1. Why do some young people become homeless?
The reasons why people experience homelessness are always complicated. For adults, homelessness often results from one or more factors such as mental illness, addictions, unemployment, and/or disability. When we think about what contributes to youth homelessness, however, we see that there are very different causes. While young people may also experience mental illness, addictions, a lack of employment, and/or disability, these are not the factors that we commonly point to in order to explain why they lose their housing. One key difference between adults and youth is the ownership and control of property. Whereas adults may lose housing they own or rent due to these factors, young people often flee or are pushed out of housing controlled by adults in their lives, such as their parents.
When young people are visibly living on the street, we may hear people ask why they do not just return home. While this question may be asked with good intentions, it assumes that the home was a good place to live, and the youth is at fault for leaving it. We know from the research that the homelives of young people who become homeless are often challenging, but that these experiences also must be located within broader social and structural contexts. Throughout this section, we will consider the interpersonal, structural, and systemic causes of youth homelessness. Before you continue through the material, we invite you now to take a moment and record your own thoughts on why some young people become homeless.
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One day in the summer of 2005, one of the authors of this book was volunteering at an urban drop-in centre for young people experiencing homelessness. There was a local television station located around the corner, that would donate the left-over craft services spread (such as donuts and muffins) after the morning broadcast. As she walked the two blocks to pick up the donation, people along the way nodded and said hello to this smiling clean-cut woman in her early 20s. On her way back, she ran into a young man who frequented the drop-in centre and he accompanied her back (eager to get first dibs on the donuts). This man was also in his early 20s but was severely malnourished from an intravenous drug addiction, slept outside in a rock garden under a nearby bridge, and had not bathed for several weeks, if not months. Along the way, an interesting thing happened. Where people had been smiling at her on the way to get the food, now beside this young man, they would not meet her eye. People shuffled past, noticeably clutching their bags and possessions close to their bodies. When one or two did meet her eye, it was only to silently project the message “I know you’re in trouble, but I’m not stepping in to help you.”
The thing was, she was not in trouble. She was actually having a rather pleasant conversation with this man whom she had come to know fairly well. Yet, what people saw – what they focused on – was the malnourishment, the results of the addiction, the dishevelled clothing, and the smell of sweat and grime that comes from not bathing in the summer. The reasons young people become homeless are generally not well understood in society. As a result of this, these youth frequently face stigma and discrimination. Often they are viewed as individuals to be feared. However, to understand the complexity of youth homelessness we must look beyond the clothing and hygiene. We begin this section with videos of Dr. Kaitlin Schwan and Dr. David Firang each respectively explaining why it is essential we locate the individual within broader social and structural contexts, to grasp why some young people become homeless.
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Dr. Kaitlin Schwan: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Kaitlin Schwan argues that we can use the image of a pie chart to think about the three main factors that contribute to youth experiencing homelessness. First, structural causes are the societal pieces that create conditions of inequity and discrimination in society. Second, systemic causes are related to policy failings, such as the lack of transitional planning from public systems. Finally, interpersonal causes are underpinned by the preceding causes and relate to a young person’s own experiences in their home and community. Dr. Schwan notes that young people who come from wealthier backgrounds often have more access to supports and resources to prevent homelessness, in the event they have a crisis and/or lose their housing. This video is 3:07 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Kaitlin Schwan: Why do some young people become homeless?
- We can think about three main factors that contribute to young people becoming homeless, including structural causes, systemic causes, and interpersonal causes.
- Structural causes are the big societal pieces that create conditions of inequity and discrimination in society, such as long waitlists for public housing, bureaucratic barriers for getting youth on social assistance, and the lack of available rent subsidies.
- Systemic causes are related to policy failings in public systems, such as criminal justice, child welfare, and education. The lack of transition planning from these systems can act as a direct pipeline into homelessness.
- Interpersonal causes are related to a young person’s own experiences, such as pertaining to a mental health crisis in their family or experiences of abuse or violence in their home or community.
- Interpersonal causes are often underpinned by structural and systemic causes, such that young people who come from wealthier backgrounds may have more access to supports that can intervene if they are in crisis and/or at risk of losing their housing.
Dr. David Firang: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. David Firang argues that young people do not have to become homeless but in our society some people will experience poverty and homelessness based on life circumstances. He explains that we need to consider this issue from a ‘person in environment’ perspective which entails the micro environment of the family one is born into, the mezzo environment of the neighbourhood one is raised in, and the macro environment of societal policies, cultures, values, and norms. Dr. Firang concludes that people do not choose to be homeless but rather, through their environments, society pushes them to become homeless. This video is 3:40 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. David Firang: Why do some young people become homeless?
