Health Canada’s Gender and Sexual Diversity Network is hosting a virtual Comedy Show, supporting the YSB (Youth Services Bureau), event in hopes of raising funds for two homeless youths in Ottawa.
Tickets are by donation so even 5$ helps and 100% of the proceeds will support services for young people in distress. In exchange, people will get a live comedy show from the comfort of their own homes!
Help raise money to sponsor rooms at YSB for 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth - the goal is to raise $8,000 to support 2 rooms for homeless youth.
About the Youth Services Bureau
The Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa is a fantastic organization that saves young people from the streets, giving them a safe and clean room in its home residences, including mental health counselling, and legal services.
In order to raise funds for the YSB’s homeless youth program, we are hosting this event called “Laughs for Rooms” because according to several community associations in the NCR, they estimate that approximately 2,000 young people, aged 16-24, in Ottawa experienced homelessness in 2022. Of those, more than 60% identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
While acknowledging that social acceptance has significantly improved in the last 30 years, many families still reject their children on the basis of identity. Queer kids and youth are far more likely to become targets of exploitation and abuse. This being said, we would love to house as many as we can as the number of youth homeless is increasing at a dangerous pace.