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Sanctuary Foundation
Programs for Youth

Why do thousands of teens and children in B.C. live on the streets?

Most people who work in the field of child and youth care know that the numbers of youth on the streets are quite staggering. While no one can be sure of the exact number, due to the difficulty of accurately counting people of no fixed address, it can be estimated that the number of street 'active' youth, (including kids who may live sometimes in group homes but have connections to drugs or prostitution), may even outweigh the number in the care of the Ministry of Social Services.

Due to problems such as family violence and the sexual/mental/physical abuse of children, many kids find the various inconveniences, dangers and miseries of life in a street 'squat' preferable to their own homes. (Squats are usually abandoned buildings in which groups of teens live. They rarely have any plumbing and are always a fire hazard.) Many find the structured life of a group home more than they can cope with.

Also a large problem in B.C. are underage income assistance recipients. Many kids who leave group homes to be independent find it extremely difficult to survive on $535 a month, after the relative 'luxury' of being in care. This is to say they are used to having adequate food, clothing and housing.

On such a small amount of money, they are required to have a roommate if they are to find housing of any kind. Youth with poor lifeskills and social skills usually find the roommate experience hell. Conflicts with roommates, rent not being paid and generally filthy living conditions all add up to short-lived rental agreements with landlords. This is assuming you can find a landlord willing to rent to two teenagers. These problems usually lead to youth ending up back in care or on the streets.

How does Sanctuary Foundation believe this problem can be helped?

We believe that what is needed is three-fold:

1. Residential programs for kids in care that are focused on lifeskills training and are geared toward making kids truly independent. This would include skills such as cooking, cleaning and planning for educational or workskill upgrading.

2. Job training programs designed in cooperation with youth. Many job finding programs for youth fail because the youth do not want to clean bird cages or some other job that means nothing to them for $7/hr. Most often with these programs, after a job subsidy for a youth is finished, the employer is finished with the youth. This means more than wasted training dollars. It is another rejection and failure for the youth involved that further erodes their sense of self-worth.

3. Conflict resolution training for families. Many teens would not necessarily have to go into care or on the street if we could better support parent/teen relations in their own homes. Obviously, this is not an option if there is abuse of the child involved. However, in many situations training parents and teens in conflict resolution techniques could make it possible to keep teens in their own homes.

How does Sanctuary Foundation reach street youth?

Although many of the referrals to our youth programs come from social workers, probation officers and alternate schools, our volunteers have an active role in reaching kids who are not 'connected' to the system.

We take our program brochures down to areas where we know many street youth hang out, such as Granville Street and the New West skytrain. Our volunteers hand out brochures and talk to kids about how they can get into our programs. This system has brought in quite a few youth, but the best way to reach youth is through their own grapevine. Many of our clients join our programs because of a friend's recommendation.

We also make sure that other organizations who deal with street youth, such as the Adolescent Street Unit, the Aries project, DERA, Raycam Community Centre and others have our brochures and know how to access our programs. We obtain quite a few referrals this way.

"The only way to get someone to stop engaging in negative or anti-social behaviours is to teach them new skills. The larger a 'library' of possible responses becomes, the more likely people are to choose positive responses to problems."

What programs is Sanctuary Foundation currently offering?

Program Philosophy: 'Success Breeds Success'

We believe that all people cope the best they can using the skills they have learned. The only way to get someone to stop engaging in negative or anti-social behaviours is to teach them new skills. The larger a 'library' of possible responses becomes, the more likely people are to choose positive responses to problems. When youth learn new responses to life's frustrations and challenges, then they can grow. All of our programs are designed to provide a series of small successes which can be positively reinforced. we try to instill a feeling of success which will spill over into all areas of our clients' lives.

1. Conflict resolution training for youth
Ages 10-11 years:
This program is taught in North Vancouver schools. The idea is to use role-playing techniques to teach empathy, listening skills, assertiveness skills and anger management.
Ages 12-19 years:
This expansion is a pilot project for teens in the tri-cities. The curriculum covers the same basic skills for teenaged participants. For more information, contact 936-1470 or our main line at 522-1470.

2. Bicycle mechanic training and job placement for youth
This program is for youth aged 15-24 years and can include kids in care or on income assistance. The nine-week program includes a three week on-the-job module, where kids can practice the skills they have learned. Most student who are job-ready stay on with the store as employees after their practicums are over. The technical training modules include Conflict Resolution for the workplace and some lifeskills training. Referrals to this program can next be made in May 1995 for the June session.

3. Outdoor recreation for youth
Through the generosity of local business and the private fund-raising efforts of Sanctuary Foundation, winter and summer trips for youth have happened since 1992. Summer trips have included the Apex Mountain Guest Ranch, Lilloet Lake and Loon Lake camping expeditions. In winter, Ski Hemlock and Cypress Bowl donate free lifts, lessons and rentals to the Sanctuary Ski Program on Thursday nights and Sundays throughout the ski season. Hundreds of youth have learned healthy new pastimes since 1992. All outdoor trips are staffed by our volunteer youth workers.

We also have programs for battered woman and other services. If you would like to know more about the Sanctuary Foundation, or if you want to receive our newsletter or to make a tax deductible donation, write to:

The Sanctuary Foundation
Box 56001, 1st Avenue Marketplace
Vancouver, B.C. V5M 4S9
Ph: 522-1470 Fx: 52201475