| Purpose : |
This two-year pilot project will endeavour to reduce the number of young homeless people under the age of 25 living in the Byward/Rideau area and alert students in grades 9 to 12 to the consequences of living on the street and possible solutions. Two activities will be set up:
First, a team of two street workers will join forces with two police officers to form a response team to work with young street people for 10 hours a week. This pairing will provide safe and positive assistance for the young people, enabling the police officers to explore a wider range of options to problem-solve and enabling Operation Go Home to assist the young people and refer them to area medical and social services.
Second, a series of presentations will be held in the schools to alert and educate 14 to 17 year olds to the realities of life on the street. A number of subjects will be addressed, such as drug use, juvenile prostitution, life on the street and crime associated with the street culture, possible solutions and available resources. The plan is to hold 60 presentations in Ottawa area schools and 20 for community groups and youth centres.
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