Province studying youth homeless problem
In the wake of concerns over youth homelessness in small towns and big cities across Alberta, the provincial government has opted to study the growing problem.
Red Deer-South MLA Cal Dallas was asked by two departments Children and Youth Services, and Housing and Urban Affairs to look into the issue and report back in three months. "We've asked (him) to do some research so we have better information," Yvonne Fritz, minister of housing and urban affairs, said Wednesday.
Dallas, who started his work about a month ago, will be in Calgary today to meet privately with agencies from across southern Alberta. "We're out there having a discussion with folks who are involved in provision of services for youth, looking at some of the research . . . and how youth are arriving at a homeless situation," he said, noting he'll also study the services and shelter space available for youth.
Concerns over youth homelessness have grown in communities across Alberta in the past year.
In Calgary, there has been a spike in the number of teens seeking help at youth shelters and many have higher needs than ever, including addictions. Some of the increase in youth homelessness has been attributed to the growth of the city, with a rising number of youths running away from homes experiencing tough times. There are also concerns more children in the child welfare system are abandoning group homes or foster care for the streets and shelters, where there are fewer rules than the homes where they've been placed.
Dawn Leonard, manager of intervention at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, said it's vital everyone work together to deal with the issue. "It's about all of us working collectively, about not duplicating services so we're meeting the needs of the kids,"she said, noting two of her colleagues will attend the meeting.
Airdrie has also been grappling with similar problems after high school guidance counsellors noticed more teens asking for help.
Officials in the city of 34,000 estimate there are 30 to 40 homeless youths. They are still trying to determine the extent of the problem, although a local committee is recruiting families interested in giving the teens a meal and a bed for the night.
Dallas said his work will include towns and cities without shelters. "Certainly there is provision for shelter in most of the mid cities in Alberta,"he said, "but exploring the nature of the problem in rural Alberta and some of the smaller centres is within the scope of what we are trying to learn more about."
Colette Derworiz
28 March 2009
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Province+studying+youth+homeless+problem/1429965/story.html
