When we think of young adults moving out of their parent's houses, we picture them unpacking their sparse housewares in a small--maybe a bit shabby apartment with a couple of friends. But unfortunately, this is not the reality for many Canadian young people, and it is due to something that is increasingly effecting all of us. I am talking about lack of affordable and adequate housing ("Environmental" 2006). Those youth who move away from their parents only to find themselves unable to afford adequate living arrangements are lucky if they can find protection from the elements on a friend's couch house for a while, but otherwise they are forced into emergency shelters, which--on top of not always being safe and often uncomfortable--are costly to keep running ("Youth" 2007) Furthermore, there are not nearly enough shelters to accommodate the needs of young, homeless New Brunswickers (click here to read a CBC News report on the issue.)
However, committed community members are continually searching for new, more effective ways of solving these problems, with programs like Youth Quest, a transitional housing program for homeless Moncton youth. This article about the initiative ran in the New Brunswick Beacon in 2009, and Youth Quest continues to help the homeless or inadequately housed young people of the Moncton area today.
What can you do? You can contact your government official and insist on more affordable housing, and better funding for great programs like Youth Quest. You would be surprised what could get done once you speak up!
References
Zamperelli, J., Kraus D., Eberle, M., Serge, L. (2006). Environmental Scan on Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/62504.pdf?lang=en
(2007). Youth Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.shelterhouse.on.ca/article/youth-homelessness-147.asp
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