Building relationships, setting goals at Beacon Cove
The second debut of Safe Harbour, now known as Beacon Cove, has been a success.
In its first year of operating the shelter, its stats show 43 youths were housed, 17 family reunifications made possible, two sent to Portage for addiction services, and unfortunately, 43 turned away because the shelter was full.
“Every day we are telling people, ‘We don’t have a spot for you,’” said Ashley Aubin, outreach manager.
In September 2022, Centre for Youth Care took over operations at the youth shelter. They work in partnership with the Teen Resource Centre, Housing Alternatives and The Learning Exchange to provide housing and programming for teens aged 16-18.
Beacon Cove is located on Broad Street in Saint John’s south end, on land that once housed St. James Church. The Diocese owns the building, and leases it for $1 a year so that young people in need have the services and shelter they need.
After an initial partnership with another agency ended, it was closed for six months in 2022. But it was vital that the shelter re-open to provide the care needed.
“There is a misconception that because they’re youths, there are lots of services for them,” said Ashley. “That’s not true. There are teenagers with no where to go and not a lot of options.
“Kids fall through the cracks, and are being made to figure it all on their own. The amount of youth living rough — people would be astonished. And it’s not just here, it’s across the country.”
In fact, unless a youth already has an open file with the Department of Social Development, there are no official services once they reach the age of 16. That’s why the shelter is so important. To its credit, the Department helps fund the shelter operation.
THE OPERATION
The house has two distinct sections. The first floor has four emergency beds, and they are always full. There are no barriers to admittance, other than age. If they arrive high or drunk, they can still be admitted, though from then on, they cannot use on the property. The maximum stay is one month.
The second floor has six beds and this is for longer term housing for teens who are working to improve their lives. Some go to school, some work. They have chores. If they have income, they are asked to pay a small rent.
Many of those on the second floor began their stay at Beacon Cove on the first floor. There is no time limit on their stay, other than age. When they turn 19, it’s time to make plans to leave.
On the day the NB Anglican visited, five of those six beds were full.
Together these teens work on getting the help they need, rebuilding relationships and setting goals so that in time, they will be able to leave Beacon Cove much stronger than when they arrived.
ASHLEY
Ashley works for the Teen Resource Centre, and part of her job is to spend three days a week at Beacon Cove, working with residents who want to work on themselves.
“Success is measured in many different ways,” she said. “When they’re stabilized, willing to invest in themselves, doing things they never thought they could do — it’s very rewarding.”
Ashley supports those within the house, but also those who have left. If they need a ride, some groceries, a listening ear, Ashley is there.
“If you need me, call me. I’ll text you to check on you,” she said. “In a traditional setting, they have family support, but the kids here create those supports here.”
Ashley also works on family reunifications, with some families needing a couple of meetings to set and manage expectations, while others need far more. Not all reunifications are with parents. Sometimes aunts, uncles, older siblings and grandparents step up.
LISA
Lisa Vautour is the program manager at Beacon Cove. One of her great joys of the job is seeing youth return after leaving prematurely.
“They leave and come back,” she said. “They’ve discovered, on their own, that they can make it work with support.”
Lisa knows the importance of the relationships residents make, both with each other and with staff. When one young woman got a job and was leaving, the message she wrote on a white board said, ‘Good-bye, my beautiful family.’
“That brought a tear to my eye,” she said.
On the number of homeless youths in the city, province and country, Lisa said some are overwhelmed and that leads to inaction.
“This world scares a lot of people, so they turn a blind eye to it. They don’t want to see it and don’t want to address it.”
KAREN
Karen Cummings is the executive director of the Centre for Youth Care. That agency runs several operations in the city, with Beacon Cove being the largest.
She highlighted the atmosphere her group of 18 staff have created at Beacon Cove.
“It’s not punitive. It’s non-judgmental, but there are expectations,” she said. “The youths have autonomy and freedom here, though that might lead us to say ‘I don’t think this is the best path for you.’
