GOLDSTREAM
NEWS GAZETTE
RECREATION & LEISURE
PHOTO CONTEST
Gone Fisihin’
Park reveals winner
West Shore fishing supply stores back provincial program that makes it easy to try fishing. Page A5
Goldstream Park photo contest winner captures the spirit of the provincial park. Page A11
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Math. Reading. Success Give your children the tools to write their own success stories.
Kumon Centre of Langford-Westshore 250.474.4175 800-ABC-MATH www.kumon.ca
Breaking news at GOLDSTREAMGAZETTE.COM
West Shore Youth Housing Task Force chair Bill McElroy says the group is getting closer to providing a shelter for youth on the West Shore. Two portable classrooms have been purchased and will be converted into living spaces. Now they just need a suitable location to put the shelter. Kyle Wells/News staff
Youth shelter initiative finds a roof Portable classrooms will help West Shore kids at risk of being homeless Kyle Wells News staff
Homeless youths on the West Shore are one step closer to having a roof over their heads and a better chance to improve their situation.
The West Shore Youth Housing Force has secured the purchase of two portable classrooms that it hopes to move to a location in Langford and renovate into temporary shelters for homeless youth. Now they just need a place to put them. Task force chair Bill McElroy said ideally they want to locate the portables somewhere near Belmont Secondary school and Westshore Town Centre Mall, a common hangout spot for youth. The group is looking at options to buy,
rent or use donated land. Once the 7-by-12 metre portables are situated, the group will renovate them to create bedrooms as well as a kitchen and living space. When finished, the portables will house six to eight youths. For at least five years now there has been no reliable shelter for youth who are unable to go home at night. There are shelters in the City of Victoria, but nothing on the West Shore. McElroy said it’s common to have
We’re speechless.
youths sleeping alongside the Galloping Goose Trail or by Langford Lake. Couch surfing is another common option. Of those youths who do end up homeless, approximately 60 to 80 per cent are fleeing some form of abusive environment at home, said McElroy. “A lot of people say ‘well why don’t those kids just go home.’ Well, it’s not quite that simple,� McElroy said. PLEASE SEE: Portables purchased at auction, Page A10
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