{"id":37579,"date":"2020-12-07T18:19:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T23:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/?p=37579"},"modified":"2024-11-04T10:24:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T15:24:36","slug":"providing-youth-experiencing-homelessness-a-future-with-opportunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/en\/giving-life\/connecting-with-charities\/providing-youth-experiencing-homelessness-a-future-with-opportunity\/","title":{"rendered":"Providing Youth Experiencing Homelessness A Future With Opportunity"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog post was provided by Carolyn Holloway, Community Engagement Officer, from Safe Haven Foundation.<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

An estimated 35,000-40,000 young people experience homelessness in Canada every year. The majority of youth experiencing homelessness are forced to flee their family homes due to dangers including physical, sexual, emotional and mental abuse.\u00a0Some decide against shelters so they stay with friends\u00a0from school, concerned sports\u00a0coaches, or a friend of a friend that has space. Often explained as invisible homelessness, couch surfing has an expiry date. If there is nowhere for them to go when they have worn out their welcome, homelessness quickly becomes much more of a reality.<\/p>\n

On the street, many will find themselves in other vulnerable situations such as increased risk of crime and violence \u2014 such as robbery, sexual assault, and exploitation. Youth experiencing homelessness are also more likely to experience declining health, nutritional vulnerability and addictions. Often, they become disengaged from school, have difficulty obtaining employment, and are at high risk for stress, depression, anxiety disorders and suicide. In the worst situations, nearly 1 in 5 homeless youth experience some form of human trafficking.<\/p>\n

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Youth who seek housing solutions, are often rejected because they are not seen as not \u201cfit\u201d for programs for various reasons.\u00a0 At Safe Haven Foundation, we focus on prevention and early intervention through our Haven\u2019s Way\u2122 long-term homes program.\u00a0 We do not want these youth to go\u00a0unnoticed and\u00a0we do not want things to get worse before they can get support.\u00a0 We have an opportunity to end their experience of homelessness at an earlier stage, and to intervene before they experience further trauma.<\/p>\n

How Haven\u2019s Way\u2122 Helps<\/h2>\n

Once they\u00a0make the decision to open\u00a0the door of Haven\u2019s Way, their experience of homelessness ends and their next chapter begins; whatever that may be.\u00a0\u00a0They have stepped into a future full of powerful possibilities.\u00a0They will be given\u00a0opportunities\u00a0and\u00a0individualized\u00a0support and the resources to focus on their education and realize their potential.\u00a0\u00a0They\u00a0have evaded the harrowing life the street\u00a0would have handed them. They are free to dream, to create and accomplish a beautiful life for themselves!<\/p>\n

The Safe Haven Foundation is a registered charity founded in 1996 and our Haven\u2019s Way homes opened its doors in November 2000. Our innovative program was the first of its kind in Canada and duplicates that of a healthy, caring family environment.\u00a0 Haven\u2019s Way is a voluntary, long-term supportive housing program that assists young women who have a focus and commitment to completing their education.<\/p>\n

Key components of Haven\u2019s Way are:<\/p>\n