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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 13, 2016 | 24 Skid Row CEO set to arrive in Halton this month by Kathy Yanchus Metroland West Media It's late afternoon on Sept. 26, Day 149 for Joe Roberts. He has just trekked past the majestic Parliament buildings in the nation's capital, to reach the 3,000-kilometre mark of his crossCanada journey. Six thousand kilometres to go. "Every single day since we got into Ontario has been extraordinary," said Roberts, the driven man behind The Push for Change, a grassroots initiative that is slowly making its way across the country, literally one step at a time. It will take Roberts, known as the Skid Row CEO, 17 months to complete his walk, but much longer to accomplish his mission to end youth homelessness; he admits, it may not happen in his lifetime. His goal is to immerse all stakeholders -- law enforcement, educators, governments, all Canadians -- in a conversation as a means to end the crisis of youth homelessness. The Push for Change began May 1 of this year in St. John's, N.L., but the idea has been formulating in Roberts' mind for five years. As he makes his way across this vast, diverse land of rolling hills, forests, mountains, wheat fields, rural settings and urban sprawls, he is pushing a shopping cart, a universal symbol of chronic homelessness. "The shopping cart is full of intangibles, so things like hope, collaboration, the removal Joe Roberts has embarked on a cross-Canada trek with a shopping cart to bring awareness to the issue of youth homelessness in the country with The Push for Change throughout the spring and summer of 2016. | Barabara-Ann MacEachern/Metroland of stigma. What is in the shopping cart are the solutions to one day end youth homelessness as we know it today in Canada," said Roberts, speaking from Ottawa, in advance of his arrival in Halton at the end of October. "It's a symbol of chronic homelessness, the very thing we're trying to avoid for kids." Working through community partners, Roberts reaches out to organizations and schools in towns and cities along the way speaking about his own transformation from teenage homeless addict to successful businessman, author and motivational speaker. His core messages are awareness of the invisibility of youth homelessness and the overwhelming need for change. "Once you get the ball rolling, it's not hard to find people to receive you. Walking across Canada is not a new idea, but when you do it, you earn the right to then engage Canadians in a conversation that's meaningful," Roberts said. "I think there's something honest about walking across Canada that says we're willing to take the harder path because the things we want to change are hard; the state of youth homelessness and youth at risk is a big challenge." In Halton, the Children's Aid Society's (CAS) Bridging the Gap (BTG) program supports up to 300 kids annually, the highest numbers of homeless or at-risk youths aged 16-24 in Oakville and Burlington. Without a youth shelter in the region, young people end up in adult shelters or couch surfing at friends' places, said Steve Levac, BTG's program manager. In the summer, those youths might spend the night on the beach in Burlington or under a bridge in Oakville, added Tina Blatchford, executive director Halton CAS. "Youth homelessness is a complex situation and there are many reasons," said Levac. see First on p.32 Final Days End Of The Roll's 20 OFF BRING IN THIS COUPON % AND GET... * when you purchase ou ted . Coupon must be presen h *See in store for details ed wit bin com be not Can se. at the time of purcha October 31, 2016. Valid any other offer; expires North Service Rd) and 10 (15 at the Burlington 73 Dundas St W) (22 t Wes Mississauga s only. End Of The Roll location r in-stock area rugs Flooring Canadians for 30 years! PAY NO TAX BRING IN THIS COUPON . Coupon h *See in store for details Cannot be combined wit at the time of purchase. r 31, 2016. Valid obe Oct ires exp r; offe any other North Service Rd) and at the Burlington (1510 73 Dundas St W) (22 t Wes a aug Mississ tions only. loca l Rol The Of End AND GET... * nt of the HST for you We will pay the equivale r in-stock flooring. when you purchase ou must be presented Brand Name Flooring. Low Prices. Always in Stock. ENDOFTHEROLL.COM Burlington | 1510 North Service Rd | 905.319.2299 Mississauga West | 2273 Dundas St W | 905.820.7655 No payment, no interest plans available OAC - *See store for details