Langley students tackle youth homelessness in the city

A group of Langley students have created a task force to fight youth homelessness.

• Youth homelessness worldwide often driven by poverty, not delinquency
• New report shows an increase in homeless deaths in B.C.

"Our community is not aware of the situation," said Jordyn Laird, one of the organizers of the task force. "You don't normally see young people pushing shopping carts around or sleeping on park benches.

The students areholding an open house Wednesday night to talk about the problem and the resources that are needed.

Officials with the Langley School District estimate 150 to 200 students facehomelessness, but the city has no youth shelter or beds.The closest youthshelters are in Abbotsford and Surrey.

"They are unfortunately having to go to another community" saidGordon Stewart,assistant superintendent with the district.

He says others are couch surfing orlooking at abandoned housing.

"We want people to know there is a problem inLangley. It may be invisible but it doesn't mean that it's not there," said Jordyn Laird.

With files from the CBC's The Early Edition and Sara Rabey

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