No youth ever chooses to be homeless
At Directions Youth Services, we support some of the region’s most vulnerable young people. We know that the pathways to homelessness are numerous. Youth may come from low-income families, have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse and neglect, or struggle with addiction. Many are marginalized by their race, gender, or cognitive impairments.
Significantly, many of the youth we serve at Directions have low self-confidence and question their sense of belonging – in their family, school, or community. The systems in their lives have failed them.
However a young person became unhoused, they deserve compassion, respect, autonomy, and access to resources. That’s where we come in.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) plays a unique role in providing youth-informed support to unhoused youth. We believe that as a society, we are responsible for our children and youth. Responsible for their health and wellbeing. Responsible for their futures. It is our responsibility to ensure our children and youth are safely housed.
On any given night, more than 170 youth are homeless in Vancouver. They’re in crisis. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, our doors are open to make sure no youth faces this crisis alone. Directions is here for them.
But we need you to ensure all our programs can continue to operate.
Double Your Impact!
From today until October 18, 2025, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church will match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $30,000.
Homelessness Action Week
This Homelessness Action Week, we’re spotlighting the vital role that round-the-clock support plays. You simply cannot schedule a crisis. Whenever a youth needs support: Directions is open. With nutritious food, a safe place to sleep and hang out, the chance to have fun and get creative, affirming supports, pre-employment and housing supports, and more: Directions is here for youth whenever they need us.
Youth came through the doors of the Directions Drop-In Centre more than 23,000 times in 2024. Only 6,452 of these visits happened in the standard Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm business hours. More than 72% of youth visits were during evenings, overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. This is why we’re 24/7/365: youth cannot get everything they need in ‘regular business hours.’ People, youth, need support whenever they need it. And Directions is here for them when they do.
Our impact last year
40,000+
free meals and snacks
served to vulnerable youth
10,000+
referrals made for
at-risk youth
4,300+
essential supplies
provided to youth
Our support
Shelter
We operate an overnight shelter and an emergency weather response shelter from our Drop-In Centre. For longer-term support, youth can access one of our two emergency safehouses, and the 10K program is a resource for youth aging out of government care.
Food
The Drop-In Centre is our hub for food programming, a place where youth can grab a snack 24/7 and get a hot dinner every night at 8 pm.
Education and life skills
Our Street Youth Job Action program offers same-day pay, and we provide life skills development through 10K and our two safehouses. The Drop-In Centre is also home to our 2SLGBTQIA+ and arts programming, as well as cultural workshops.
Health and mental health
We connect youth to healthcare and counselling, including FSGV trauma counselling programs and other community resources.
Directions Youth Services is a division of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, a Canadian charity that has supported vulnerable children, youth, and families since 1928. Through DYS, FSGV operates as a non-profit for homeless youth, with wrap-around services including a 24/7/365 Drop-In Centre, youth shelter, youth transitional housing, and over a dozen youth empowerment and support services. Your charitable donation makes our work possible, and every monetary gift is eligible for a charitable donation tax credit. For a look at some of the charitable impact your gift has, check our our latest Annual Report. For more information on our charitable giving options, you can explore our Giving page or get in touch with us directly at: [email protected]
Become a monthly donor and support your neighbours in need.