A Huron County charity for homeless youth is seeing more intense problems to resolve, especially since the pandemic.
Huron Safe Homes for Youth Executive Director Vicky Parent explains that they work with youth aged 16 to 18.
"Huron Safe Homes for Youth recognizes that adolescence is a period of transition where youth and their families face many challenges, and that unresolved conflict can lead to the breakdown of the family unit," Parent explained. "The primary goal of the agency is to restore family units when appropriate, and respond to youth homelessness."
Parent says Huron Safe Homes for Youth recognized that adolescence can often include unresolved family issues.
"So what we know is the main cause of homelessness is a breakdown or conflict within a family unit," she continued. "Many have chosen to, or have been forced to, leave home because it's unsafe, abusive or there's a neglectful situation, and others because of mental health challenges or addictions that either they or someone else in their household might be experiencing."
The charity began in 1989 after a conversation between teachers and school administrators on the number of young people that were coming to them reporting that it was unsafe to return home or they had nowhere to go.
"So program delivery is guided by the principles of housing first for youth, positive youth development, which is a strength based approach, trauma informed care and family and natural supports," Parent outlined. "So initial supports typically may involve an assessment of current needs, the creation of a case plan, which outlines the goals and desired outcomes that these may have, and mediation for parent-teen conflict when that's appropriate. We also explore housing options, for example, kinship arrangements."
Huron Safe Homes for Youth also works with clients to apply to Ontario Works to support housing needs, or helps to address physical and mental health concerns.
Parent added the agency supported 75 young people in the 2023 - 2024 fiscal year.
"And 30 of those received mediation to resolve the conflict and restore their family unit," she revealed. "45 received support to secure alternative housing, and a total of 179 days of emergency housing was provided to six young people."
The organization is funded in part by the United Way Perth Huron.