- Young people do not have to become homeless, but in our society some people become victims of life circumstances. Some people will experience poverty and homelessness, while others will not.
- We can think about this from a ‘person in environment’ perspective in which the micro, mezzo, and macro environments shape and influence people’s lives.
- At the micro level, people are born into a family system that may or may not have supports and resources available to buffer against the risks of poverty and homelessness.
- At the mezzo level, young people are raised in neighbourhoods that may be socially deprived, increasing their risk of homelessness. Mezzo factors, such as the quality of schools, contribute to the possibilities young people have available to them in life.
- At the macro level, there are policies, cultures, norms, and values that are part of how our society functions. These macro level factors have an impact on who experiences homelessness.
- People do not choose to be homeless. Society pushes them to become homeless.
Despite using different terms, Dr. Schwan and Dr. Firang both explain that youth homelessness is not about individual choices but rather is the product of intersecting domains. We must consider the role of relationships within the family and, more broadly, within the community – this is the interpersonal or micro domain. We must consider issues of equity and whether these young people have opportunities in their lives – this is the structural or mezzo domain. Finally, we must consider how society and public institutions function (or fail to function) is ways that support young people – this is what we call the systemic or macro domain. What the people on the street saw, in the story above, was a disheveled young man. What they failed to see was the interpersonal struggles within his home and community, the inequity within society that resulted in limited opportunities, and the systemic failures that did not provide a safety net and prevent his homelessness from occurring. In the next video Dr. Sean Kidd explains that youth homelessness is not a binary experience (of being homeless or not), but that it is often a process and regardless of why a young person is on the streets, we must consider them a person in need of support.
Dr. Sean Kidd: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Sean Kidd explains that there is a range of reasons young people experience homelessness in high-income countries, like Canada. Notably, they may have faced adversity or abuse in the home, their family may be experiencing economic crisis, they may be discriminated against in public institutions, such as criminal justice and child welfare systems, and they may have been bullied or under-accommodated in school. Dr. Kidd clarifies that youth homelessness is not a binary experience, but rather a trajectory of episodes that become longer and more frequent over time. He notes that some young people are pushed out of their homes because of economic hardship or their family’s rejection of their gender or sexual identity. Dr. Kidd argues that a minority of young people experience homelessness because of bad choices they have made but that, regardless of the reasons, once a young person is unhoused they are at risk of victimization, poor physical and mental health, and premature death, making them a young person in need of support. This video is 5:43 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Sean Kidd: Why do some young people become homeless?
- There is a range of reasons young people experience homelessness in high-income countries like Canada.
- Many young people have faced some kind of adversity in the home, whether in the form of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or exposure to conflict and violence amongst their parents.
- Families of young people may be in economic crisis, such as a single parent working multiple jobs to try to support their children.
- Young people may have experienced challenges and discrimination in public institutions, such as the criminal justice system and child welfare.
- In school, young people may have been bullied and/or had a learning disability that was not recognized or properly accommodated.
- Youth homelessness is often not a binary experience of being housed and then suddenly homeless, but rather a trajectory in which a history of adversity is accompanied by episodes of homelessness that may become increasingly longer or more frequent over time.
- Some young people are pushed out of their homes, rather than choosing to leave, such as for economic reasons or because of their gender or sexual identity.
- A minority of young people may experience homelessness because of bad choices, such as arguments with important people in their lives about rules or falling into a peer group that leads to addiction and/or street-involvement.
- Some people express less compassion for these youth, but regardless of the reason, once a young person is experiencing homelessness they are at risk of victimization, deprivation, malnutrition, poor physical and mental health, and premature death.
In the Introduction chapter we reviewed the Canadian Definition of Homelessness. A separate document, also led by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (2016), was created to define the unique experience of youth homelessness. It states:
“Youth homelessness refers to the situation and experience of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of parents and/or caregivers, but do not have the means or ability to acquire a stable, safe, or consistent residence. Youth homelessness is a complex social issue because as a society we have failed to provide young people and their families with the necessary and adequate supports that will enable them to move forward with their lives in a safe and planned way. In addition to experiencing economic deprivation and a lack of secure housing, many young people who are homeless lack the personal experience of living independently and at the same time may be in the throes of significant developmental (social, physical, emotional, and cognitive) changes. As a result, they may not have the resources, resilience, education, social supports or life skills necessary to foster a safe and nurturing transition to adulthood and independence. Few young people choose to be homeless, nor wish to be defined by their homelessness, and the experience is generally negative and stressful. Youth homelessness is the denial of basic human rights and once identified as such, it must be remedied. All young people have the right to the essentials of life, including adequate housing, food, safety, education, and justice” (COH, 2016, pg.1).
