The IRAYL (Inter Regional At-Risk Youth Link) program plays a crucial role in providing outreach services to young people in the Lower Mainland who may be experiencing challenges related to marginalization and vulnerability. By engaging with youth in the places where they spend time—such as SkyTrain stations, the SeaBus terminal, and other public spaces—IRAYL offers a sense of safety, connection, and access to essential resources.
Young people that may be facing difficulties in their homes, schools or communities and are between the ages of 13 and 18 can access the IRAYL program. These challenges are not always visible and can include housing insecurity, mental health struggles, family conflict, or barriers to education or employment. Recognizing that every young person’s experience is unique, IRAYL takes a person-centered approach, meeting youth where they are and fostering trusting relationships. This trust allows the outreach team to better understand each young person’s needs and offer individualized support, including mental health resources, housing assistance, education, and employment referrals.
Each day, outreach workers begin at the City Centre Youth Hub, preparing for their day by gathering outreach gear—such as jackets, backpacks, and essential supplies like toques, gloves, snacks, and hygiene products. With a focus on harm reduction and emotional safety, outreach workers seek to connect with young people who may be experiencing transient living situations or other vulnerabilities. Young people reach out to IRAYL through social media platforms like Instagram, expressing needs or arranging to meet at locations where they feel safe. The outreach team then visits these spaces to engage in supportive conversations and provide resources.
IRAYL outreach workers are easily identifiable by their branded clothing, signaling to young people that they are approachable, nonjudgmental allies. Initial conversations are guided by active listening and a respect for each young person’s lived experience. Outreach workers create a safe, non-coercive environment where young people can express their concerns, explore their options, and access community resources at their own pace.
Collaboration is central to IRAYL’s approach and outreach workers works closely with partner agency’s that offer counseling, emergency shelter, employment programs, and cultural or identity-affirming supports. Outreach workers also stay informed about trends affecting young people to ensure the program remains responsive to their evolving needs.
One of the most significant challenges faced by IRAYL is the shifting nature of the needs young people face. Every young person has a unique story, and what works for one individual may not be relevant to another. Because of this, outreach workers practice patience, adaptability, and deep empathy, prioritizing relationships over immediate outcomes. They understand that trust takes time to build, and supporting a young person in making positive changes must be led by the youth’s own readiness and comfort level.
As a bridging program, IRAYL measures success differently than traditional long-term support initiatives. Rather than focusing on immediate results, the program values every connection made—whether it leads to a young person accessing housing, finding employment, or simply knowing they have a safe person to turn to. Outreach workers may not always see the long-term impact of their efforts, but every moment of support and validation can be a stepping stone towards healing and stability.
The impact of IRAYL can be seen through the personal journeys of the young people they serve. Recently they supported a young person who had been staying in unstable living situations, including camping in a Vancouver park and couch-surfing with friends. Over time, outreach workers built a trusting relationship with this young person, consistently providing nonjudgmental support and information about available services. Eventually, they felt comfortable enough to access emergency shelter, employment programs, and additional community resources. With continued encouragement, they were able to reconnect with family, set personal goals, and begin building a future on their own terms.
The heart of the IRAYL program lies in its dedicated outreach workers, many of whom have experience working in community spaces such as youth hubs, shelters, and mentoring programs. Their passion, empathy, and firsthand understanding of the challenges young people face drive their commitment to creating safe and affirming spaces. By practicing trauma-informed care—centering safety, choice, and empowerment—they offer a lifeline to young people navigating difficult circumstances.
The IRAYL program continues to be a source of support and connection for vulnerable young people across the Lower Mainland. Through outreach, relationship-building, and resource navigation, the program helps ensure that young people have support when they need it. Whether by providing immediate aid or guiding youth toward long-term solutions, IRAYL plays a vital role in fostering resilience and hope in the lives of the young people they serve.
For more information about the program and its initiatives, visit the IRAYL Program page.
