Gen Z 'doesn't want to work' claim is misleading

An opinion piece profiles Joshua, who aged out of care and kept working and studying while applying to Toronto Community Housing seven years ago, to counter the claim that Gen Z doesn't want to work.

Joshua, a former resident of Youth Without Shelter, is profiled to challenge the idea that Gen Z does not want to work. He aged out of Children's Aid care at 18 at a time when supports past that age were not available, a gap that affected more than 1,000 young people across Ontario each year. He applied to the Toronto Community Housing waitlist seven years ago and has waited since. Rather than enter the adult shelter system, he continued working and studying and used some income to pay for a gym membership to shower before school and work. Reported details: - Joshua was a former resident of Youth Without Shelter (YWS). - He aged out of Children's Aid care at 18 when there were no supports past that age. - More than 1,000 young people across Ontario are reported to age out of care each year. - He applied to the Toronto Community Housing waitlist seven years ago and has experienced a long wait. - He continued working and studying and paid for a gym membership to shower before school and work. Summary: The profile illustrates how young people who aged out of care can continue to work and study while facing limited housing supports and long waits for social housing. Undetermined at this time.