Glee Star Tackles ‘Hidden’ Youth Homelessness

While in England Cory made a visit to Foyer Centre in London to meet with young people that are supported by the facility.

During a break from rehearsals for the show’s live tour, Canadian actor Cory Monteith visited a hostel in west London, the Foyer.

He told its residents of his turbulent teenage years, during which he changed schools 12 times and battled drug problems. At one point he was homeless.

“I moved to Vancouver because I wanted to act,” he said.

“I had nothing more than a plastic bag full of T-shirts and slept on my drama teacher’s floor and friends’ floors.

“This is a personal issue for me. I’ve been at risk and living in a marginalised situation and my passion is to give something back.

“That sounds so hokey, but it’s a shame to be in a situation and not raise awareness for the greater good.”

Through his role as an ambassador for the Virgin Unite foundation he works with three homeless charities – Foyer Federation, The Albert Kennedy Trust and Depaul UK.

He says he hopes to inspire young people not to be limited by their circumstances.

“If you focus on what you want and you persevere, chances are you’ll succeed,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve found. It may not be in acting, but business, finance, the arts. It’s all about focus and being inspired.”

It is estimated there are 75,000 homeless young people in the UK. Some live on the streets, with others in temporary accommodation, bed and breakfasts, and hostels.

Monteith said: “It is an all-pervading social problem, not just here in the UK, but worldwide and in my home country Canada and the USA.

“It is something that is truly unacceptable in this day and age and in the First World for people to overlook the problem of youth homelessness.”

(source)

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