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Stories of Children and Youth

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'I've got big dreams': Youth Connect brings together homeless, social service agencies

Sebastian Levesque, 17, couldn’t help but smile as he loaded his pockets with snacks and pamphlets Thursday at the fourth annual YEG Youth Connect at the Boyle Street Plaza.

“It feels pretty great,” said Levesque. “They actually want to help, and there’s not that many people in this world that want to help other people.”

Levesque said he has been homeless since he was 12, but never really had a stable family or home even before that.

“I’m trying to actually start my life, because six years on the streets is not going to be too easy,” said Levesque, eager to learn about housing and employment services available from the approximately 35 agencies gathered at the event.

“I’ve got big dreams, and I’m looking to actually make them come true,” Levesque said, adding, “I’ve got no connections, I’ve got no way to start up. I’ve got to build it up from the ground.”

Levesque was just one of about 300 youth between the ages of 13 and 29 who are either homeless or are on the brink of homelessness at YEG Youth Connect, where they could meet social service providers while getting a free meal, a haircut or posing for a photo with their friends at a photo booth.

“The event is meant to connect youth with youth serving agencies here in the city of Edmonton,” said Michael Peters, YEG Youth Connect co-chair. “We know there is a multitude of agencies providing such great work; the barrier we want to overcome is having those youth connect to those agencies.”

According to the last Homeward Trust Homeless Count in 2016, up to a third of those who are homeless in Edmonton are under the age of 25.

Peters hopes that by inviting youth to interact with social service providers in a less formal setting, youth will build familiarity with those who can provide support and empower those youth to seek out those services when they are in need.

“They are coming in on their own terms, they are the ones approaching the opportunities, so they get a chance to lead the way, and I think that helps build their confidence and hopefully increase the opportunity of them accessing those supports long term,” said Peters.

David Shepherd, NDP MLA for Edmonton-Centre, said it’s not enough to create pathways out of poverty, there needs to be strategies to “work to close off the paths that lead there.”

Levesque said a common thread amongst many homeless people is addiction. He struggled with and overcame the abuse of hard drugs in his early teens.

Despite the challenges he faces, Levesque is optimistic about his future — hoping to one day be able to uplift other homeless people — and offered encouraging words to other youth like him struggling to survive on the streets.

“Do not ever give up; you are stronger than you think. You can’t give up,” Levesque said. “Life will get better.”

By Claire Theobald

14 September 2017

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