As the number of families grows on the West Shore, so to does the need for temporary housing for troubled youth.
The Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria is putting out the word it is looking for homes on the West Shore willing to temporarily house youth in need of a place to stay.
B次元官网网址淭hese are pretty high-needs, vulnerable kids,B次元官网网址� said youth and family services manager Ellie James. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 heal from trauma until you feel safe and secure.B次元官网网址�
Langford resident Laurie Falk takes part in the program for young mothers. Her home has an extra suite, so she gives either pregnant youth or young mothers, typically between 16 to 21 years old, a place to stay. The youth come into the program during pregnancy and stay for one year.
B次元官网网址淚 love it,B次元官网网址� Falk said. B次元官网网址淭his is something that IB次元官网网址檝e actually wanted to do for a very long time. IB次元官网网址檓 happy to have this opportunity to do it.B次元官网网址�
So far Falk has hosted one youth and said there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any problems, only benefits. She said she has enjoyed making friends with other care home parents and has found helping out in the community rewarding.
B次元官网网址淲e think of our gal as just an extension of our family. B次元官网网址� You have to understand young people, perhaps understand what it could be like for them.B次元官网网址�
On the West Shore the need is primarily for housing for youth dealing with either addiction, youth justice or sexual exploitation.
B次元官网网址淭hey come into our program with the idea that theyB次元官网网址檙e moving on somewhere,B次元官网网址� James said.
The ideal length of time is six months. After that the youth are expected to move on, either back to their families, to self-sufficiency or, at times, into foster care.
B次元官网网址淭hey are kids who have had a hard time,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淥n the other side of it, theyB次元官网网址檙e just kids. TheyB次元官网网址檙e just kids who need a safe, secure place to live and we want families who are willing to B次元官网网址� establish a relationship with them.B次元官网网址�
The ideal homes are those with flexible schedules, with occupants who like youth and are open to working with them. The newly retired are considered ideal participants, but all ages and stages of families take part.
Anyone interested must go through a screening process and then ongoing monitoring. All youth involved also have a family worker they work with and on-call support is available from the Boys and Girls Club at all times.
Homes which take part in the program are paid a retainer for being available and a per diem based on the expectations of what housing the youth will require.
Anyone interested in taking part is asked to call Erin Dusdal at the Boys and Girls Club at 250-686-9114 or visit bgcvic.org.
Funding woes
The West Shore Youth Housing Task Force continues to seek funding to establish a youth shelter on the West Shore.
Chair Bill McIlroy said there are plenty of houses available, but the startup and operating funds must be in place before anything can move forward.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of houses we can rent, thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of places we can buy, but itB次元官网网址檚 the startup,B次元官网网址� McIlroy said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 optimistic. Things are moving along in the right direction, although much slower than IB次元官网网址檇 like.B次元官网网址�
The group is talking with a foundation in Vancouver over the next couple of weeks in the hopes of securing some more funds.
