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Damyon New - Source: ONE News
After a childhood under the care of Child Youth and Family, 17-year-old Patrice has been turfed out.
It's the end of her time in care, but where to now? She has no support, no one to turn to outside of a system that she no longer fits in.
She may find somewhere to crash tonight - the couch of an acquaintance perhaps - or she may sleep rough. One day will turn into a week.
At some stage, she'll luck in, find a bed for a month or two, that is until she outstays her welcome. It's a transient lifestyle that lends itself to a plethora of problems - drug abuse, poor health, unemployment, depression and a criminal lifestyle. To name a few.
Patrice is not just one young person. Think of her as representing the more than 200 young people in Christchurch that have nowhere to call home according to Dr Sue Bagshaw.
Sue's a pivotal figure in youth health in Christchurch; every day she meets a 'Patrice'.
At her 'one-stop-shop' she can help Patrice with her physical, sexual, mental and social needs. But she can't help with one of her most basic of needs - shelter.
This is not a uniquely Christchurch problem. A study into safe and secure housing for at risk youth by CRESA / Public Policy & Research estimated up to 20,000 12-24 year olds across the country were living in insecure or unsafe housing.
That was four years ago, and even then it was considered a conservative estimate.
The young people most at risk are the ones who've been through the system. But there are a multitude of reasons kids sleep rough.
Anything from a personality clash with parents, to an admission of an alternative sexuality, to an unplanned pregnancy, to being the victim or witness of sexual and physical violence.
There is no alternative. Safe and secure housing for these young people is, around the country, limited or non-existent. The problem gets worse when you consider that those that are homeless today will often call jail home in the future. Something must be done about housing for young people.
It's a cycle, but it's possible to break it. A Youth Crime Action Plan put together by Dr Bagshaw and her team at the Collaborative highlighted three things that the youths themselves thought could help them to choose a different way. The three needs are: help with drug and alcohol issues, a job, and of course shelter. Makes sense.
On 20/20 this week we meet a young man campaigning for youth housing. He's one of those straight from the system; they call them the 'cyfs kids', the kids with a predictable path.
Damyon wanted a better future than the one he was destined for. He shares his personal and at times painful past with us, giving a voice and a face to the powerless and invisible kids without homes.
He also shares his future and his dreams.
* 20/20 is on TV2 at 9.35pm on Thursday.