Updated Feb, 2018
Help End Youth Homelessness
On Monday, March 26, 2018, the United Way KFL&A in partnership with Sophie Kiwala, MPP Kingston and the Islands will once again host Youth Homeless Awareness Day at Queen’s Park. Much has been done since 2014 when the Plan to End Youth Homelessness in Kingston and Area was released but more is needed. Since the Plan’s implementation, several new initiatives have been realized, with chartable progress achieved in each area of focus.
All Young People should have a Home
Whether visible or not, the issue of youth homelessness exists in every riding across the province – in big and small, urban and rural communities, alike. On any given night in Canada, there are over 6,000 young people who experience homelessness. An even greater number of youth are part of the hidden homeless population who ‘couch surf’. No young person should have to prove they deserve a home. For many of them, homelessness is the result of experiencing family conflict, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Once on the streets, things do not necessarily get better. In fact, it usually gets worse.
Ending youth homelessness requires a proactive approach that focuses on prevention, and helping young people who are homeless to move into housing with supports, as rapidly as possible and in a supported, safe and planned way. On March 26, strategies will be discussed, current work will be evaluated and experiences with homelessness will be shared by youth with first-hand knowledge.
To learn more about this issue please read our 2018 Report on Youth Homelessness.
Read some of the incredible stories from homeless youth
Media Contact:
Bhavana Varma, President & CEO, United Way of KFL&A
613-542-2674 ext. 1101, bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca
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Past Events:
Kingston, ON (November 19, 2015) The road to end youth homelessness is headed to Queen’s Park. The United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (United Way KFLA) and Member of Provincial Parliament Sophie Kiwala are hosting a Youth Homelessness Awareness Day at Queen’s Park November 23, 2015.
During Question Period that day, Ms. Kiwala will seek a motion for all MPPs to wear a scarf, designed by Kingston-based Bm Dodo Designs, that showcases the voice of homeless and at-risk youth. Ms. Kiwala will also host a reception for MPPs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Committee Room #228. This is a chance for legislators to meet with people working to end youth homelessness, learn about the work being done and begin combining efforts to end youth homelessness across Ontario.
“We know that on any given night, there are 6,000 young people in Ontario without a place to live,” says Bhavana Varma, President and CEO of United Way KFL&A. “It’s a big issue that requires a very different strategy than ones that address adult homelessness. We are leading a community plan to end youth homelessness in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and are excited to bring the voice of homeless youth to Queen’s Park.”
Members of the Youth Homelessness Steering Committee will travel to Toronto to join Ms. Kiwala and staff from United Way KFLA at the event.
Media Contact:
Bhavana Varma, President & CEO, United Way of KFL&A
613-542-2674 ext. 1101, bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca
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