The BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness is warning that the clock is running down for hundreds of teens who are set to age out of government care at the end of the month unless a COVID-19 related pause is extended.

Katherine McParland is the co-founder of A Way Home Kamloops and she says the pandemic exacerbates difficulties faced by teens when they age out.

“I myself aged out of foster care and I couldn’t imagine trying to develop a life plan at 19 in amongst the pandemic,” she told NL News. “We know employment is harder to secure. We know that these young people are struggling as they may not have enough support services in place.”

McParland says an estimated 500 teens province-wide will age out of the foster care system at the end of the month unless the province takes quick action.

“These young people – they don’t have the skills to live independently. Some youth are aging out of group homes where they’ve had staff caregivers their entire life. They have no idea what it’s like to be living in communities,” she added.

“For other young people – they face multiple barriers such as discrimination and stigma to securing housing at this time.”

McParland and a number of other advocates and organizations are appealing to landlords, housing providers, and other youth oriented organizations to contribute housing units and rental subsidies.

“Our young people in the foster care system are the most vulnerable,” she added. “They come from experiences of trauma, many have experienced abuse and now they’re in a situation where they might lose all of the supports that they have had over the years.”