You can read the full Canadian Definition of Youth Homelessness here:
The reasons some young people become homeless, while others do not, is largely an outcome of these three intersecting factors – the interpersonal, structural, and systemic domains. As Dr. Kidd explained, and as we will hear repeated throughout this section, there is no single reason young people become homeless but rather it is the result of multiple factors. These young people often have cumulative shorter episodes, where they leave or are thrown out for a brief time before returning home again. They may stay in an emergency shelter, but also commonly couch-surf and reside with friends or extended family. These episodes grow longer and more frequent, leading to longer-term youth homelessness. In the next video, current and former residents of “Youth Without Shelter,” an emergency shelter for young people in the Greater Toronto Area, speak about the reasons why they became homeless. As you watch this video, we encourage you to look beyond individual factors and listen for the interpersonal, structural, and systemic factors that emerge in their narratives.
We have noted that there are three levels or domains that contribute to youth homelessness, often in overlapping and intersecting ways. As we take a closer look at each of these three domains, we ask that you pay careful attention to the ways they interact with one another. We begin here with the interpersonal factors that contribute to youth homelessness, by showcasing segments in which researchers discuss family and community relationships. However, while the videos we show here all touch on interpersonal issues, the domains are so interconnected that you will also hear them speak about structural and systemic issues as well. We cannot – nor would not want to – tease these issues apart and present them solely in isolation. In fact, it is their intertwined nature that is what gives rise to youth homelessness. In the next set of videos, Dr. Naomi Thulien, Dr. Tyler Frederick, and Dr. Jeff Karabanow each explain further.
Dr. Naomi Thulien: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Naomi Thulien explains that youth homelessness is nearly always related to some sort of family dysfunction, such as physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. She notes that it is also often related to child welfare involvement, such as monitoring in the home or removal and placement into foster care or group homes. This video is 0:39 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Naomi Thulien: Why do some young people become homeless?
- Youth homelessness is nearly always related to some sort of family dysfunction, such as pertaining to physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse.
- Many young people experiencing homelessness have come through the child welfare system. This may be through social worker involvement in their home, or through removal and placement into foster care or group home settings.
Dr. Tyler Frederick: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Tyler Frederick explains that there are many different reasons young people become homeless but that histories of abuse and parental conflict within the home are common. He notes that exiting the child welfare system without transitional planning is also a recognized pathway for many young people. Dr. Frederick concludes that youth homelessness is rarely the result of a single event, but rather is the culmination of multiple stressors that occur over time within complex home environments. This video is 2:56 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Tyler Frederick: Why do some young people become homeless?
- There are many different reasons young people become homeless, but common themes include histories of abuse and parental conflict within the home.
- Exiting the child welfare system, whether at the designated age or earlier, without proper transitional supports in place, is a common pathway into youth homelessness.
- Youth homelessness does not often result from one event, but rather is the culmination of multiple stressors within complex home environments that occur over time.
Dr. Jeff Karabanow: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Jeff Karabanow identifies three core interrelated dynamics that contribute to youth homelessness. First, there may be deep family dysfunction such as addictions, mental illness, or parental lack of acceptance of one’s sexual orientation that makes the home an unsafe environment. Second, young people may experience deep abuse within their family systems, including physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological traumas. Third, youth may come from family units struggling for basic survival while living in deep poverty. Dr. Karabanow notes that when young people leave home it is a rational and deliberate process, where they consider how they will get through a situation, think deeply about it, and weigh their options. He concludes that these young people do not want to be homeless but rather leave complicated and dangerous situations. This video is 4:06 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Jeff Karabanow: Why do some young people become homeless?
- There are many reasons young people become homeless, but three intersectional core dynamics emerge in research and clinical practice.
- First, there may be deep family dysfunction such as addiction, mental health issues, sibling issues, or a lack of acceptance of a young person’s sexual orientation that creates an unsafe home environment for young people.
- Second, young people may experience deep abuse within their family systems, including physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological abuse that the young person flees.
- Third and interrelatedly is deep poverty in family units where they are struggling for basic survival. Young people may seek their own ways to survive outside the home.
