The B.C. Coalition to End Youth Homelessness published its second Special Report on COVID-19 and youth homelessness in July 2020. The report recommends unique, youth-centred ways to increase income levels for youth at risk of homelessness and the development of a BC Youth Housing Action Plan that provides a continuum of housing and access to rental subsidies. The report also recommends increasing youth safety and security online to mitigate risks of exploitation and online bullying.
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Child welfare
Housing
Recommendation 3: Designate housing units to the cohort of youth aging out of care post-pandemic to ensure no youth ages out into homelessness.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 12: Develop a Youth Housing Plan for each youth aging out with all the supports youth need to succeed. MCFD should provide one-year of after-care support.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 13: Increased flexibility around the timeline when a youth needs to leave care. There should be no hard and fast deadlines or cut-off because a youth is nineteen. Youth are facing extraordinary challenges in transition planning, so need time to secure permanent housing.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 14: Work with service providers to ensure youth have support to secure housing and receive ongoing, in-person life-skills support gain “adulting skills” in order to sustain housing.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 16: Ensure every youth aging out has a SIN card and photo ID. Youth are reporting challenges in accessing ID during the pandemic.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 17: All CLBC and Mental health assessments must be completed prior to youth aging out. Youth report delays on receiving assessments during the pandemic, which will affect the level of support they receive in the future.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 18: Provide face to face transition planning support. Youth report that the pandemic has increased isolation and anxiety, which makes it challenging to make big life decisions.-
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Youth in and from the foster care system
Recommendation 19: There needs to be a coordinated effort between MCFD and Indigenous organizations to support youth aging out.-
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Social connections
Recommendation 22: Support workers need to provide in-person support to make a strong connection with youth. For those who are unable to, they should provide frequent virtual check-ins.-
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Common themes
Recommendation 76: Youth aging out of care is the most vulnerable population at risk of homelessness as a result of COVID-19. The sector recommends a staggering approach of youth aging out post-pandemic as service providers will not have the capacity to support this larger cohort. MCFD must continue providing the low-barrier Agreements with Young Adults to help bridge youth into safe and secure housing.-
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