Wrap-around help under one roof
At Directions Youth Services, we treat youth as individuals and make sure youth get a voice in our programs and services. This means we take the time to understand the relationships, personal history, and life circumstances that bring youth to our doors.
Our youth workers are unbiased and objective; many have relevant lived experience that informs their work. As solutions-oriented people, our programs and services reflect what the unhoused youth population say they need today, and we advocate for the big picture changes that will help young people in the long-term.
Our programs and services address a range of needs. Read more below or use the menu to find a specific program. If you’re 13-24 and need help now, come on by the Drop-In Centre.
“I feel safe when I am at Directions. When I started coming here I got treated with respect, had something to eat and a place to relax. Directions gave me a safe place to focus on my situation and help make it better.”
Shelter
Whether youth are couch-surfing, struggling to find an apartment, or street entrenched, housing is a priority. 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 safehouses, and the 10K program is a resource for youth aging out of government care.
Education and life skills
Youth workers are on site at Directions 24/7/365 to provide on-demand support as things come up but we also provide some robust education and life skills training. 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.
Food
It’s hard to focus on your future when you don’t know when you'll eat your next meal. 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. We also operate a Pantry Program from the Drop-In space. Food is also a priority at our two safehouses, built right in as a wrap-around support.
Health and mental health
Youth wellbeing is one of our top priorities. Our Outreach team is in the community ready to support youth where they’re at. Same goes for the youth workers at all of our sites. We connect youth to healthcare and counselling, including FSGV trauma counselling programs and other community resources.
Thank you for your generous support