Youths and young adults are welcome to stop by a new hub near downtown Regina, free of charge. The Treehouse Drop-in Youth Safe Space is hoping to be a central location for young people to find connection and support. It’s operated by the Street Culture Project, a group focused on helping young people. “A youth could show up in an acute crisis and we have the resources here to assist, to address and to help that individual,” said Jeff Dudar, Street Culture Project’s CEO. “We also welcome kids that are just popping by downtown and want to come in and cool off, grab a drink, hang out and connect with our staff or other youth.” Dudar said if someone finds themselves in need, staff can help address the issue on the fly and in real time. Located at 2425 13th Ave, the space was once occupied by the restaurant Henry the 2nd. The revitalized space will host activities like sewing and drum-making nights, as well as Cree language lessons on Wednesday evenings. There are also tables for foosball, air hockey and pool along with two computers. Two counsellors will be on hand to provide support. The Treehouse Drop-in is Street Culture Project’s (SCP) ninth location across the city. The SCP typically helps youth and young adults ages 12 to 29. This specific location on 13th Avenue is open to those between ages 15 and 24. “There is a varying degree of maturity, potentially, between the 15-year-old and the 24-year-old, but that also creates opportunity for the older youth that attend – depending on where they’re at – to take on a different presence in the space,” Dudar explained. “They can sort of take on a bit of a mentorship role.” HOMEBASE, an organization that operates similar youth centres in the province, says that offering easy-to-access mental health and peer support for young people is crucial. HOMEBASE uses an integrated youth services model of care, operating with hubs in the province that focus on core service areas, such as physical health, mental health, peer supports, outreach, cultural supports, education and employment support, and others identified by the community. They say that mental health services continue to be of higher demand, and that peer-entry supports are also bringing in young people through the doors. “Youth will often come in, and that’s the first person [other youth] they talk to in the hubs … folks that have lived experience. They’re around the same age range,” said Amanda Neuman, the manager of communications and stakeholder relations. “They’re able to talk to them about some of the stuff that’s going on.” HOMEBASE has four locations across Saskatchewan: ones in Humboldt, Moose Jaw, Regina and Sturgeon Lake First Nation. As for the Treehouse location, it will be open seven days a week, from 3 p.m.-10 p.m. “You don’t have to be a part of a particular program in the community to access the Treehouse, it’s for anyone in that age range that wants a place just to come hang out,” said Dudar. With nine Regina locations already, Dudar says SCP doesn’t have any plans in the near future for additional drop-in sites. Currently SCP is looking to focus on transitional housing, including finding more beds for youth that are in acute crisis or are experiencing homelessness.
