Northern N.S. groups excited to establish integrated youth services sites

Kathryn Tanner grew up in Stellarton, N.S., across the street from where she now works with Pictou County Roots for Youth, an emergency shelter and supportive housing group serving ages 16 to 24. 

The executive director of the organization recalls pushes for a youth centre over two decades ago and a similar initiative could soon be a reality in nearby New Glasgow. 

In April, the province announced the locations of a number of integrated youth services sites to be overseen by the IWK Health Centre in co-ordination with community groups.

The sites will offer mental health and addictions counselling for young people from 12 to 25 years old. They could also provide employment, housing and income assistance support, and other services. 

Tanner hopes the location in her area will help support all youth through life's challenges and in turn reduce homelessness. She said the Stellarton youth shelter, one of just a handful across the province, may not get a call for days but demand can surge. 

"About a month ago, we turned seven kids away in one day," Tanner said in an interview.

"If we're full, most likely others are full as well. And it is definitely heartbreaking to say I'm really sorry, keep trying." 

Tanner said mental health, addictions, family breakdown and a number of other factors contribute to youth homelessness. She said it is also difficult for young adults to find affordable housing and the group continues to grow its supportive housing stock.

No opening dates, yet 

Brian Comer, minister of addictions and mental health, declined an interview on the sites that are slated for Bridgewater, Halifax, Amherst, New Glasgow and Sydney. 

A statement from Comer's office said some sites are set to open in the spring, with more coming in the following years. 

"We're excited for these sites to open so youth and their loved ones can be more easily connected with the services and supports they need, all in one place," said the statement. 

A location is being finalized in New Glasgow, according to Margie Grant-Walsh, the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County. 

'Accessible' services 

"We're very excited about this particular site. It's easily accessible to the youth, it's in an area that can be accessed by people, it's close to schools. So we're bursting at the seams to make the announcement in the near future," she said in an interview. 

Grant-Walsh said the availability of services under one roof will make supports for rural youth more accessible because less transportation will be needed. 

"So for example, if they have three or four appointments with different organizations, they have to bounce around, it's very difficult," Grant-Walsh said. "It will solve a lot of problems and barriers that our youth face." 

A number of community groups are working with the province and the IWK on the opening of a site in Amherst, the second site in northern Nova Scotia.

"We have a lot of exciting things happening here. Unfortunately it's because of the demand," said Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin in an interview. 

Smith-McCrossin said family breakdown that she attributes to financial stress is part of the problem. She said reducing taxes as a means to lower the cost of living could help alleviate the strain on services for youth. 

"Youth are, they are our future," Smith-McCrossin said. 

"We need to do everything we can to prevent that and support them so that they can earn a living and support a family someday."