SUPPORTING VANCOUVER’S
MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH
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.
Homelessness Action Week
This Homelessness Action Week, we’re highlighting the vital role that ‘entry point’ programs play. Entry point programs are the programs that youth first hear about that connect them to Directions. Two such programs? Our Food Program and the 2SLGBTQIA+ Program.
When youth come in for a hot meal, a snack, or pantry goods, we get the chance to talk to them. To learn who they are and, eventually, what kind of future they envision for themselves. This doesn’t always happen the first time a youth comes for dinner; it takes time and repetition to build up the kind of trust that allows them to open up. Meet Harp, the Food Program Supervisor at Directions Youth Services.
When queer and trans youth come in for one of our 2SLGBTQIA+ program hangouts or workshops, they get to be themselves, sometimes for the first time ever. While getting to know these young people, if a youth reveals they’re experiencing housing insecurity, in need of counselling, or something else, we’re able to connect them to more programs and resources. Meet Alysha, the 2SLGBTQIA+ Program Coordinator at Directions Youth Services.
This Homelessness Action Week, Directions Kitchen is asking for your help. With high demand for our services, we need to increase our food budget by $200 per week – or approximately $10,000 for the year.
Reaching this goal will mean we can supplement our meals with hearty protein and fresh produce. When you make a donation, know that:
$50
secures light breakfasts like cereal or oatmeal for youth accessing DYS
$115
buys the ingredients for an evening dinner service for 35 youth
$200
top up weekly food budget for Directions kitchen
$400
stocks our Youth Pantry for a week, providing groceries for youth experiencing food insecurities.
Our impact last year
14,500+
hot meals served
23,700+
snacks provided to youth
1,700+
youth accessed self-served pantry
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]
*Suggested donation reflects purchasing power. Funds raised through this campaign will go towards supporting FSGV and Direction Youth Services’ most urgent needs and programming. For any questions about your donation, contact [email protected].
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