Dans la rue is committed to helping youth survive life on the streets, regain stability and build brighter futures. We spoke with Anick Desrosiers, Director of Prevention, Intervention and Clinic Services, to learn more about how the organization supports young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Founded by Father Emmett “Pops” Johns in 1988, Dans la rue helps homeless and at-risk youth.
With dedication, empathy and respect, and with the support of the community, Dans la rue cares for their immediate needs and helps them acquire the skills and resources needed to lead more autonomous and rewarding lives.
Like every young person, homeless and at-risk youth have a full spectrum of needs. At Dans la rue, they can find a multifaceted approach that addresses all aspects of their lives to help them get off the street and permanently transition away from at-risk situations.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Dans la rue aims to provide young people experiencing homelessness or severe instability with a safe environment, essential services and tailored support. The goal is to meet their immediate needs while giving them the tools to regain stability, develop their autonomy and look to the future with hope.
When did you start/join it?
I have specialized in the field of homelessness for 25 years as a frontline worker, doctoral researcher, social worker, psychotherapist and trainer, as well as a community facilitator supporting other frontline workers. Having experienced homelessness myself, I bring a personal perspective while recognizing that I cannot fully know what young people are going through. Drawing on these experiences and everything I have learned from people with lived experience. I stepped into my role as Director, Prevention, Intervention and Clinic Services, at Dans la rue in October 2025.
What made you want to get involved?
Homelessness is stressful and traumatic. It deprives those who experience it — especially the young people we serve — not only of their ability to meet their basic needs, but sometimes also of the opportunity to take their place in the world, to belong to a community, to participate in society, to try new things and to dream about their future.
It is impossible to know the young people I work with every day without wanting to give them every opportunity they deserve. However, this work cannot be done alone. The teams that support our youth are themselves indirectly exposed to social violence and the harsh realities of street life. There is an entire ecosystem of partners working to find humane solutions to homelessness.
I came to Dans la rue to help build the communities we need in order to treat human beings like human beings. I have a deep desire to support young people so they have all the guidance, care and opportunities they need to build the lives they aspire to — and the lives they deserve.
What was the situation like when you started?
Twenty-five years ago in Montreal, youth homelessness appeared to be more concentrated in certain central neighbourhoods and was often associated with a recognizable street culture. While the situation was already serious and often traumatic, the issue was generally understood as affecting more specific groups of marginalized young people, rather than the broader and more diverse range of youth we see today. Broader than that point, homelessness across the city seemed less widespread and lower in overall numbers than it is now. But even then, we observed an overrepresentation of sexually and gender diverse youth, Indigenous youth, and young people who aged out of youth protection services.
How has it changed since?
Over the past 25 years, homelessness has grown both in scale and intensity. As the gaps in our social safety net have widened and precarity has increased for a larger portion of the population, while support structures have weakened, the face of homelessness has become more diverse. Communities that have managed to keep some people off the streets often find themselves increasingly vulnerable as needs have grown. Specifically among youth, we are seeing both rising numbers and increasingly complex situations of vulnerability.
What more needs to be done?
Homelessness is a traumatic experience that leaves lasting marks. We need to collectively become better at building supportive communities that both prevent people from reaching extreme precarity, including ending up on the streets, and provide a helping hand to those who do. We also need to identify the pathways that make youth vulnerable to homelessness in order to provide targeted support as early as possible. Prevention is a fundamental aspect of addressing homelessness.
Early intervention with young people experiencing homelessness is also critical to keeping situations from becoming chronic. Half of all people experiencing homelessness first encounter it before the age of 25. Providing young people with sufficiently intensive, high-quality support can reduce the impacts of prolonged or repeated episodes on the streets, which are not without lasting effects.
How can our readers help?
Responding to youth homelessness is a collective effort. It takes a village to guide adolescents and young adults toward the lives they deserve. The support of our 22,300 donors allows our intervention teams of counsellors to continue providing young people with safe, nurturing and innovative services through our Van, emergency shelter, cafeteria, family support, housing and employment programs, school and activities. Our volunteers are also an essential part of these services.
You can be part of this collective effort to support youth and fight the injustice of homelessness in your own way. Every action — donating, volunteering or raising awareness — helps create hope, safety and opportunities for young people to thrive.
Do you have any events coming up?
Yes. Our signature fundraising event, Dans la rue des jeunes, will take place on May 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Maison Alcan. Presented by CN and Sun Life, the evening will highlight the creativity and resilience of the young people we support, featuring musical performances and inspiring moments. Tickets are $200 (with a $100 tax receipt) or $150 for young philanthropists. The funds raised will support our programs and our efforts to prevent youth homelessness.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
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