Housing crisis for teens aging out of group homes

by Bryde Ashuarrah

Did you know that some of Grenada’s youth live in abandoned buildings or under private verandahs? I learned of one who would nightly climb through a shop window and sleep on its cement floor. These are not criminals; they are teens who, at age 18, are generally mandated to leave Grenada’s residential care homes.

While the Child Protection Authority (CPA) attempts to place these individuals in kinship care, often, that is not an option. After all, these are individuals who were removed from their biological homes because of abuse or abandonment. Time away from those homes doesn’t automatically make the homes safe or the people within them able to provide love, safety, and care. The CPA and its related stakeholders do a great job of training vulnerable parents, but their budget is lean and only a fraction benefit. This creates a population of youth who are uncared for.

As in many parts of the world, teenagers aged out of Grenada’s residential care homes are no longer the nation’s problem. At age 18, they are on their own, expected to catapult into adulthood without a safety net or support system. They often do not have the life skills needed to survive in the world.

Speaking to a Grenadian social worker, I learned that some teens do not even have a birth certificate at the age of 18. No birth certificate, no driver’s license, no state identification or other official identification, insufficient education, no money, no place to stay, no strong family and social ties yet they are forced to leave the residential care home and essentially fend for themselves. In short, it can be said that teens ageing out of residential care should be prepared for homelessness when they turn 18.

I interviewed 2 young women who left the care home system at age 18. They moved into adverse living situations with older men and had trouble securing basic needs. They were subjected to abuse, and one became pregnant. Furthermore, both could not afford formal education and were unemployed.

The young men I interviewed reported a similar plight and felt compelled to take refuge in abandoned buildings or similar settings. Needless to say, they had to scrounge for food, bathe in the sea (without soap) and fell into wandering aimlessly, becoming targets of violence and stigmatization. Abusers know street children likely have no recourse for justice; hence they are often robbed, beaten, and initiated into gangs. Furthermore, as reported by the Consortium for Street Children, street children are at a higher risk of being addicted to drugs.

A survey I conducted found 66% of the young men who responded claimed to be involved in smoking and alcohol use. These young men were between the ages of 16 to 22. Some engaged in smoking marijuana with “boys on the block.”  They are simply highly vulnerable.

With all of the issues that arise because of unprepared young men and women ageing out of residential care homes, I believe the government is the best to tackle a situation of this magnitude. I also urge the general public to get involved. If a nation cannot provide for its most vulnerable, what does that say about its soul?

There are many avenues to take, whether by seeking outside philanthropic support or maximizing what I propose, which is a 0.5% increase in taxes on alcohol purchased, including at bars and restaurants. This increase should be dedicated to the welfare of the nation’s most vulnerable youth. Grenada is a tourist destination; hence a good amount of revenue might come out of alcohol taxes.

Additionally, what about inviting Habitat for Humanity or other such organizations to build homes for this population? All they would need is some government land on which to build. Labourers would gladly donate their time. The government could provide temporary housing and a stipend for teens ageing out of its care homes. Providing housing from the age of 18 to 21 years old will give the youth more time to prepare for the world. It would give them time to finish formal education and become employable. Finally, cruise ships and some hotel jobs usually require one to be 21 years of age. So at 21, the youths will have more opportunities to earn a living.

Let’s get started on one of the nation’s biggest yet highly solvable problems. By doing so, we will give those who have started on the wrong foot a chance to thrive and for their future generations to thrive.