- When young people leave home it is a rational and deliberate process, considered ‘crossing the edge,’ where they consider how they will get through a situation, think deeply about it, and weigh their options.
- Research shows young people are rarely on the streets simply because they do not want to listen to their parents, but rather because of deeply complicated reasons at home. No one wants to be homeless.
Family conflict is a key driver within the interpersonal domain. Young people may be living in abusive environments, struggling to complete school or other obligations (often as the result of undiagnosed learning disorders and/or mental illness), and may be using substances in problematic ways. Conflict within the family may occur with parents or even with siblings, if they are perceived to be getting preferential treatment (Buccieri, 2019). Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or two-spirit [LGBTQ2S+] may also face identity-based conflict within their families and communities that can contribute to homelessness, often in complex and non-linear ways (Barrow, 2018). For instance, in a study of LGBTQ2S+ youth homelessness in the Toronto region, Abramovich and Pang (2020) found that on average these young people left home at age 18, but that 28% had left when they were 16 or younger. In the next two videos, Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly and Dr. Alex Abramovich speak about how the intersection of interpersonal and other factors contribute to LGBTQ2S+ youth homelessness. To learn more about LGBTQ2S+ individuals’ experiences of homelessness, we also encourage you to read the chapter on Gender & Queer Studies.
Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly explains that while every pathway into homelessness is unique, there are common factors such as poverty and the lack of affordable housing. She notes that middle class and more affluent youth may experience homelessness because of stress and mental health challenges within the family. Dr. Kennelly concludes by noting that LGBTQ2S+ youth are amongst the highest risk group for youth homelessness. This video is 2:00 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly: Why do some young people become homeless?
- Every pathway into homelessness is unique, but there are also common factors that emerge in these young people’s biographies, which relate to poverty and the lack of affordable housing.
- Although middle class and more affluent youth can sometimes experience homelessness, the majority of youth who become homeless were already impoverished and had precarious family backgrounds.
- Stress and mental health challenges within the family can create instability that is multiplied by the effects of poverty.
- LGBTQ2S+ youth are at a particularly high risk of homelessness.
Dr. Alex Abramovich: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Alex Abramovich explains that the primary cause of youth homelessness is family conflict, and for LGBTQ2S+ youth this is often related to identity-based conflict and discrimination. He notes that there are other reasons youth experience homelessness as well, such as institutional discharges, unstable and insufficient employment, poverty, and racism. This video is 1:16 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Alex Abramovich: Why do some young people become homeless?
- The primary cause of youth homelessness is family conflict.
- When we think about LGBTQ2S+ youth, in particular, this is more specifically tied to identity-based family conflict and discrimination.
- Some additional reasons that youth experience homelessness are exits from child welfare or justice systems without proper institutional planning, unstable and insufficient employment, poverty, and racism.
We presented the series of videos above to highlight the interpersonal domain that contributes to youth homelessness, yet at the same time noted they also demonstrate intersections between structural and systemic levels as well. We can see, for instance, that interpersonal conflict within families may be the result of a young person’s struggles in schools. However, if the struggles result from an undiagnosed learning disorder or mental illness, there are structural and systemic failures involved. We can also see how conflict over a young person’s gender or sexual identity may intersect with structural conditions, such as racism and discrimination, and may result from inadequate social supports within society.
Structural or macro factors that contribute to homelessness are rooted in the ways our society functions and the relations that develop as a result. If our society was equitable, each person would have what they need to be well. However, the large number of young people experiencing homelessness across the country tells us quite clearly that not all young people are getting what they need. This is not only the product of their home environments, but rather an outcome of structural factors inherent in the way our society operates. When we see patterns arise, we have to question why. In the next video, Dr. Stephen Gaetz identifies some patterns that arise in the reasons some youth become homeless and situates these within the structure of our society.
Dr. Stephen Gaetz: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Stephen Gaetz notes that the causes and conditions of youth homelessness are different than adults because most young people become homeless without having been in charge of their own housing. He explains that while each person will have their own experience, the research shows high rates of family conflict and abuse. Dr. Gaetz indicates that 40% of youth who are currently homeless had their first episode before the age of 16, which makes them more likely to have had adverse childhood experiences, histories of housing instability, and experiences of bullying at school. Dr. Gaetz argues that to answer the question of why youth become homeless we have to say it is because society allows them to become homeless rather than putting supports in place to help young people and their families. Dr. Gaetz concludes that it is a horrible statement about our society that we allow youth homelessness to occur. This video is 3:17 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Stephen Gaetz: Why do some young people become homeless?
