Joe Roberts has come a long way from living on the streets of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 East Side.
After leaving home at the age of 15, he quickly found himself homeless and battling addiction.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have the skill set to manage my life and I floundered B次元官网网址� It was a classic personal and systemic break down,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 just became one of those statistics.B次元官网网址�
However, Roberts is one of the few that managed to escape that life. Ten years later, he was a successful businessman, the CEO of a multimedia company and on the cover magazines.
B次元官网网址淚nside me was potential B次元官网网址� My story ended well because I had the stepping stones.B次元官网网址� But unfortunately, he said, many youth do not have the supports they need to turn their lives around or prevent them from ending up on the streets in the first place.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 two things weB次元官网网址檙e not doing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ousing first and investment in prevention.B次元官网网址�
While there are many variations of the causes of youth homelessness, theyB次元官网网址檙e essentially broken down into four categories: early childhood trauma, running from conflict, addiction, and mental health struggles. B次元官网网址淭hese can be addressed before a youth hits a piece of cardboard on the streets.B次元官网网址�
Now, Roberts is pushing a shopping cart across Canada in hopes of starting a conversation that will change perspectives and end youth homelessness. B次元官网网址淣ot everyone can walk across Canada but everyone can push for change,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hink locally and act nationally.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 hoping his campaign, The Push for Change, will inspire youth empowerment and the social justice movement to target at risk kids and youth in schools, while theyB次元官网网址檙e still a captive audience. In that setting, he added, those that have the potential to end up on the streets can be flagged and given the help they need.
But more conversation and a shift in perspective is required for that to happen and by pushing a shopping cart B次元官网网址� a symbol often associated with homelessness B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 hoping to start that.
B次元官网网址淲e need to create a possibility mindset,B次元官网网址� Roberts explained. B次元官网网址淲e can get to a place B次元官网网址� where we rethink homelessness.B次元官网网址�
He used the example of an emergency room, while you can get care there, itB次元官网网址檚 only temporary and not meant to be a long term fix. B次元官网网址淭hey can treat you as best they can in emergency, but thereB次元官网网址檚 still no bed upstairs and the waiting room is huge.B次元官网网址�
Other than the personal connection, Roberts noted the campaign is aimed at youth because B次元官网网址渋f we deeply impact youth homelessness, weB次元官网网址檒l in turn impact adult homelessness.B次元官网网址�
Roberts will be pushing his shopping cart over the Malahat and into Langford late morning on Wednesday (Sept. 13). HeB次元官网网址檚 more than a year into his journey and heB次元官网网址檚 already travelled more than 8,800 kilometres of the 9,220 km trip.
For more on his progress and the campaign, go to .
B次元官网网址淚 started to share the experince,B次元官网网址�
