Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jan 2010
Source: Concordian, The (CN QU Edu)
Copyright: 2010 The Concordian
Contact: http://www.theconcordian.com/write-us
Website: http://www.theconcordian.com/
Copyright: 2010 The Concordian
Author: Tyson Lowrie

HOMELESS YOUTH TURN TO DRUGS, PROSTITUTION

There has been less of a demand for services that cater to the 
homeless, according to Dans la Rue, a Montreal-based charity. 
Unfortunately, the decline in demand is not a result of a decline in 
the number of homeless, said the organization's director of 
development and communications, Dorothy Massimo. Rather, it is a 
result of homeless kids turning to dangerous alternatives.

The organization, which runs a community centre and offers other 
services for the city's homeless said it has seen a decrease in 
demand over the past several months.

"It's definitely not a good thing," Massimo said. "I would love to 
say that we're less busy because there's less homeless kids, but 
that's not the case."

While she cautioned it is still too early to make definite 
conclusions, she said the organization's workers have noticed an 
alarming trend - at risk youth are increasingly turning to 
prostitution and drug dealing.

"I don't know what it is. Prostitution has started to move more to 
the male side, too. They're making more money selling drugs or 
getting into prostitution."

Despite this, as winter progresses, she said she expects to see 
demand increase. While December is often quieter because homeless 
youth return home for the holidays, the ensuing months are some of 
the busiest for Montreal homeless shelters.

As soon as the temperature begins to drop, shelters such as Dans La 
Rue and the Old Brewery Mission are forced to help greater numbers of 
homeless seeking refuge from the cold. According to the Old Brewery 
Mission, 20 per cent of Canada's homeless reside in Quebec, with 
30,000 of those in Montreal alone.

With Dans La Rue doing "very well" financially, the greater challenge 
is no longer fundraising, but reaching out to those in greatest need 
of their services. But Massimo is confident they can reverse the trend.

"The ones who just started on the street aren't coming to us right 
away," she said. "But our van is still out there. And they always 
know if they come to us they'll be well treated. That's how we're 
still connecting with kids.

As long as they're still on the street, they will eventually come to us."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart