With its most recent economic update, the Government of Quebec has missed a great opportunity to support the community sector and the most vulnerable young people. While inflation is at the heart of this mini-budget and millions of dollars have been announced to limit its impact, community organizations and young people are still on the sidelines.
In the Auberges du Coeur, community youth shelters open 24/7, the financial situation is precarious. These living environments are known to be places of accompaniment, listening and affiliation when times get too tough.
Unfortunately, in addition to the lack of basic funding for the Auberges du Coeur, which reaches nearly $21 million annually compared to needs, their operation is weakened by inflation and the shortage of personnel.
The grocery bill alone has a direct impact on their operating budget. This same bill that affects young people who have difficulty making ends meet and who will come, in greater numbers, to seek food aid at the Auberge or at food banks.
Remember, while a housing crisis has been raging for a long time, that inflation directly affects the ability of young people to find decent housing and meet their basic needs. The Auberges du Coeur are more in demand and are struggling to meet demand. This also affects the length of stay in accommodation since young people stay longer, knowing that it is financially difficult to stand on their own two feet, hampering the development of their autonomy, not for lack of will, but for lack of possibility.
The organizations are thus more limited in their reception capacity and their activities, but also in the accompaniment offered to young people in order to support them in the transition to adult life and the realization of their projects. While many hostels can only have one person on the floor, how do you support young people who want to take charge of their lives, improve their health, find adequate housing, go back to school or even find a job?
The observation is obvious: the cost of living and the underfunding of community youth shelters put their mission in a precarious situation. This contributes to keeping young people homeless, slowing down their social reintegration and their participation in civic life.
Worse still, more health and social services are used, generating a cost rather than a collective wealth. A check for $600 simply puts a band-aid on an injury that is far too great, but it has no structuring impact on improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable young people.
Currently, in the Auberges du cœur, youth centers and even on the street, there are thousands of teenagers and young adults with a lively spirit and resilience who can contribute to the society of tomorrow, if only they are gave them the means to develop to their full potential. Nevertheless, these young people are still relegated to the background, as are the community resources that work with these populations.
In the current context, can Quebec really deprive itself of even one young person to contribute to the community? To ask the question, is to answer it !
It is high time to support the community organizations that accompany our most vulnerable young people. Quebec cannot afford to lose them. We therefore urge elected officials to act now.