With the help of a financial contribution from the Government of Canada’s Homeless Partnering Strategy, the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area is striving to get off the streets.
Despite what many residents may believe, Adelle Forzley, a youth engagement coordinator with the Boys and Girls Club in Cochrane, said there are pockets of under-served groups in town that need help.
“There are lower income families and families that need support,” said Forzley. “There are children and youth who need our services, and now we are determining that for some of these youth, homelessness is also an issue.”
Administered through the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN), the Boys and Girls Club received $64,880 to meet the basic needs of homeless youth in Cochrane and to create a youth homeless coalition to combat the problem.
Melissa St. Dennis of the ARDN estimates there are approximately 45 youth who have suffered from homelessness in Cochrane over the past two years.
Forzley said the Boys and Girls Club has contracted a consulting firm to dig deeper into these numbers so they can establish a research project to help alleviate the concern.
“There is a high number of young people living outside of their family home,” she said, “whether that be couch surfing or finding a space by the river to sleep, and this needs to be addressed collectively.”
At present, there are a number of organizations that aim to help homeless youth, such as the Cochrane Mental Health Clinic, Family and Community Support Services, Western Rocky View Family and the Community Resources Centre.
“The town does not have a shelter for these youth at this time,” said Forzley, “but once we have the conclusion to this research project, we will be better equipped to develop a plan that encompasses emergency, short-term and long-term shelter issues.”
The research will focus on two issues: finding out what the scope of the situation is, and supporting youth who are currently in need. In addition to research, the money will be used to directly help homeless youth with rental costs, transportation, toiletries and other basic needs.
Forzley said an additional $130,000 would be provided to the program through in-kind support.
“The research project and strategic plan is only the beginning,” said Forzley. “It will require full community engagement to provide ongoing support for youth who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless.”
