New youth drop-in centre opens in Regina

Youths in Regina have a new drop-in centre to go to.

In partnership with the Ministry of Social Services and the Regina Youth Advisory Team, the John Howard Society opened the doors to the new centre at 1801 Toronto Street on Thursday.

The space is designed for young people aged 12 and up, and the ministry is providing $165,000 to the centre annually for its development and operation.

Amy-Louise Roberts is a member of the youth advisory team. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

“The drop-in center is something that the community has needed for a really long time. It’s a place where youth can come and they feel safe and supported,” Amy-Louise Roberts, a member of the Regina Youth Advisory Team, said at a media event on Thursday.

“It’s a place where they can connect with other youth and have their voices heard and respected.”

The centre provides services to at-risk youths such as homework help and counselling, as well as connecting kids to treatment for addictions and mental health issues. The facility also has a gym and game room, as well as many health and hygiene products.

“If there was something like a drop-in center when I was (a) youth, I probably wouldn’t have made the same choices that I made,” Louise said.

A gym at the John Howard Society’s youth drop-in centre. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

“Really what the kids need is just a safe space to come and trusted adults, access to health care services,” said Lorne Gill, manager of community outreach programs with the John Howard Society.

He said that youths who seek support are usually dealing with some form of instability in their life.

“The focus is to break that cycle,” Gill said.

“We don’t want kids in care to end up with kids in care, and that’s been a really big focus.”

Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said the province has consulted with the youth advisory team to have a better understanding of the needs of the kids who would require access to the centre.

“Being able to help youth obviously is important to the Ministry of Social Services, but not only while they’re in care, but while they’re transitioning out of care as well,” Makowsky said.

Makowsky said the province has committed $500,000 in new funding to provide increased support for youths transitioning from care to help them access housing, employment and educational opportunities.