Things you should know about the BYRC

By Dan Haves

• The centre has been in place since September 1999.
• It is open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 24.
• The centre is funded by all three levels of government.
• They serve 50 to 70 youths per day.
• Roughly 50 per cent of its youth are either homeless or live transiently, participating in what is commonly termed “couch surfing”.
• The majority of the center’s youths are Aboriginal.
• As part of its harm reduction program, the centre gives youth access to condoms and clean needles. Drug use in the centre is not permitted.
• The BYRC offers a Youth Housing Program that allows the centre to negotiate a deal with a landlord on behalf of the youths with the centre’s guarantee that the landlord will be paid.
• Every Tuesday, youth volunteers from the centre conduct a street sweep;
  they pick up garbage and needles throughout the neighbourhood.