Why Sergio Petrillo is Sleeping Outside

Sometimes people may think “folks who live on the streets want, and choose, to live on the streets”. I am here to tell you that many of the youth I’ve met on the streets of Vancouver and Abbotsford are on the street because of a variety of different factors - and most often it was a last resort. Homeless Hub noted that “often, people experience homelessness when all other options have been exhausted, and/or they are dealing with circumstances that make it difficult to maintain housing.” Some of these difficulties which can sometimes result in homelessness are eviction, lack of affordable housing, and struggling to cope with mental illness or addictions. I am participating in YUnite Out to help raise awareness and understanding around the circumstances and obstacles many youth face in our very own cities, with hope that we can all see past the present circumstances to the person and the story they hold and unite to end youth homelessness.