Task force examining youth homelessness in Orillia

A citizen task force, created by the Orillia Youth Opportunities Committee (OYOC), is taking a closer look at youth homelessness in the Orillia area in an effort to better understand the issue and help find a solution.

The research and data collected by the task force will form the basis of an OYOC report, to be presented to City Council, which will examine the extent of youth homelessness in our community and the potential need for a youth shelter in Orillia.

“Youth represent one of the most vulnerable groups in our community. The OYOC is considering the value of providing young men and women with a safe place to stay when they have no other stable residence available to them. However, the first step in responding to the challenges of youth homelessness is to understand the scope of the problem,” said task force lead and OYOC member, Catherine Holtz.

Throughout December, members of the task force will reach out to local organizations that have experience with homeless youth and will work to get surveys out to youth in the community. The youth survey is anonymous and will provide invaluable first-hand information into this important issue.

Youth homelessness surveys are available at the Orillia Youth Centre for anyone wishing to participate. Community organizations wishing to contribute information to the task force can contact Coun. Jeff Clark at jn10clark@gmail.com.

“I’d like to encourage all members of the community who interact with youth who are either homeless or at risk of being homeless to complete this survey,” said Coun. Clark. “The information collected will help identify some of the issues surrounding youth homelessness in Orillia and how we can combat the problem at a local level.”

The City of Orillia is a city of 31,000 people in the heart of Ontario’s Lake Country on the shores of Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe. Visit our website at orillia.ca.

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Coun. Jeff Clark
Ward 3 Councillor/OYOC member
705-826-2343
jn10clark@gmail.com   

Catherine Holtz
Orillia Youth Opportunities Committee
705-558-2258
catherine.a.holtz@gmail.com

Jennifer Ruff
Manager of Communications
705-325-8929
705-238-9209 (cell)
jruff@orillia.ca