“We say, ‘Your history doesn’t have to be this dark cloud hanging over you. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed.’
“Nobody makes youth come here. Nobody is here against their will. They can leave; they can come back as long as there is a bed.”
She is pleased that the steep learning curve of running a teen shelter has been mastered, and that the operation is going well.
“This is the Cadillac of services here,” she said. “But the thing we learned in the first four months is we are not going to meet 100 per cent of the needs of the youth community. It’s hard to accept that we have limitations. But we are 10 beds under one roof. There is a limit.”
For Karen, the biggest challenge is balancing the needs of the first floor residents in emergency beds with those of the second floor residents, who are there long term to really work on changing their lives.
“We really need a second space, a separate space,” she said.
KYLE
Kyle (not his real name) was the first resident once the shelter reopened in September 2022. He left and returned four times.
“He was a joy from day one,” said Karen. “He had an emergency bed and then he moved upstairs.”
He had various issues to work through, including past trauma, mental health and addiction. The last time, he was ready for recovery, got a job and moved on. He gained a spot at Portage drug rehab facility, but there was a problem.
He was due at Portage on Tuesday, but on Friday, he came back to Beacon Cove in a panic. He’d just gotten paid, and was frightened that temptation would ruin his well-laid plans. There was no bed available, so he asked that they take his phone and bank card for the weekend.
They did better than that. They found a cottage he could use out of town, and he and a buddy spent the weekend there, free of anything that would keep him from Portage.
“He did it!” said Karen. “He just graduated on Friday. We have celebrated all along with him.”
Kyle has big plans for his future.
“He feels empowered to share his story. He wants to be an advocate,” she said. “But if all this had happened when he was 19 instead of 18, we’d not have been able to help him.”
The end of services to teens should take place when they are ready, not when they age out, she said.
NEXT STEPS
One issue on the minds of staff is a need for a food security program for non-residents. Former residents are encouraged to visit, and sometimes, they are in need of groceries and toiletries.
“They keep coming back for food,” said Karen. “It’s a good way to stay connected with them and identify any potential problems.”
However, meeting that need can get expensive. They’d like to launch a program that would have a ready supply of food and other items for those visits.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas 2022 was an extravaganza of indulgence, joy and togetherness for residents. A corporate sponsor who wished to remain anonymous got wish lists from residents and did the shopping. Electronics and brand name clothes were just some of the gifts.
“The kids had a hard time coming up with items for the list,” said Karen. “It was a bit uncomfortable for them, and humbling.”
This year, that same corporation was asking for wish lists in November and spoke of the joy that providing Christmas had brought their staff last year.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The staff are quick to say donations from Anglican parishes and parishioners have been wonderful, but there is always an ongoing need.
Toiletries in larger sizes (not travel size) are always needed: feminine hygiene products (specifically tampons), deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. In addition, they are looking for clothing, winter coats, winter boots, hats and gloves, shoes, socks, blankets and large towels. Gift cards in small denominations are also helpful.
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter (50 Broad Street) during the day — staff are always onsite. You can also donate to Beacon Cove via the diocesan website. Just choose Beacon Cove from the drop-down menu: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/13778?v2=true
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1. A gigantic tree will greet visitors and residents this Christmas, just as it did last year. (Lisa Vautour photo)
2. Staff members Tracey Fisher, Kathy Boyer, Ashley Aubin, Karen Cummings and Lisa
Vautour in the kitchen of Beacon Cove. (McKnight photo)
3. Beacon Cove, at 50 Broad Street in Saint John's south end, sits on land that once housed St. James Anglican Church. The Cody window, named for Archdeacon H.A. Cody and salvaged from the deconsecrated church, can be seen above the front door. (McKnight photo)
4. Christmas 2022 saw plenty of gifts under the tree, thanks to an anonymous corporate donor. (Lisa Vautour photo)