Roles

Every member of the community has the potential to play a role in shifting our response to youth homelessness. Youth homelessness is a complex social issue that requires many people working together to build and sustain healthy relationships and capacity in families and communities to reduce and prevent the issue.

Provincial Government

• Establish a shared vision, provincial priorities and policy directions amongst all ministries.

• Facilitate collaboration among individuals, families and communities to prevent youth homelessness through education and awareness.

• Support the provision of coordinated and integrated supports and services at the community level.

• Provide the legislative and policy framework and funding support to address youth homelessness.

• Support opportunities to share knowledge between policy-makers, academics and service providers.

• Support existing best and promising practices and innovative research and programming.

• Ensure healthy transitions across the system of care for youth.

• Ensure the delivery of programs and supports are where people who need it most can access.

• Ensure that frontline staff has the time and freedom to make services more effective at reaching youth and families at risk

Role of Municipalities- County, Towns, and Villages

• Facilitate collaboration among individuals, families and communities to prevent youth homelessness through education and awareness.

• Provide leadership and modeling.

• Provide accessible programming for all members of the community especially children and youth at risk

• Facilitate dialogue of local landlords and homeowners to allow for inclusive housing strategies

• Educate its residents of the issues to reduce stigma and build an inclusive community

• Provide space for youth friendly and safe spaces

Role of Service Providers/Non-Government Organizations and Communities

• Deliver front-line services and supports.

• Collaborate to share best practices and research, and help to identify emerging trends.

• Work with government to identify needs, issues and strategic directions.

• Inform and influence government priorities.

• Identify promising practices and research opportunities.

• Inform and influence community change.

Role of the Private Sector

• Provide leadership and modeling.

• Provide skills training and employment opportunities with needed supports.

• Engage and support employees in building healthy relationships.

• Provide charitable and philanthropic giving.

• Support employees to be engaged in the issues.

Role of Individuals – Youth, Families, Friends and Neighbours

• Take personal responsibility for individual wellness and healthy relationships.

• Become engaged citizens to prevent and reduce youth homelessness in the Annapolis Valley.

• Learn how to identify youth at risk of homelessness and what can be done about it.

What Communities Can Do?

· Advocate to protect publically-owned affordable housing infrastructure

· Establish volunteer networks (small jobs, daily living assistance, social connections, transportation)

· Address stigma and shame; think about things differently

· Provide services and supports

· Build relationships and partnerships; work together!

· Work with all levels of government

· Push for policies that create healthy environments - in schools and daycares, in our recreational setting, and across our community – it’s all connected!

· Use data to shape supports and services

· Give a 100% of your passion, effort, and care towards action and impact

· Be engaged!

Valley Residents Taking Action Responding to youth homelessness will take hard work and commitment on the part of governments, communities, homeless-serving agencies and the private sector. It will also require continuous monitoring and improvement to refine best practices, information and investments. We can end youth homelessness if we take action on what we say, to “develop a comprehensive framework that will identify ways to support improved outcomes for Youth-at-Risk across all components of its service delivery. Using a social determinants of health lens, which identifies the holistic needs of youth required to meet their full potential, key areas of focus will be housing, health (emotional and physical), income, employment, safety, education, and social connectedness.”