Joe Roberts knows firsthand what it's like to be a youth living on the streets.
Now, 27 years after he was homeless, Roberts is walking across the country pushing a shopping cart to raise awareness and money to help keep young people from enduring what he did.
Nearly half way done his trek across Canada, the 50-year-old will bring his Push For Change to London on Thursday.
"I wanted to do something to reach out and really have a conversation with Canadians on what we can do to prevent youth homelessness. Too often across this great country of ours, young people will struggle when they're in Grade 8, 9, 10," said Roberts. "Not all childhoods are created equally. I experienced youth homelessness because of family conflict, addiction, and mental health. Those are the root causes and these are things we can address in a young person's life before they become homeless."
Roberts credits his mother and a police officer for helping him get off the streets of Vancouver and reboot his life in 1989.
"I made every conceivable mistake a young person could make. With the help of my mom and an OPP officer I got a second chance," said Roberts. "I went to drug rehab. I went to college, and in less than 12 years I was on the cover of Canadian Business Magazine as a celebrated entrepreneur."
Dedicated to ending youth homelessness, Roberts launched his 517-day journey in Newfoundland in May. By the time he is finished on September 30, 2017, he will have travelled more than 9,000km with his shopping cart.
"When you go to an urban centre, there are two things you use a shopping cart for - you use it to buy groceries but it is also a tool used by someone who is chronically homeless," said Roberts. "For me in 1989, I used a shopping cart to carry around my personal belongings because it is very difficult to carry everything you own on your back. The other thing I used it for was to collect cans and bottles."
The United Association Local 527, provincial police, London police and area high school students will walk with Roberts throughout the London-leg of the campaign.
While in the city, Roberts will speak at an event with the Unity Project at the McIntosh Gallery and visit Youth Opportunities Unlimited on Richmond St.
Roberts has raised more than $270,000 since beginning his journey. He continues to collect donations along the route.
"100% of the money goes towards the work that we are doing with the Push For Change Foundation," said Roberts. "We are investing in a youth homelessness prevention model within the school system called The Upstream Project. We also have a provision within our charity to leave dollars within the communities that we go through to support emergency services."
Roughly 20% of the 235,000 homeless people living in Canada each year are between the ages of 16-24, according to Raising the Roof, a Push For Change partner.
To learn more or to make a donation to the Push For Change visit www.thepushforchange.com.
