Pubdate: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Nelly Elayoubi, Ottawa Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STREET YOUTH SELL THEIR BODIES TO SURVIVE Teen prostitution is on the rise in Ottawa. For young men and women selling their bodies, it's called survival sex. They get cash, shelter, food or clothing in exchange for sexual favours. "It's not your stereotypical standing on the corner of a downtown street in your high heels and miniskirts anymore," says Tom Sidney, director of prevention and public education at Operation Go Home, an organization dedicated to helping teens get off the streets. When a teen girl first finds herself on the streets, it only takes a day or two before she's being offered something for sex, says Sidney. "The youngest I've ever worked with is a 13-year-old (girl)." Teen prostitution is a terrible way to survive. Not only does it trap teens on the streets, it puts them at greater risk of contracting diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis C, which can spread quickly in the tight-knit street community. Operation Go Home is leading the recently established Youth Prostitution Task Force, which is looking at ways to get teens out of the "profession" and limit the damage they face. The organization also offers a drop-in centre for street youth and provides workshops and an outreach program. About 30 kids a day, from all backgrounds, seek help from Operation Go Home. "Look to your own children. That's who they are," Sidney says. Teens end up on the streets for many reasons. Sometimes it's nothing more than rebelling against the rules at home. But for others it's more complicated. They're feeling neglected, or are abused -- physically, sexually, or both -- and see the streets as a safer place than home. It's not. Drug use often follows a move to the streets. Kids as young as 14 are smoking crack, shooting heroin, snorting cocaine and morphine. NUMB THE PAIN Drug use is so rampant on the streets that if Operation Go Home can get a teen to switch from crack to pot, it's considered a success. "That's the part that gets a little frustrating is that we're Canada's capital and we have this type of lifestyle going on a half-a-mile from where the prime minister sleeps," Sidney says. It's a vicious cycle. The drugs run out and the pain comes back. To numb the pain, more drugs are used. To pay for the drugs, teens sell their bodies. "We're dealing with kids that nobody really wants. They're 'throwaways,' not runaways. And even when they get on the streets, people still don't want to deal with it." Sidney adds. Operation Go Home runs the controversial Safe Needle Exchange program, in which youths can exchange used syringes for clean needles and sterile water. When a young person comes in to the centre, their arms are checked. Then they're often referred to a sexual health nurse who visits once a week. "If we treat them non-judgmentally in the exchange program, they think that's pretty cool, they'll come back and ask us other questions," Sidney says. Eventually, most street youth get tired of the life they're living and want to change. Various programs offered by Operation Go Home help them do that, providing help in areas like building resumes, searching for jobs and finding housing. They're also linked up with the Royal Ottawa Hospital and rehab programs in the city. "We walk with them to the end of the Earth and when they get there, they're prepared to take that final step on their own," Sidney says. DEDICATED TO PLIGHT OF RUNAWAYS Some quick facts about Operation Go Home: - - Founded in 1971, it's the only Canadian organization that reunites and reconnects families to runaway and street youth aged 16-19. - - By law, Operation Go Home must contact the Children's Aid Society or Ottawa police when children under 16 seek assistance from the organization. - - In 2004, Operation Go Home was in contact with 8,402 at-risk youth. - - It offers the only breakfast program to street youth in Ottawa. - - The drop-in centre is available from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 1 to 4 p.m. workshops are held and support groups meet. - - It offers a 24-hour national crisis line for families and teens on the street to call: 1-800-668-4663. Source: Operation Go Home - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager