March 15, 2017 - The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy and Crime Prevention Council have united with community partners to provide a platform for youth impacted by homelessness to have a voice to share their experiences, their hopes for the future and to raise awareness about youth homelessness in Canada and Thunder Bay. 

Through a Community Action Project driven by Leadership Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy and Crime Prevention Council collaborated with several community partners to welcome Joe Roberts and "The Push for Change" to Thunder Bay. Community partners on this project included Shelter House, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, St. Joseph's Care Group, OPP and several youth.

Joe Roberts, formerly homeless as a young person, transformed his difficult life to become a successful businessman. In May of last year, he began pushing a shopping cart (a symbol of homelessness) across Canada to raise awareness and funds to end youth homelessness.

"It's important to hear directly from youth impacted by homelessness as it is often hidden," said Cynthia Olsen, Drug Strategy Coordinator and Co-Chair for the Thunder Bay Housing & Homelessness Coalition. "It looks different than what people traditionally picture when you say homeless; youth staying at friends' houses, staying in squats, or in a shelter. In fact, young people under 24 represent almost 20 per cent of the population at Shelter House over the past several years."

The young people involved in this project had the opportunity to work with a photographer and receive tips on how to capture their desired image. They were asked to take pictures in the community that represented something significant to them and caption them to convey a message. The resulting images, or Photo Voice, were unveiled in the form of a gallery at City Hall today. The youth also had the opportunity to work with Joe Roberts in a private session where he shared more of his experiences and provided guidance.

"The greatest work we can do inside the "Push for Change" is to let young people know about their possibility and hopefully get their feet moving in the right direction," said Joe Roberts. "I can see what gets them stuck, but what can also bust them loose and set them free."

- 30 -

Contact:          Cynthia Olsen - Coordinator, Thunder Bay Drug Strategy, 625-2942
                        Lee-Ann Chevrette - Coordinator, Thunder Bay Crime Prevention Council, 625-2554