Vernon Youth Safe House

Vernon Youth Safe House

Vernon Youth Safe House is a community partnership to assist Vernon youth. The Vernon Youth Safe House provides a safe residential alternative for youth ages 13 – 18 who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of becoming homeless, or are at risk of being in an unsafe environment. Funding for the North Okanagan Friendship Center Vernon Youth Safe House provided by the Ministry of Children & Family Development. Vernon Youth Safe House Phone: 250.260.7077 Kekuli Centre #206-2905 28th Ave, Vernon BC Hours of Operation M – F Closed 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Saturday and Sunday Closed 12:00pm to 8:00pm

Quality Youth Centered Services

The Safe House provides quality youth centered services that encourage and support healthy lifestyle choices, encourage and support each youth in short and long term goal setting, make appropriate and effective referrals to community services and ensure community involvement in the planning and delivery of services.

Core Values

• Information and support
• Referral to other services
• Access to emergency services
• Housing 7 days a week
• Meals
• Laundry
• Life skills workshops

The North Okanagan Friendship Center (with community partnership) supports the universal rights of children and youth to safe housing, adequate food, proper representation, accessible education, and health care. We will advocate and assist youth in accessing community resources. We believe in and respect the basic human dignity and universal rights of all individuals and provide equal and non-judgmental support to youth. Through a youth-centered practice of mutual respect and trust, we encourage and empower youth to make healthy choices in their lifestyle.

• Strength focused
• Client centered
• Mutual respect
• Advocacy
• Collaboration and team work
• Accountability
• Holistic approach
• Shared decision making

Service Goals and Objectives

Provide a safe short-term alternative to remaining on the streets. Encourage and support healthy lifestyle choices for youth. Connect youth to agencies, and to professional and community members who can assist the youth in achieving their goals. Provide crisis intervention, stabilization, assessment, and individualized case planning services. Reduce the harm experienced by youth. Provide services to youth that are respectful of their identity, gender, age, sexual and religious orientation, and culture. Make appropriate and effective referrals to community resources.