Episode 26: Youth Shelters, Voices From Within (Part 1)

Part TWO of YOUTH SHELTERS: EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Youth shelters are an invaluable resource in the fight against youth homelessness. The shelter system is integral for immediate intervention in times of crisis and long-term support of youth without support elsewhere. Without youth shelters to take on the brunt of emergency response, we wouldn’t get anywhere. Too many youths would be outright lost to the adult system or the streets.

In this three-part mini-series, we will uncover the truth of life in a youth shelter in Peel, from both a service provider and youth perspective. We’ll capture some of the rules, norms, and taboos that exist within youth shelters to keep them comfortable, practical, and secure for everyone. 

In this episode, we interview three youths who were living in Brampton Youth Shelter in August of 2023.  We’ll hear their stories, learn their insights, and heed their calls to action.

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Further Reading:

Hidden Homelessness (Homeless Hub)

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About the Host:

Mya Moniz

Peer Support Leader | REST Centres | She/Her

Mya is an independent youth and Former Crown Ward of the Peel Children’s Aid Society. She’s achieved an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction from the University of Toronto in English, Professional Writing and Communications, and Sociology. She also sits at the Senior Leadership Table for the Peel Alliance to End Homelessness as a youth with lived experience.

Mya believes there is great power in healing, growth, and catharsis through writing and storytelling, and she strives to help others tell their stories the way she tells hers.