Local MPP, Rod Jackson, is making changes to the Child and Family Services Act with Bill 88, the Youth Right To Care Bill.
Currently, once a youth hits ages 16 and 17, certain services are no longer available to them. If they find themselves without parental guidance, for whatever number of (often awful or traumatic) reasons, they are now considered adults and left to fend for themselves.
Rod Jackson explains: “This means that the only things that are available to them are services like homeless shelters. Many of them don’t even know where to find a homeless shelter. They’ve never experienced that before. Suing their parents—what youth is (a) going to know that they have the right to do that, or (b) have the resources to be able to go ahead and do it? Should that be a resort that they have to take on themselves? Or they have to make the case for Ontario Works. These are systems that are there for adults. We should not be sending our children who are 16 and 17 years old to the street. This is where many of them end up. This is a gap, though. “
These kids are more likely to become homeless, incarcerated and unlikely to thrive in adulthood. The kids lose their youth, are unlikely to finish high school, even more unlikely to go on to any higher education or training. Their progress to becoming happy, functioning and productive adults is effectively stunted. As Rod Jackson stated, “We allow for the loss of potential of the people who make this province great.”
The cost of emergency housing is enough to amend the Act:
“Overall, the cost of supporting homeless youth is between $6,500 and $8,000 per homeless youth per month…in comparison to supporting a homeless youth, the cost of supports, such as an income supplement or supportive housing arrangements, including a community support worker for that youth, are found to be much less costly: as low as $1,000 per month.”
If you’re like me and have been completely in the dark to all the challenges facing these kids, it is a bit baffling. Thankfully, Rod Jackson has taken this to Queens Park and on December 4th, it will be up for a public hearing. Once it passes the standing committee it will be called up for a 3rd reading and will become law.
“Each child has the right to develop to the fullest and have protection from harmful influences such as abuse and exploitation. This, clearly, is not being fulfilled when you treat these youth as adults.”
To show your support please sign this petition or contact your local MPP (Barrie’s is Rod Jackson). The public can participate in the committee that occurs on December 4th by being a witness, submitting materials or just by attending. For more information on how to become involved in the committee please follow this link.
