Youth homelessness in Windsor a 'dark path,' says man who pulled through

About a seven-minute walk from the Matchette Road entrance of Malden Park in Windsor, Ont., is a spot nestled among the trees where Michael Nicholls remembers spending long nights.

"It was a dark path," said Nicholls, whorecalls 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, Nichollslooks at the spot in Malden where he spent some troubling nights with gratitude proud of where he is today. He credits theWindsor Youth Centre for helping him get back on his feet.

Nicholls's 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:

Michael Nicholls reflects on nights he's spent in Malden Park

3 years ago

Duration 0:56

Nicholls says there would be a park bench where he and others who were experiencing homelessness would hang out for the night. Sometimes, he says people would pitch tents.

Though it hasbeen 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 improvementsover the last decade,the region still has a long way to go to provide the appropriate amount of supports for youthon the street.

"Much the same as it is today, it continues to be a serious problem," said George Bozanich, co-founder of the Windsor Youth Centre,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

The latest plan identified that youth are "overrepresented" in Windsor-Essex's homeless population,yetare still underserviced requiring quadruple the amount of beds currently available.

A 2020review of the city's shelter system found 16 beds are needed.

"I don't know of another city this size that doesn't have emergency shelter for youth," said Donna Roy, program manager at the Windsor Youth Centre.

Why has it taken so long for an emergency shelter?

For now, the Downtown Mission is the only space with a "youth pod," as Roy calls it.

This includes an area with four emergency shelter beds for people aged 16 to 24. Other spots, like the Salvation Army and Welcome Centre, may also take inyouth if space is available, but don't have designated spaces or beds for them.

Butaccording to Roy, research shows that pairing youth with adults can be harmful.

City of Windsor staff told CBC News that the biggest barrier to implementing a youth designated shelter has been "dedicated funding."

Though the city's executive director of housing and children's services, Debbie Cercone, identifies it as a "gap,"she said they are focused on more "long-term" solutions such as permanent housing.

"By trying to house individuals quickly, we're hoping that will be a better solution to addressing their homelessness," Cercone said.

"The purchase and construction of a shelter is expensive and really it doesn't yield really good outcomes for youth to be in a shelter."

In October, the city announced an $8-million shelter for 42 females(aged 16 and older)and families.

Pandemic setbacks

Despite all the steps forward, such as getting a larger space in 2015 to accommodate more people and adding rehab and parenting programs, Roy said the pandemic has made it more difficult to reach out to youth.

The Windsor Youth Centre usedto be in high schools and the South West Detention Centre, but the pandemic has kept them out, she said.

"That real close-knit community that we had pre-COVID, it'sslipped away from us in the last couple of years," she said, adding the organization prides itself on feeling like a "family."

The centre's locationon Wyandotte Street East would also typically have tables lining the rooms, but now they can only have about five that are physically distanced.

With winter approaching, Roy said she and her staff worry about another pandemic lockdown or extreme weather events.

"Winter is probably one of the hardest times ever because coming to work and seeing a couple of bodies on the back deck with nothing between them andthe snow but a sleeping bag; it's a tough thing to see."

Starting new

Nicholls, 26, has been a volunteerat the Windsor Youth Centre for eight years. He now hasa permanent address to call home and three children.

After a decade of using alcohol, he'salso seven months sober.

Despite how far he's come, he worries about ending up back where he was due to the lack of affordable housing.

"It's the most hardest thing I probably did. It's been a struggle, its been a work in process and it's probably going to still be."

Thinking of Malden Park,Nicholls saidhe can't wait toreinvent its meaning bycreating memories with his children there.

"I'm going to look back and be like, 'Well now this is where me and my kids have a better connection,'" he said, adding he's eager to take them sledding.