There are 200 youth on a housing waitlist in St. John's. Choices for Youth is asking for help

Worries heighten for Choices for Youth executive director Jen Crowe as she thinks about where young people in St. John's are spending their nights during the cold winter months.

Crowe says there are 200 youth on a housing waitlist, and Choices for Youth's nine-bed emergency shelter is consistently full.

The city's housing shortage is also an issue. Crowe says it's nearly impossible to move people from the emergency shelter to other housing options because "there is nowhere to move them." 

"We are at an absolute mount in terms of where we are with homelessness and housing insecurity in our community alone," said Crowe, adding that there is a record low of rental unit vacancies in the city.

To help with these problems, the organization's annual Coldest Night Of The Year fundraising event was held on Saturday. Over 300 people gathered at Atlantic Place to complete a 2.5-kilometre walk through downtown. 

About $80,000 was raised, exceeding the group's original goal of $60,000. 

That money goes directly into programs and services to support youth experiencing homelessness.

"Today is a day of visibility," said Crowe. "It's only together that we can really, truly address this and make a dent in the issue of homelessness in our community." 

Funding problems continue

In August, the organization was forced to cut 16 staff members after federal funding fell through. Choices had asked for $20 million over four years, but only received $4 million. 

Then, in October, they were able to negotiate an agreement to use the $4 million in one year instead of over four. However, that funding will run out by August.

"Ultimately we've received a quarter of what we're used to in terms of federal funding," said Crowe.

Since getting federal funding, the organization has hired several staff into its education, employment and social enterprise teams, as well as youth completing pre-employment training. 

"We have been able to offer new positions to some of the staff who we laid off in the summer," said Crowe.

She says there's evidence to prove that the group's programming works. Within a year, half of the youth that have come to Choices for Youth without stable housing, have received housing. And half of the youth seeking mental health support, said they have improved mental health. 

"We really need to invest in what's working, what's evidence-based," said Crowe. 

'Demand is ever increasing'

Crowe says Choices for Youth has helped house 150 youth a year in units they operate themselves, and units owned by private landlords. These youth still receive support including therapy, basic needs, skills development and employment support. 

However, those services are generally booked full, Crowe said, and there aren't enough options in St. John's.

Crowe says they also need more "wrap-around supports," which include primary care, mental health support and ways to make an income. 

In St. John's, half of the people experiencing homelessness first experienced homelessness before the age of thirty, she said.

Crowe says the key to stopping homelessness is looking at factors that contribute to it, like substance use, mental health challenges and lack of affordable housing. 

"I think if we can really narrow in on those baseline fundamental issues, then we have a shot at ending homelessness in our community," she said.

To do that, Crowe says, more sustainable funding is needed. 

"Certainly with more government, philanthropy, corporate support, we can absolutely do more."

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