Pictou County Roots for Youth (PCRFY) offers safe and supportive shelter options for youth 16-24 of age who are experiencing homelessness. We offer an alternative to living on the street, as well as provide opportunities for optimal youth development. The organization aims to end homelessness for vulnerable youth, although we understand that there are multiple factors that contribute to homelessness, and that securing and maintaining long-term housing is often precarious. We work closely with local resources that also support youth with housing and basic needs.
PCRFY provides emergency shelter that is grounded in theories of attachment, trauma-informed care, positive youth development, social emotional competencies, and resilience. The program emphasizes a Natural Supports Approach and holistic, relational, developmental, culturally-competent, and strengths-based strategies for working with youth.
The Roots House Youth Shelter has eight (8) beds for youth experiencing homelessness where youth can stay for a minimum of three (3) months. The Roots House also offers three (3) beds per night for an emergency overnight stay. For youth who are only accessing emergency overnight stays, they are required to complete an intake process and are then connected to Shelter Support Advisors (SSAs) for additional support. As per our protocol for emergency overnight accommodation, youth are permitted to access the Roots House per night on a first-come first-serve basis.
Pictou County Roots for Youth staffs several Shelter Support Advisors and Housing Support Advisors, who assist youth in the program to overcome barriers and develop life skills, so that youth are able to make healthier choices and reduce the risk of homelessness. The Shelter Support Advisors (SSAs) and Housing Support Advisors (HSAs) provide intensive case management specific to the client's individual needs, ensuring that services provided are relevant to the needs of the client. SSAs and HSAs ensure that the program environment is positive and safe for all youth. All youth in the program are connected to a SSA or a HSA who provides advocacy, education and practice with life skills development, support with self-reflection and self-awareness development, and assistance with long-term goal planning (e.g., health, education, and employment) that will support youth in their successful transition to community living.
Youth 16-24 years of age can access Drop-In services at the Roots House Youth Shelter daily from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Youth are welcome to and can access food, shower and laundry facilities, hygiene supplies, Wi-Fi, one-on-one staff support, referrals to local services/ resources, advocacy, harm-reduction support, and support with long-term health, education, and employment goals.
Transitional Housing is a foyer model program designed to provide a safe and supportive environment where youth 16-24 of age can overcome and manage trauma, begin to address the issues that led to homelessness or exacerbated homelessness, begin to rebuild their support network, and reorient their lifestyle in a safer, healthier and more positive way. Transitional Housing offers long-term housing and comprehensive support in a comfortable, safer, and more inclusive environment to youth who are at risk of experiencing life on the street. Before entering the program, youth may be experiencing ongoing housing instability, alongside additional risks such as addictions, trauma, family conflict, violence, and exploitation.
Transitional Housing focuses on the following core values and principles:
Education and Employment
Connection with Family and Natural Supports
Trauma-Informed Care
Strengths-Based Practice
Collaborative and Proactive Approach with a Focus on Prevention
Sprout Mobile Youth Outreach supports youth 12-24 of age who have and are currently experiencing housing instability, addictions, mental health, and a breakdown of Natural Supports. The program staffs a Youth Outreach Navigator who provides and connects youth clients with multiple support services. These services include low-income housing, the food bank, Income Assistance, trauma, mental health, and addictions programs and support, and family/ natural support mediation. The Youth Outreach Navigator meets youth where they are at locally and province-wide, in the moment, and offers transportation services as needed to various other resources and agencies in the community (or the province) where youth can meet their basic needs or get assistance with more long-term goals (e.g., health, education, and employment).
The Community Cupboard provides food, hygiene supplies, and personal items to youth 16-24 years of age who would benefit from these basic needs. The Community Cupboard is located at the Roots House Youth Shelter (122 Stellar Street, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, B0K 1S0) and can be accessed at any time.
