Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've had the privilege of listening to NWT youth speak about mental health, addiction, access to sport, climate change, reclaiming language, family violence, living in care and, the piece that links so much of this, housing.
One fifth of Canadians experiencing homelessness are youth between 13 and 24. More youth experiencing homelessness identify as male, Indigenous, and a significant number identify as 2SLGBTQIPA+. Youth experiencing homelessness are six times more likely to be victimized and nearly every youth that spoke to social development on homelessness prevention was or is involved with child and family services and has experienced homelessness. Every single one.
In the NWT, youth age out of care at 23, which is higher than other Canadian jurisdictions; however, increasing the age without supports still leaves youth vulnerable to experiencing or being at risk of homelessness. Youth aging out of care may not be prepared or ready to live independently. And, in addition, youth and all residents are faced with serious housing barriers. In many communities, there is zero percent vacancy rates for affordable housing. In addition, a lack of resources and high costs of living leave youth vulnerable to homelessness.
Other jurisdictions are preparing youth by developing legislation to support their transition from care, allowing youth who have exited care to reenter, funding transitional housing, and providing youth with selfadvocacy resources in the transition process.
As the government finalizes its homelessness strategy, this government needs to prioritize youth and youth aging out of care. The homelessness strategy does not make commitments to prevent or reduce homelessness experienced by Indigenous youth in care and does not address creating safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIPA+ youth. These were both recommendations social development included in its review of child and family services, neither of which received adequate response. This territory needs to stop perpetuating the cycle of discharging youth and children involved in child and family services to homelessness. These youth need preventative supports and wraparound services. The NWT needs legislation making the provision of suitable housing for youth leaving care mandatory. The GNWT must immediately give child and family services the staffing and resource development capacity to proactively keep youth in care from homelessness like selfadvocacy tool kits, accessible websites with working links to support this. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues. Entering adulthood, Mr. Speaker, seems harder than ever these days. Youth transitioning out of care need the GNWT to immediately give child and family services the people and resource development capacity to proactively keep youth leaving care from homelessness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
