LAURIE WEIR
Rural youth are grappling with critical issues that often go unnoticed. To shine a spotlight on these challenges, Cornerstone Landing Youth Services and Stir It Up Collective are teaming up to host Stand Up For Youth, an information night designed to raise awareness and support for young people facing homelessness and human trafficking.
Cornerstone Landing is a community based, non-profit, charitable organization, that works toward the prevention of youth homelessness in rural Lanark County by raising public awareness of the issue and providing direct support for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The event will take place at ConnectWell Community Health, 30 Bennett St., Carleton Place, on Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Elle Halladay, the manager at Cornerstone Landing, emphasized the severity of these issues in rural areas, often overlooked compared to urban centers. “Our rural community is not immune to these pressing issues,” Halladay said. “By coming together, we can build a stronger network of support and ensure our youth are safe and supported.”
Halladay added that it’s crucial for communities to work collaboratively to address the vulnerabilities that many rural youths face. “Come join us for an eye-opening event where we shed light on the issues of youth homelessness and human trafficking,” she said. “Our goal is to raise awareness and support for vulnerable youth in our community.”
Rural youth often lack immediate access to critical services such as shelters, outreach programs, and emergency resources, making them particularly susceptible to dangers like exploitation and trafficking. Factors such as isolation, limited transportation, and fewer community-based services exacerbate these issues, putting rural youth at an increased risk.
Halladay gave a brief overview of the homelessness situation in Lanark County during a presentation on Oct. 28 to Smiths Falls council.
Imagine not having your keys in your pocket. You might feel stressed, until you find them in your other pocket.
“These youth are living in that state of panic 24/7. That’s not acceptable,” she said.
Halladay said that of the youth they service, 50 per cent are from Smiths Falls, six of whom are classified as having chronic homelessness.
“The average duration of youth homelessness in Smiths Falls is eight months,” Halladay said. “Many are experiencing over 13 months of homelessness.”
Many of these youths are dropping out school by Grade 10 because they can no longer focus on where to live and their education, Halladay noted.
“We have served 72 youth this year with 37 of them being new referrals, and just this year we’ve had 35 carry over from last year,” she said, and they have no stable funding. They have to reapply every year for what they do manage to secure to pay their 3.5 staff members and take care of the youth.
Cornerstone Landing receives $120,000 annually from Reaching Home, Canada’s Homelessness Strategy Directives.
Rent supplements, car allowances, and basic needs for youth, all come from fundraising efforts.
“The youth are our future and we must be able to give them the tools that they need to contribute to our community,” she said.
To learn more about youth homelessness and human trafficking, attend the Stand Up For Youth event. It will feature guest speakers Terrilee Kelford founder and chair of the National Alliance to End Rural and Remote Homelessness and Wendy Gee, executive director of A New Day.
Lanark County Detachment Commander Insp. Kerlous Tawdrous told Hometown News: “Human trafficking is difficult to capture through police statistics.”
The event is open to the public, and all members of the community are encouraged to attend and contribute to the ongoing conversation about youth safety and well-being. Visit Eventbrite to book your spot.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Human trafficking is a significant issue in Ontario, affecting both urban and rural areas. According to Statistics Canada, human trafficking, or trafficking in persons, is often referred to as a modern form of slavery. It encompasses the recruitment, transportation, harboring, and control of individuals for the purpose of exploitation, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims, who are primarily women and children, often face coercive practices that compel them to provide labor or sexual services, frequently for the profit of their traffickers.
Statistics Canada reports that Ontario accounts for 65 per cent of police-reported human trafficking incidents in Canada, with rates in cities like Ottawa and Peterborough being among the highest in the country. However, rural regions, such as Lanark County, are not immune to these problems, especially when it comes to youth.
In Lanark County, Victim Services as well as Lanark County Interval House and Community Support offer support and awareness programs to combat human trafficking and provide resources for at-risk individuals, particularly youth. These services emphasize the importance of community-based initiatives to educate and protect vulnerable populations from trafficking risks. Additionally, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline serves the region, offering a 24/7 confidential line for those needing help or reporting incidents.
The challenges facing rural communities, including isolation, lack of resources, and youth vulnerability, make it critical to raise awareness. Events like the upcoming “Stand Up For Youth” are designed to shed light on these issues and mobilize local support. This outreach is essential for building stronger support networks and helping prevent human trafficking from continuing to affect rural areas like Lanark County.HOTLINE: If you feel someone is in danger of human trafficking, please call 1-833-900-1010 or visit: https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/ The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a confidential, multilingual service, operating 24/7 to connect victims and survivors with social services, law enforcement, and emergency services, as well as receive tips from the public.
