Chair Stevens on capacity crisis, 319 youth turned away
Stevens highlights that 319 young people were turned away from shelter between January and June, raises concerns about underfunding, capacity gaps, and the need for mental health, employment, and housing navigation support beyond just beds and meals.
those services provide a critical lifeline for young people experiencing homelessness.
Despite this important work, serious questions remain about whether the city provides them with the resources.
resources, capacity necessary to meet the needs of young people in crisis.
Today, we hope to learn about the agency's plan to issue a new concept paper and how it would address the evolving needs and costs.
I'm going to say that again.
The cost for facing and delivering those critical services.
Beyond funding, we're also deeply concerned about shelter capacity.
Between January and June of this year, 319 young people sought shelter were turned away.
No young person who takes the difficult steps of seeking shelter should be left without a place to stay because our shelter system lacks capacity.
When RHY system is underfunded or lack capacity, young people fall through dangerous gaps, are left unable to access appropriate services, and gets discharged back into homelessness.
Young people experiencing homelessness come into RHY system after experiencing trauma and instability that cannot be addressed by simply providing a bed and a meal.
It is our responsibility as a city to prioritize their mental health and physical health and ensure that housing, employment, and financial navigations are
guided them through complex systems and provide the support young people need to achieve long-term stability.
Access.