Youth
Homelessness
Stephen Gaetz
Part 1
Understanding
Youth
Homelessness
Numbers
37,500 over a year
6000 on any given night
DEFINING
youth
homelessness . . .
Characteristics of population
• 2/3 are male
• Some minority pops over-represented (including
aboriginal youth)
• LGBT youth over-represented
• Average length of stay? 4 years
• Age difference matters – (under 16, 16-18, 1925)
Causes of homelessness
The importance of developing a
response based on the needs of
young people.
Part 2
A Strategy to End
Youth
Homelessness
Can we move
from this?
To this?
Housing
Housing
Emergency
Emergency
Prevention
Prevention Response
and and
Response Supports
Supports
Soooo . . .
How do we get there?
1. Develop a Plan
2. Create an Integrated
Systems Approach
The best approaches go beyond stand alone
agency-based programs, to operate in an
integrated way at a systems level
Creating an integrated
systems response
• A “system of care” approach
• Ensuring an adequate
supply of Affordable Housing
• Active involvement by all levels of government
and departmental integration
• Strategic coordination of services within the
sector and including mainstream services.
3. Facilitate active, strategic
and coordinated
engagement by all levels
of government, and
interdepartmental
collaboration
Solving youth homelessness is NOT solely
the responsibility of the sector
Youth Homelessness is a
Fusion Policy Issue
4) Adopt a Youth
Development focus
• A recognition of the distinctive needs of youth.
• The primacy of a Positive Youth Development
approach.
• Differentiation of strategies and services based
on age.
• Attention to Diversity.
Understand how socio-economic shifts have
changed adolescence and young adulthood.
• Rise in credentialism (important to stay in
school longer)
• Full time jobs paying living wage are
scarce (most young people can only get low
paying part time work)
• Young people stay in the parental
home much longer
A Conceptual Shift is required!
The focus should be on successful
Transitions to ADULTHOOD
NOT
Transitions to independence
5. Incorporate research,
data gathering and
information sharing
Part 3
Preventing
Youth
Homelessness
A Framework for
Thinking About Prevention
Primary
Prevention
Systems
Early
Prevention Intervention
Primary
Prevention
Working upstream
to prevent
new cases
Working in Schools
Working with Families
• Connecting with resources
• Strengthening anger management
and conflict resolution skills within
families
• Foster parenting skills and healthy
childhood development
• Ensure young people have access to
early childhood education,
adequate nutrition and enriched
engagement (arts, sports)
Anti-Discrimination
. . . because sometimes young people’s problems
are actually other people’s problems.
Systems
Prevention
Zero Discharge into
Homelessness
• Child Protection
• Youth criminal justice
• Mental health
Early
Intervention
When someone
becomes, or is
about to
become
homeless.
Key interventions
Shelter Diversion
• Respite and “Time out” housing
• Mediation
• Keeping young
people in their
communities
Part 4
Retooling the
Emergency
System
Retooling means
• Shorter stays in emergency shelters
• Integration into a ‘system of care’
• Go smaller
• Zero discharge into homelessness
• Day programs and case management
Retooling means
• Outreach
• Mental health supports
• Harm reduction
• An anti-discrimination framework and
practice
• Addressing legal and justice issues
Part 5
Accommodation
And Supports
Accommodation
Housing as
part of a
system of
care
Social and
Health Supports
Income and
Employment
Education
Youth
Engagement
System of Care
Accommodation Options
for Youth
Is there still a role for
transitional housing?
Housing First
• Centering the project on the needs of youth
• Young people must demonstrate a desire for
change
• Adopting a client-centred case-management
approach
• Focus on personal development, life skills and
enhancing self esteem
• Education and training opportunities
Coming of Age will be available for free
download on Thursday, February 27, 2014
www.homelesshub.ca
New and improved Homeless Hub
www.homelesshub.ca
Questions?