Background
A referral came through from a local high school and an Indigenous support worker. .A 17-year-old youth arrived for her first meeting, feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, with no stable housing she had been couch surfing for some time. It was midday when she entered, visibly exhausted and carrying the weight of uncertainty about her future.
The youth was unable to return to either parent due to a history of family violence and had been separated from her siblings. The history of violence meant she could not visit or stay with her brothers and sisters, further isolating her from her loved ones.
Client Needs
Upon meeting, the youth expressed uncertainty about what supports were available through Child Services or Mi’kmaq Family Services and where she fit within the system. Without a legal guardian in place, she had no access to funds, meaning she was without hygiene products, or meals for school, and clothing allowances
While the school and Indigenous support worker tried to assist by providing lunch items, her most pressing need was housing. The temporary family she had been staying with had asked her to leave, leaving her with nowhere to go.
Ideal Solution
In an ideal world, this young woman would have access to:
- A permanent, safe family to live with.
- Funding for basic needs, including hygiene, food, clothing, period supplies, and a phone.
- A stable home to allow her to complete her high school education.
- A shelter within her local community, preventing her from needing to relocate and lose access to her school, friends, and activities.
Intervention & Support Strategy
Without the ideal solution immediately available, the following interventions were implemented:
- Emergency Supplies: Gift cards were provided for food, hygiene items, and clothing. Christmas gifts were also arranged for her.
- Shelter Search: All provincial shelters were contacted, but no available beds were found.
- Community Support: The local reservation was contacted, but no support was available.
- Temporary Housing: A local women’s center paid for a hotel for three days to cover the weekend until a more stable solution could be arranged.
- Long-Term Housing Search: Meetings were arranged with the local housing and homeless agency. Due to her age, long-term housing options were extremely limited.
- Government Outreach: Child Protective Services were contacted for information and support.
- Law Enforcement Assistance: The local RCMP reached out to a transition house in another town, which went beyond expectations to accommodate her.
- Transportation Coordination: Since the transition house was a 40-minute drive away, daily transportation was arranged to ensure she could continue attending her high school.
Barriers to Reaching an Ideal Solution
Several systemic barriers prevented immediate access to the best possible solution:
- Lack of Coordination Between Agencies: Uncertainty between Mi’kmaq Family Services and Child Protective Services regarding jurisdiction over her case caused delays.
- Limited Communication: Phone calls to social workers often went unanswered, delaying necessary interventions.
- Housing Shortages: No appropriate local housing options existed for youth in her situation.
- Lack of Wraparound Support: Services were scattered, making it difficult for her to access what she needed in one place.
- Shelter Relocation Requirements: The absence of local shelters meant she had to move to another town, uprooting her from school, friends, and activities, adding to her instability.
Testimonials
“I just want a place where I don’t have to wonder where I’m sleeping next.” — Youth
“The system makes it hard to help these kids. If agencies don’t work together, youth like her fall through the cracks.” — Support Worker
Calls for Systemic Change
If given the opportunity to advocate for systemic change to the Premier or Prime Minister, these recommendations would be made:
- Wraparound Services for Youth (16-24): Youth in this age gap are among the most vulnerable. Programs providing stable housing, life skills training, and social services should be established within their communities.
- Youth-Specific Shelters in Rural Areas: Homeless youth should not have to leave their home communities to access shelter. More local shelters tailored to youth, especially those affected by family violence, are needed.
- Clearer Agency Responsibilities: A streamlined process for identifying which agency is responsible for Indigenous youth in crisis would prevent delays in accessing critical services.
- Improved Communication Between Agencies: A requirement for timely responses from social services to ensure no youth is left in limbo due to administrative delays.
Conclusion
This case highlights the gaps in support available for vulnerable youth and the urgent need for systemic changes. While emergency intervention provided short-term relief, a long-term solution requires government action to ensure that no young person faces homelessness, disconnection from their community, and uncertainty about their future.