The Quebec government is investing nearly half a million dollars to help hire outreach workers to try and prevent teenagers from becoming prostitutes.
The money will be split between 17 different organizations, including one in Quebec City called "Projet Intervention Prostitution" -- which is where Coiteux made the announcement Thursday. That organization will get $45,000.
The money will go toward hiring outreach workers who go out onto the streets to help vulnerable teens and young adults.
The issue of teen prostitution was thrust into the spotlight in February when a number of teen girls ran away from a Laval youth centre -- apparently recruited into a prostitution ring.
Within weeks, the government announced a $3-million investment over five years to fight teen sexual exploitation. While $495,000 split between 17 groups isn't a lot of money, it seems every little bit helps; the coordinator of one organization told reporters the money will allow her to keep an outreach worker instead of having to let one go.
