• Naming of the Youth Services Centre: As part of their investment in the new centre, youth engaged in Family Services’ Youth Services programs were asked to participate in the naming of the new centre. After several brainstorming sessions, the name put forward by youth was “Directions”, which has since been adopted as the operating name of the youth services centre.
• Grand Opening of Directions: On November 3, 2005, then Mayor Larry Campbell, MLA Lorne Mayencourt, and Government of Canada representative, Ardath Paxton Mann were at 1134 Burrard St to officially open Directions with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Approximately 200 people—residents, business community, government representatives, service providers, funders, agency staff and other supporters—jammed into Directions to tour the new facility for youth and to celebrate its opening. Local media attended.
• Homeless Youth Awareness Week: In honour of the grand opening of Directions, then Mayor Larry Campbell declared the week of October 31, 2005 to November 4, 2005 as Homeless Youth Awareness Week in the City of Vancouver to assist Family Services in calling attention to the growing crisis of youth homelessness and to the need for the whole community to work together for solutions.
• Launch of The Legacy Project: On November 2, FSGV was selected by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH) to help launch The Legacy Project—a partnership initiative with the business and arts community established to engage the private sector in solutions to end the crisis of youth homelessness.
• Citytv Make a Difference mornings: In December 2005, Directions was selected to be featured as part of Citytv/ReMax Make a Difference Mornings campaign. In addition to a month long promotional campaign, Directions was featured on Citytv’s Breakfast Television on December 19 to showcase the work of the centre and the impact the centre makes on the lives of homeless and at-risk youth in the city. On behalf of ReMax, Citytv also presented Directions with a cheque for $1,000 as well as $1,000 worth of jackets, sleeping bags, socks, underwear, and many other necessities for the youth who utilize the services of Directions.
• Davie Village Day:  In September 2005, the Davie Village Business Improvement Association hired SYJA youth to provide extra clean-up of Davie St. to prepare for the celebration. The owner of Moxie’s on Davie St was so delighted with the hard work ethic and quality of services performed that he invited the youth into the restaurant. One of the youth was quoted afterwards as saying, "At SYJA, we were all impressed by Moxie's generosity, and while I certainly appreciate any token bestowed on me, the real reward is the praise and respect in the community for a job well done".
• SYJA ten-year anniversary: In March 2006, SYJA became ten-years old and is planning a birthday celebration in the summer to help raise the profile of the program. SYJA had a very successful year while in transition to its new youth services facility. The first contract year with the Davie Village Business Improvement Association is completed and SYJA was delighted to achieve 100% satisfaction in service to their business community.
• Program accessibility/low-barrier entry: Directions staff members serve youth who cannot access other youth services due to issues like: erratic behaviour associated with crystal meth consumption and ensuing psychosis; FAS/FAE; personality disorders; and behavioural problems. Despite these challenging hurdles, successes are often achieved:
• A Directions staff member worked with a youth who had, at one time, only peripheral contact with the centre. The youth, present in the drop-in for the first time, was greeted by a staff member who introduced herself and provided an overview of the services Directions could provide. Several months later, the youth was experiencing crystal meth fatigue and delusions of being pursued and sought support from the Directions staff member. A short-term safety plan and cognitive challenges to fear of safety to self, was developed.
• A difficult-to-house, drug-addicted young woman, who is also an adult survivor of incest, was supported in her efforts to acquire supported housing. The housing worker has not only helped her acquire housing in a variety of settings (shelter, detox hotels) but also supported her through numerous evictions. Each subsequent housing situation has demonstrated the steps to better quality housing.
• Staff members worked to assist 121 youth leave the streets or return to their home or home communities this past fiscal year.
• The past year has provided opportunities for staff to witness many youth move into safer, more stable living situations. Staff members have continued to support youth efforts to move away from the street lifestyle.  Participation in case conferencing, youth repatriation planning, and referrals to ASU/shelter/youth detox have been core to these efforts.
• Staff cite youth who began as clients and have returned to Directions after much hard work and change to become employed as Peer Counsellors, as a highlight of the work they do with youth. 
• Directions staff members are proud of the level and quality of service that they are able to provide to the youth accessing services, particularly because Directions is one of the few services that all youth can easily access within the City of Vancouver. Youth often express appreciation to staff for the supportive, relaxed and non judgmental atmosphere.
• Education: The Gateway Alternate Day program has seen a number of students completing the Ministry of Education required foundation academic courses as well as courses in Selected Studies.  Gateway offers Forestry 11 and Forestry 12 courses to meet the Science graduation requirements and is the only school (including regular high schools) to offer this course in the Lower Mainland. Students are participating regularly in life skills modules including: cooking and nutrition; sewing; budgeting and finance; health and well-being, and arts & recreation. Students also benefit from a hot lunch program.
• Snowboarding Lessons & Instructors: Directions' Resource Centre facilitated the Zero Ceiling snowboard program with Whistler/ Blackcomb. Four youth underwent a week of rigorous training to become certified snowboard instructors. Directions staff members acted as live-in chaperones and supports during this time. All four youth have been hired by Whistler/Blackcomb as snowboard instructors. For the second year and with the support of Legacy 2010 and Burton Snowboards, six youth from Directions were able to partake in six weeks of snowboarding lessons.
• Guitar lessons: Weekly guitar lessons provided by acclaimed guitar teacher Colin Ford has resulted in group lessons for both beginners and intermediate meeting weekly in Direction’s community room. Colin generously donates his time, all instruments, and the use of a small recording unit to Directions.
• Studio arts program: Brenda Carr of the Street Art Works Society provides two studio art classes for youth per week
• Christmas Dinner: Once again, the annual Christmas Dinner for youth was supplied by the Sanderson family, who do a wonderful job of cooking and providing a full turkey dinner for almost 50 youth. Through the generous support of York House School, St Augustine’s Parish, St Mary’s of Kerrisdale, and many other individual sponsors, every youth left the dinner with a wrapped gift and a new piece of clothing
• Recreational outings: With the generosity of the community, Directions youth had the opportunity to participate in many recreational activities, including: Cirque du Soleil; snowboarding atop Whistler/Blackcomb; the 2006 World Juniors Hockey Tournament; local plays; and other local events.
• Comments from youth: In the words of the youth…
• “This program is comfortable, understanding and helped me out and get organized. Thanks!” 
• “It is a good place to eat and shower. It has helped me through hard times.”
• “It has good healthy food and is a good shelter when its cold out.”
• “The staff are great.”
• “I like Directions because they feed me, there are other people like me and they talk to me.”

Return to Directions Home