“ WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, KID” HOMELESS YOUTH IN TORONTO & HOW YOU CAN HELP OUT

*this story is not based on any youth in particular but witness of failed humanity. Though, facts and stats are from credible sources. This puts you in a ‘eyes closed and feel’ situation*

Imagine you and me. We both are sitting at a coffee shop. I just lost my job and I am spending a few bucks on a cup of coffee so I can sit for the next few hours contemplating “How am I ever going to pay rent for next month? When will be my next meal? Is there a waitlist on a clean bed so I don’t end up on the street?”  YOU – are working class and extremely tired from a long shift. You decided to spend the next few hours away from home for some extra ‘me’ time – in the same place, a few feet away from me. Though, we both don’t know each other.  All you can presume by looking at me is that I am between the age of 18-25. If I started a chat and told you I don’t have a job, you might give me a few bucks, tell me “well…this is a big city” hinting there should be no reason why I couldn’t find at least SOMETHING and “there are so many options even in the fast food industry“.

You might even wonder why I lost my job and or don’t have a place to stay in the meantime. Of course, with a few negative thoughts lurking to probably how I ended up in this position. You will find out this later after reading my fellow youth stats that are facing the streets without a stoplight telling us – it’s our turn to go.

 How many children don’t get proper food in Canada? 850,000 people undertake food services/banks each month. More than one-third of those are youth and children. 1 million Canadian children (that’s 1 in 6) face the struggle of hunger every year.  With one that re-charges their light bulb every so often, you would know this leads to altering children’s ability to learn, focus and function. This relating to sickness/headaches and not reaching their full potential in the classroom. Relying on people like us to making online donations and school food drives, unfortunately, that isn’t enough.  For my community, almost 1 in 10 Torontonians can’t afford healthy food. The Canadian government pledged to quash child poverty by the year 2000, 16-17 years later it has not changed much. 48.7% lack access to basic food for such other life resources such as shelter aka. rent, clothing and even transit costs for transportation.

Approx how many youth are on the street each night you ask? For such a commercialized electronic city that Toronto is, there is an estimate of 1,000 to 2,000 homeless youth a night. Minimum of 35,000 youth over the course of the year in Canada. Studies show 70% of homeless youth have suffered some form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Which has led to 46% of homeless youth with the thought of suicide.  23% of young women and 11% of men in Toronto said they’d resort to trading sex for food.  72% of females between ages of 19-25 are homeless and 64% of homeless youth under 25 are male.

You look at these youth and say ‘Go get a job’? That’s easy for you to say when you have a bed to sleep at night and reading this with data or wifi. The Canadian youth unemployment rate has been at it’s highest monthly at 20.70%. 77% of homeless youth are unemployed. 19% do break and enters or sell drugs.

– Now, HOW could I have POSSIBLY lost my job and or out of a home: My mental health, substance abuse due to childhood and or current/past assault. I don’t have family or friends that care enough to HELP ME get HELP. My foster parents didn’t adopt me. My father or mother kicked me out of the house because my job doesn’t pay enough. I can’t get a job now because I don’t have a fixed address – The list goes on but does any of these scream, “This was my choice”

What are you teaching Canada to these children holding their mother & father’s hand walking the street each day, looking down at these street youth? You’re teaching them that if they hit rock bottom one day (which 50% of homeless youth come from middle- and upper-income families) that you don’t have their back.

Because I know I have their back.

The winter season and holidays can be hard for anyone to get through. Not every street youth looks unclean, uses drugs and or alcohol. Below are two short docu’s called the Red Button CBC produced following 2 street youth in their daily life.

It’s time for you to meet these youth.

Here are a few links to the sources we used:

http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca/homeless-youth/facts-and-stats

http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca/homeless-youth/Youth-Homelessness

http://www.evas.ca/facts-about-youth-homelessness/

http://www.yws.on.ca/who-we-are/youth-homelessness/

How can you help out? Continue the conversation on social media, donate, get involved in person and hey if you are a business owner that notices a youth’s talent, hire them!

Find a charity HERE or if you’re a reader outside of Toronto, research a few in your area or hometown. We are massive fans of the Happy Hippie foundation. Go check them out as well HERE

Written by: Mercedes Tenile Kromm