Crisis worker with London Children's Aid urges province to step in as agency places kids in hotels

A crisis intervention specialist with the London, Ont. branch of the Children's Aid Society (CAS) says there are currently no beds available for some of the city's most vulnerable youth.

Pre-existing gaps in services have only grown wider in the city and across the province, according to Gerry Healy. There are no spaces to place high needs children who require special treatment and aren't able to return home for a variety of reasons.

The agency, tasked with keeping children safe, has had to resort to placing some of those childrenin homes as far away as Ottawa, or in local hotels or motels.

"When you're putting a teenager or a child as young as 11 in hotel rooms and calling that home, I'd say [the situation] is significantly dire," said Healy.

WATCH: Gerry Healy from CAS explains how kids are at risk in hotels

Youth in care are living in London hotels. Children's Aid explains why it's dangerous

11 months ago

Duration 1:47

The Children's Aid Society (CAS) of London and Middlesex says it's run out of placements for youth. It's had to resort to hotels. Gerry Healy, a crisis intervention specialist with CAS, says something has to change.

"The [Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services] has introduced this process where you can safety hotel rooms, but that's impossible. You can't keep a youth safe in a public hotel. There's just not security," Healy said.

He points out that children living in city hotels are at risk of human trafficking. Groomers are likely to target the spots, offering young people gifts and friendship. There is at least one child currently staying in a hotel in London, Healy added, but it will take more money from the ministry to get them into a proper home.

Until then, the London CAS has also turned to renting unlicensed homes that can only accommodate two children at a time. That solution can only go so far, said Healy, given the current rental market.

"We used to have foster families where we could place these kids," he said. "But you know, some of these kids aren't appropriate for that because of their behaviours and their situation."

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services said in a statement sent to CBC News on Oct. 25 that children's aid societies are expected to work with community partners to find solutions that best support families when there are no protection concerns.

"Children's aid societies have an exclusive mandate to deliver child protection services," the ministry wrote.

"The ministry has directed Children's Aid Societies that if a parent or guardian approaches a society and no child protection concerns exist, the society should refer the family to appropriate community or health service providers with a mandate to provide services, depending on the needs of the child or youth."

I keep thinking, 'oh, it's going to get better, it's going to get better.' But it isn't. It's getting worse.- Gerry Healy, Crisis Worker CAS

But Healy and others in Ontario say community partners are also strapped for money and have limited space. They argue the provincial directive is becoming impossible to meet, with the funding available.

Healy is calling on the ministry to take the issue seriously fearing bankruptcy is on the horizon for the agency as it struggles along on a shoestring budget.

It's the worst he's seen the situation in his 30-year career.

"I keep thinking, 'oh, it's gonna get better, it's gonna get better.' But it isn't. It's getting worse," he said.

He's also calling on members of the community to step up as potential foster families, while also writing to the Ford government to appeal for a solution.