Directions Youth Services: A 24/7 Resource for Unhoused Young People During Homelessness Action Week

# What this story covers This brief summarizes how Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) is using Homelessness Action Week (October 11–17) to spotlight Directions Youth Services. Directions operates as a continuous resource for young people in Metro Vancouver who are unhoused or precariously housed, offering immediate and practical supports aimed at reducing the risk of longer-term homelessness.

# Who runs Directions and where it operates Directions is part of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, a non-profit that has provided family- and youth-facing programs since 1928. Directions is based at 1138 Burrard Street in Vancouver and delivers services every day of the year.

# What Directions offers Directions provides a range of on-site and outreach services designed for youth in crisis:

• Onsite medical clinics
• Drop-in space offering meals, snacks and a safe place
• Workshops on life skills, health, and safety
• 2SLGBTQIA+ events and peer connection opportunities
• Employment supports through the Street Youth Job Action program, including same-day pay and references
• Two youth-specific safehouses for immediate shelter
• Outreach services offering harm reduction supplies, Indigenous culture kits, and judgment-free support

These services respond to different immediate needs — safety, basic necessities, health access, skills-building, and short-term shelter.

# Why early, youth-focused supports matter Research cited in the piece links early episodes of homelessness to a higher risk of chronic homelessness later in life. Directions aims to interrupt that trajectory by meeting youth quickly with practical supports and a path to stability. The service mix emphasizes low-barrier access and options that reflect the varied needs of young people.

# Local need and service trends The 2025 Point-in-Time Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver recorded more than 170 youth unhoused on any given night. Directions' own data shows growing demand: 50% of youth who accessed Directions in the past year were first-time visitors. Among those new visitors, 22% were aged 13–18. Eight percent of youth using Directions identified as 2SLGBTQIA+, compared with 4% in the general population — a gap that signals a disproportionate share of LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing housing precarity.

# How the community can support Directions The article notes donations help sustain Directions' 24/7 services. Homelessness Action Week is used to raise awareness about the program and the broader issue of youth homelessness in the region.

# Bottom line Directions offers continuous, practical supports for unhoused and precariously housed youth in Metro Vancouver. Rising first-time client numbers, a meaningful share of younger teens, and an overrepresentation of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth among clients point to increasing and specific needs. Directions' combination of drop-in care, outreach, housing options, and employment supports is framed as an effort to provide immediate help and reduce the likelihood of chronic homelessness.