Shelterlink Youth Services started collecting signatures around Thanksgiving in hopes of persuading the federal government to proclaim Nov. 17 National Day of Youth Homelessness Awareness.
Executive Director Cate Trudeau said they feel that it’s important to recognize a day to raise awareness, reduce the stigma, and advance conversations on this issue.
“It’s important we distinguish youth homelessness and adult homelessness.”
“One in five Canadians experiencing homelessness are youth between the ages of 13 and 24. Forty per cent of homeless youth first experienced homelessness before the age of 16 and nearly half of those that are chronically homeless as adults first experienced homelessness before the age of 25.”
Trudeau said during discussions about the issue, it’s important to look into prevention and getting to young people before they enter that system and become chronically homeless.
They plan to deliver the signed petition to Perth-Wellington MP John Nater.
