On the forefront of change: Aura brings light to queer youth homelessness
Yulia (right) received support when she met with Meagan Mah (left) from Aura, a housing first program for queer youth.
Statistically, queer youth face higher rates of violence and homelessness, yet the supports and specialized housing available are minimal. This harmful reality cannot be ignored, and it’s one that our Aura program is working hard to change.
As the only queer housing program in Alberta, Aura provides crucial support for 2SLGBTQ+ gender nonbinary and gender nonconforming youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. When youth come to Aura, they are welcomed into a safe, inclusive space where their gender identity and sexual orientation is respected and celebrated.
Being an affirming program starts with hiring staff who are part of the queer community. Having lived experience and understanding of the challenges youth face, staff are able to address barriers and support youth in the ways they need it most.
“Aura provides support that recognizes the nuance of being queer and homeless in a way that no other program does across Alberta,” says Aura housing support worker Meagan Mah. “This is really essential because we know when queer youth have supports, their rates of suicide, self-harm and homelessness decrease.”
“...we know when queer youth have supports, their rates of suicide, self-harm and homelessness decrease”
Trellis Caseworkers work one-on-one with youth to help them accomplish their goals. This can look like finding and maintaining permanent housing, building financial stability, growing life skills and connecting youth to queer-affirming community resources.
“It’s a better experience, because people feel like they have more agency to be able to come out, to be able to be queer and open in those spaces,” Meagan says. “They don’t feel like there’s this big shame they have to hide in order to get into a program or to get into a shelter.”
Yulia’s story
For Yulia, who knows what it’s like to have nowhere to go, the support she found at Aura made a profound difference. After moving to Canada three years ago, she faced several challenges. Jobs and rental viewings were limited at the beginning of the pandemic, so she found a friend in Calgary to live with.
Everything was good for a while until he found out that Yulia was transgender. Feeling that the environment was no longer safe, Yulia stayed at a shelter for two weeks. She was able to find an apartment, but when the pandemic worsened and Yulia lost her job, she was once again forced to turn to shelters.
“Being in that insecure position was frustrating. You can really think that I can do nothing, I don’t understand anything, and go in that darker space of despair,” Yulia says.
“I am more confident about things that I can do in my life, and I’m less anxious.”
After several months, Yulia was finally referred to Aura last January. Yulia began working with Meagan and describes their time together as a “fantastic, unique experience.” She found Meagan to be kind and gentle and someone she could connect with personally. Yulia opened about her life, and with Meagan’s support, she was able to connect with resources and work towards the goals she had for herself.
“With the positive support from Meagan, I was able to figure out my life quite well. I have stable housing. I have a stable job. I am connected to a doctor and counseling. I am more confident about things that I can do in my life, and I’m less anxious.”
Aura also addresses barriers caused by discrimination within the shelter and others stems. The different risks that Meagan Mah, Case Manager of Aura (left) and Yulia (right).queer youth encounter are largely due to homophobic and transphobic violence. However, because of gaps in knowledge and underreporting, these incidents are often normalized and invisible.
By raising awareness and supporting other programs in becoming more queer-friendly, Aura hopes to build an environment where queer people can feel safe and supported.