Cashing in
COMMUNITY: Esquimalt has long scouting history /A10 DRIVEWAY: Learn all about your new vehicle /A11 ARTS: Pacific Opera stages Madama Butterfly /A16
United Way campaign tops $5.7 million Page A3
VICTORIANEWS Proudly serving Esquimalt & Victoria
Friday, April 3, 2015
250.381.8725
If you’re storing anywhere else, “you’re paying too much”
www.upakstorage.com
www.vicnews.com
Net presence Victoria Royals goalie Coleman Vollrath gets some company in the net and a push to the back of his head from Prince George Cougars’ Jari Erricson during Western Hockey League playoffs at SaveOn-Foods Memorial Centre last weekend. The two squads played Wednesday and Thursday (after the News deadline). If game 5 is necessary it will be played tomorrow (April 4) in Victoria. For more on the Royals, please turn to page A19. Don Denton/Victoria News
Coalition targets youth homelessness Group seeks reasons why teens are living on the streets
Andrea Peacock Reporting
Recognizing the unique needs of youth experiencing homelessness is a key part of finding solutions, said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director at the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. The coalition recently conducted a study that engaged youth identified as experiencing or being at-risk of homelessness in order to discover what they need and what services are missing. “We wanted to get a better handle on some of the reasons that youth are becoming homeless
and some of the routes out of homelessness,” said Wynn-Williams. “It’s been proven time and time again that if we want to help individuals who are marginalized for whatever reason, you get the best solutions when you engage them in those solutions.” One of the challenges the study found was the need for better transitions from youth to adult services. “Youth don’t like to access adult services,” said Wynn-Williams. “They feel threatened. Between 18 and 24 is a very difficult age. That’s when most youth become homeless, because they age out of (provincial) care.” Another issue youth have is accessing the ser-
vices that are available, he said. “Trying to find out what services to access, how to access them and where to access them is challenge.” The McCreary Centre is conducting a count of youth homelessness. That data is expected to be available in May. At that time, Wynn-Williams said they will be able to take the information from the coalition’s study along with the quantitative data to service providers, government agencies and funders and find concrete ways to address the challenges of youth homelessness. PlEASE SEE: SHY program, Page A4
Marketing Homes Since 1985 with Trust... Service... Integrity
Thinking of selling? Call 250-881-8225 ®
R
RE/MAX Camosun
Excellent Location, Super Quiet, 2 bed/2 bath, Mount Doug, #315-3962 Cedar Hill Road
$279,000
MLS# 348195
Priced to Sell, Beautiful Starter Home, 3 bed/3 bath, Sunriver, 6434 Willowpark Way
$369,900
www.mcmullenhomes.ca
MLS# 348180
VIEWS! VIEWS! VIEWS! Architectural Magnificence, 10 Mile Pt., 2990 Spring Bay Road
$3,188,000
MLS# 348622
Thinking of selling? Call 250-881-8225