nearest opportunity for system change for youth Part of the conversation through “Towards Recovery” and the report of the Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes Closely tied into the upcoming housing and homelessness plan

COORDINATED ACCESS Integrating services = opportunity for coordinated access to housing, social, health care services for youth Lots of disconnects as young people move from place to place and program to program CFY Policy Paper: Provincial coordinated access

COORDINATED ACCESS & INTEGRATED SERVICES Opportunity to tie together work in education, housing, health care, CFY expansion Second round of focused consultations happening now with youth, government agencies, service providers

COORDINATED ACCESS & INTEGRATED SERVICES choicesforyouth.ca/ survey

NEXT STEPS: CFY Reporting back on integrated service delivery Social Innovation Summit, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, June 4-5 Social enterprise pilot expansions Solidifying partnerships Program model and fund development

CONCLUSIONS The most vulnerable have the fewest supports Geography and transportation are key Indigenous and LGBTQ2S lenses are critical

CONCLUSIONS Youth need to be a specific component in the Housing and Homelessness Plan Newfoundland and Labrador can be a Canadian leader We are ready

QUESTIONS?