An affordable housing project for youth at risk of becoming homeless has started in Yorkton. The foundations of two transitional housing projects have already been laid and the buildings should be complete by November of this year.
The project, costing approximately $854,000 in funding from the province, the city and Yorkton Transitional Homes for Youth (YTHY), are semi-independent living facilities for youth without a steady home.
"It's for young people that don't have a stable place to stay, but they want to continue with their studies," said Tom Seeley, Vice President of YTHY. "There will be mentors there to keep an eye on things, but it's not a group home."
Youth taking shelter in the housing projects will be learning to live independently. Seeley explained the idea for affordable youth housing started in the spring of 2007 after some meetings about the situation of youth homelessness in Yorkton.
Youth with nowhere to live have been sleeping in cars, couch surfing and staying late at the casino because they are without a stable home. The two transitional youth houses will each be able to keep 10 young people in rooms and in school.
The facilities divide male and female youth in two separate buildings on opposite sides of the city. The male building for boys aged 16 to 19 is located at 112 Seventh Avenue North. The female facility will be on 353 Bradbrooke Drive.
