The System Ends at 19”: Noor’s Story Shows How Canada Fails Disabled Youth in Foster Care

In Canada, the foster care system has a hard stop, age 19. For the thousands of youth who “age out” of government care every year, that birthday doesn’t come with a celebration. It comes with the loss of stability, housing, income, and critical supports.

Now imagine going through that moment not just as a teenager, but as someone living with cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair, with no family support, while trying to get an education.

That is Noor’s story.

I spoke with Noor on the phone yesterday. She’s 18, living in British Columbia, and this December, she’ll age out of the province’s child welfare system. When that happens, she will be expected to find her own housing, pay for her care, and cover her basic living costs all while trying to stay in school and become a teacher.

Noor was born in Lebanon and came to Canada as a child. She lived most of her life with her family, but in her late teens, she began facing systemic abuse in her home. She was removed and placed into foster care, where she currently resides in a group home with support staff who assist her with daily tasks, things most of us take for granted, like getting dressed, preparing food, and using the washroom.

That safety net will vanish in a few months.

Because Noor is a full-time student, she is not eligible for provincial disability benefits. In BC, youth who age out of care can apply for programs like the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA), but because Noor entered care later in her teen’s she is not eligible.

“I don’t want to rely on the system forever,” Noor told me. “I want to be independent. I want to finish school. I want to work. I want to be a teacher and help other people.”

But right now, the reality is impossible. Noor can’t work full-time, can’t access disability benefits, and has no family to fall back on. She’s applied to dozens of jobs but, like many young people with disabilities, faces a labor market full of barriers, especially in an economy already on the decline.

This is the cruel paradox: Noor is being punished for trying to succeed. If she dropped out of school, she'd become eligible for disability benefits. But because she’s trying to educate herself, better her life, and contribute to society, she’s being left behind.

Her story isn’t just a one-off. It’s a reflection of a system that fails our most vulnerable. In Canada, between 25% and 50% of youth leaving foster care will experience homelessness within one year. For those living with disabilities, the odds are even worse. They are more likely to live in poverty, face housing discrimination, and be denied the care they need.

And yet, people like Noor fight every day, not just to survive, but to thrive.

Now, she needs our help.

She’s doing everything right: staying in school, staying hopeful, staying determined. But goodwill isn’t rent. Determination doesn’t pay for care workers. Noor needs a community. She needs us.

I've tagged her GoFundMe page below. Every dollar helps her stay in school, stay housed, and stay alive.

“The measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. Noor has done her part — now it’s time for us to do ours.”

Let’s show Noor that she’s not alone, and that humanity still exists.

Help support Noor’s GoFundMe Here