On March 7, 2018 I'm going to spend “A Night in the Life” of a homeless youth, and learn a bit about what it takes for a young person to survive on Vancouver’s streets.

I'll get a tour of the streets from homeless youth themselves, try a homelessness simulator, then sleep out on the streets. I'm doing it to raise much-needed funds for Directions Youth Services (a division of Family Services of Greater Vancouver).

I know I’m only going to get a glimpse into what it’s really like for these youth. Most of these kids have had a brutal start in life. They are 3 times more likely to be physically or sexually abused than other youth. They have mental illness and addictions. They have had bad experiences with adults and various government “systems”, so they don’t want to ask for help. Approximately 40% of these young people are aboriginal. Around 30% identify as LGBTQ2S.

These youth may look hardened, but they are actually very vulnerable. And if they don’t get help, their lives will probably only get worse.

Directions is "low-barrier". That means they work with the most challenging, troubled youth out there. They feed them. Listen to them. Believe in them. They don't give up on them. They help them get homes and educations. Their methods work -- they’ve helped hundreds youth get off the streets and build good lives for themselves. (See a touching card from a youth they've helped here.)

Please help me help Directions make a difference in these kids’ lives. Just click "Sponsor Me" to make a donation. Every bit helps.

Thanks in advance for helping me and for your generosity.