Melanie Doucet, an adjunct professor at McGill University, shared insights from her study, “Finding Our Way Home,” at a youth homelessness forum in Saint John, New Brunswick. Drawing from her own experiences in the foster care system in the 1990s, she highlighted the urgent need for social support for youth aging out of care, many of whom face homelessness. Doucet emphasized the importance of including these young people in conversations about their needs, urging decision-makers to treat them as experts.
Her research revealed that homeless youth are significantly more likely to have been involved in the child welfare system, with over a third experiencing homelessness shortly after aging out. Many begin adulthood below the poverty line and depend heavily on social assistance. The study used “photovoice” methodology, allowing youth to share their stories through photography and narrative, revealing feelings of abandonment by social services.
Doucet’s findings resonate with local organizations like the Centre for Youth Care, which provides ongoing support beyond age 19. Executive director Karen Cummings noted that youth continue to seek guidance after leaving care, emphasizing the need for their voices in creating effective solutions for their challenges.
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