Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/198486
Youth Homelessness Initiative " mothers to overcome seemingly insurmountable "I knew my mom was dying and I just obstacles and successfully transition from foster kind of withdrew," he says. Depressed and care to independent living. unable to cope with his home environment, Before becoming Youth in government care are particularly he left the house, stopped going to school, susceptible to ending up homeless. In BC, when and started bunking with friends and staying involved in the proyouth in care turn 19 they are considered adults out all night. gram, I was basically and lose all support from the provincial govHis mother passed away when he was 15. Davidson was taken in by the foster family in ernment. The expectation is that these vulnera hoodlum. Now I'm Cloverdale that was already caring for his middle able youth have the skills to function as more responsible and self-sufficient, independent adults. The stark brother. "It was a good home, but I couldn't take reality is that almost half of homeless youth in their rules, so I left," he recalls. know how to live Vancouver were once in government care. More He went back to couch surfing. He roamed independently. I'd than two-thirds of youth in care in BC will turn the streets and got involved in petty crime. 19 without a high school diploma. Nearly half "Sometimes I stayed up for 24 hours straight or like to take what I've will be involved in the criminal justice system, slept in parks." learned and raise and half will go on income assistance within a Eventually, he reached out to the social few months of their 19th birthday. worker he was assigned when his mother was my children a lot Gale Stewart, founder and executive direcin hospital, and was introduced to the Support differently from how tor of Aunt Leah's Place, was a foster parent for Link Program at Aunt Leah's Place. "It changed 10 years in the 1980s along with her husband my life," he says. "It brought me out of my I was brought up." Paul. She quickly recognized there were masshell. I learned to express myself. It was a safe, -Robert Davidson comfortable environment where I learned how sive gaps in support services for young people leaving foster care. to live independently and responsibly." "Most 19- and 20-year-olds are still living at home, and being For 25 years, Aunt Leah's Place, in New Westminster, has been working to help prevent children in foster care from becoming supported by their parents. On average, young people from mainhomeless, and young mothers in need from losing custody of their stream families live in the family home until their mid- to late 20s. children. By providing secure housing, financial support, job training Youth in government care, on the other hand, are expected to and coaching on essential life skills in a safe, supportive environment, make their way in the world when they turn 19, with no support Aunt Leah's Place has helped more than 1,000 youth and 500 single structure in place. page 10 I Vancouver Foundation l Fall 2013 p09-11 Aunt Leah's Place.indd 10 13-10-11 1:31 PM