Youth homelessness in Windsor a 'dark path' says man who pulled through
CBC
About a seven minute walk from the Matchette Road entrance of Windsor's Malden Park is a spot nestled among the trees where Michael Nicholls remembers spending long nights.
"It was a dark path," said Nicholls, who recalls those first steps into darkness well.
"[I'm] joyful that I don't have to do this anymore ... some nights were really scary out here."
At 16, Nicholls started stealing alcohol, getting drunk before class, "hanging out with the wrong crowd" and experimenting with drugs. Eventually, he left home.
In the next few months he'd find himself sleeping on the streets or couch surfing.
A decade later, Nicholls looks at the spot in Malden where he spent some troubling nights with gratitude — proud of where he is today. He credits the Windsor Youth Centre for helping him get back on his feet.
Nicholls' story is an example of the roughly 30 Windsor youth who, on an average night, can be found couch surfing or sleeping on the streets, according to data from the Windsor Youth Centre.
The centre's staff added that this number fluctuates each day.
WATCH: Nicholls revisits the spot in Malden where he spent nights as a teen
Though its been a decade since the Windsor Youth Centre began, it's still the only drop-in space for at-risk or homeless youth who need food, activities or wellness programming.
The service is an umbrella program under the Downtown Mission, which is one of Windsor's largest shelters.
Those working at the centre told CBC News that while there's been some improvements over the last decade, the region still has a long way to go to provide the appropriate amount of supports for youth on the street.
"Much the same as it is today, it continues to be a serious problem," said co-founder of the Windsor Youth Centre George Bozanich when asked what youth homelessness looked like when the centre began.
Two years ago, the City of Windsor approved an updated version of its 2014 housing and homelessness master plan
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