(Vancouver, BC) - Streetohome Foundation is pleased to announce a $100,000 financial contribution from Coast Capital Savings in support of youth at risk of homelessness. The generous gift is designated towards two youth recovery homes run by Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS), Sequoia House and Alder House, in the City of Vancouver. The new homes will help prevent homelessness amongst youth, as well as support and empower youth on their journey to addiction recovery and independence.
"We are pleased to announce a contribution of $100,000 to Streetohome Foundation towards two youth support recovery homes,” says Maureen Young, Director, Community Leadership at Coast Capital Savings. “Coast Capital Savings helps empower youth to achieve what’s important in their lives, and it’s by investing in projects and partnerships such as this that we can play a role in helping youth get back on the path to realizing a positive future.”
Streetohome Foundation strives to broker the integration of evidence-based and promising practices that address gaps in the current system to meet the housing, addiction recovery, education and employment needs of vulnerable individuals that are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, or have lived experience of homelessness. Last year, 681 youth experienced homelessness in Metro Vancouver (2018 Metro Vancouver Youth Homeless Count), and 41% of these youth identified drugs and substance use/addiction as being the reason for first time homelessness.
“Helping young people early, and before they become entrenched in a life on the streets, gives them the best chance at successfully transitioning to adulthood,” says Rob Turnbull, CEO of Streetohome Foundation.
Both Sequoia House and Alder House opened last year, providing two five-bedroom, substance-free recovery homes for youth struggling with substance use issues and mental health challenges; one for 16 to 18-year-olds, and another for 19 to 24-year-olds, including those transitioning out of foster care.
“Youth need different supports – anything from learning how to cook and budget, to just being able to find ways to maintain healthy relationships and peer communities,” says Devika Ramkhelawan, Manager, Vancouver Addiction Houses.
The two homes allow youth to address their substance use issues in a safe environment with access to clinical counselling, in-home group work, and links to medical and community services. Vancouver Coastal Health clinical counsellors and addiction specialists will help youth create a comprehensive treatment plan, including aftercare that better prepares them to cope with the ups and downs in life. The two homes also offer connections to PCRS Broadway Youth Resource Centre and longer-term housing, health, education, employment services and supports. Three staff members, or “house-parents,” will reside in each home, providing 24-hour support.
“Transitioning on to education is a key focus of ours, whether that means supporting youth in finishing high school, helping with homework or extracurricular classes, or starting post-secondary,” says Ramkhelawan.
These new homes will contribute to the strength of our communities, building on Vancouver Coastal Health's Vancouver Community's Child & Youth Mental Health & Substance Use Strategy to provide streamlined and equitable access to services for clients up to age 24 and their families.
“At Coast Capital, everything we do is driven by supporting the communities where our employees and our members live, work, and play. We are proud to invest 10 per cent of our bottom line in projects and initiatives in our communities, with a focus on empowering youth,” says Young. “Every young person deserves the opportunity to forge their own path to financial independence, which starts with a stable and safe place to call ‘home’. We hope that more young people will choose to move forward on a positive life path, thanks to Youth Recovery Homes.”
About Coast Capital Savings
Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s largest credit union by membership and B.C.’s first credit union to become a federal credit union. Owned by its 572,000 members, Coast Capital offers banking and investment services digitally and through its 52 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia. An Imagine Canada Caring Company and a Certified B Corporation in recognition of its social performance, Coast Capital invests 10 per cent of its bottom line in youth focused community organizations, programs, partnerships and events. The credit union has been recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures™, and holds a Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation. Coast Capital has a history of introducing innovative products to help their members achieve financial wellbeing including Canada’s first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution and Help Extras®, enabling members to invest in their future. To learn more, visit coastcapitalsavings.com.
About Streetohome Foundation
Streetohome’s overarching goal is to leverage a comprehensive system response intended to ensure that homelessness in Vancouver is prevented whenever possible and, when homelessness can’t be prevented, to ensure that the experience is least harmful, brief and non-recurring. To this end, Streetohome strives to broker the integration of evidence-based and promising practices that address gaps in the current system to meet the housing, addiction, education and employment needs of vulnerable individuals that are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, or have lived experience of homelessness. Learn more at www.streetohome.org.
About PCRS
PCRS is an award-winning, accredited, not-for-profit society providing quality social services in the Lower Mainland since 1984. PCRS provides a range of services, including education programs, employment, housing, and addiction counselling and prevention programs for youth, adults, and families. To learn more, please visit https://pcrs.ca/.
Coast Capital Media Line:
Phone number: 778.391.6225
Email address: media@coastcapitalsavings.com