- The causes and conditions of youth homelessness are different than adult homelessness, because most young people become homeless without having been in charge of their own housing.
- Although each person will have their own experience, the research on why young people become homeless is fairly consistent in identifying family conflict as the main issue for 90% of young people.
- Two-thirds of youth who have left home report experiencing physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse.
- Research suggests 40% of youth who are currently homeless had their first episode before the age of 16, which makes them a group with distinct characteristics.
- These youth are more likely to have had adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], histories of housing instability, and were more likely to be bullied in school.
- To answer the question of why young people become homeless, we have to say it is because adults let them become homeless.
- Society tolerates youth homelessness when we could very easily put supports in place to identify young people at-risk and help them and their families.
- There is no reason a young person should have to experience homelessness and navigate their way out of it. Young people should have the time and supports to grow into adulthood.
- It is a horrible statement about our society that we allow youth homelessness to happen.
Dr. Gaetz explains that young people become homeless because society fails to stop it from happening. The Canadian definition of youth homelessness establishes that youth homelessness is the denial of basic human rights and that once it is identified as such, it must be remedied (COH, 2016). In the Introduction chapter, we considered the question of why prevention matters. For youth, as for adults, preventing homelessness from occurring would mean that people do not have to experience the traumas that go along with it. As youth homelessness is society’s problem, borne of structural inequities, it is society’s obligation to fix.
Our society’s current response to youth homelessness is primarily emergency-based and implemented after a person is already in crisis and experiencing homelessness (Gaetz, O’Grady, Kidd, & Schwan, 2016). As a way to reframe society’s approach, Gaetz, Schwan, Redman, French, and Dej (2018) have created a roadmap for the prevention of youth homelessness. We invite you now to familiarize yourself with this roadmap as this section’s featured reading. First, we present an infographic, created by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and A Way Home Canada, that highlights the six key aspects and how they can be realized. We then present the Executive Summary as the featured reading below (although we encourage you to use the links within the document to read the report in its entirety to learn even more).
Click the image below to open a new window and view the full infographic “The Roadmap for the Prevention of YOUTH HOMELESSNESS” on the Homeless Hub.
Featured Reading:
Gaetz, S., Schwan, K., Redman, M., French, D., & Dej, E. (2018). The Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness – Executive Summary. A. Buchnea (Ed.). Toronto, ON: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.
Young people become homeless for many reasons, including because society fails to prevent it from occurring. The risk factors that contribute to youth homelessness are clear and can be addressed with early intervention. For instance, in a sample of 974 young people who were street involved and using substances, 76% had not completed high school, with analysis showing these were related to childhood maltreatment, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect (Barker, Kerr, Dong, Wood, & DeBeck, 2017). Multivariate analysis from this study indicated that there was a cumulative effect, such that the greater the number of different forms of childhood maltreatment, the greater the chance of not completing high school (Barker et al., 2017). It is societal failures that allow young people to be victimized, experience trauma, and subsequently fall through the proverbial cracks like not completing high school.
Dr. Katrina Milaney: Early trauma and homelessness prevention
In this video, Dr. Katrina Milaney explains that young people who become homeless have often experienced higher rates of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and involvement with the child welfare system. She argues that if we can figure out how to intervene at the right time, we can help prevent youth homelessness from occurring. This video is 0:31 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Katrina Milaney: Early trauma and homelessness prevention
- The rates of Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) have been found to be 5 times higher for people experiencing chronic homelessness than those who are not.
- Young people who become homeless have high rates of involvement with the child welfare system, often from a very early age.
- If we can figure out how to respond and intervene at the right times, we can prevent youth from becoming homeless.
Creating a shift towards prevention is important because people who experience homelessness as adults also have histories of youth homelessness, suggesting that interrupting this cycle early can help prevent chronic homelessness throughout a person’s life (Parpouchi, Moniruzzaman, & Somers, 2021). However, while prevention makes good sense, it is easier said than done. There are deeply rooted structural inequities in the way our society operates including, but not limited to, poverty, racism, and discrimination. In the next video, Dr. Naomi Nichols reflects on the structural barriers that contribute to youth homelessness, with the recognition that they are also intertwined with the interpersonal and systemic challenges.
Dr. Naomi Nichols: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. Naomi Nichols explains that there are many reasons some young people become homeless and that their experiences may be episodic or longer-term and more pronounced. She notes that prior to experiencing homelessness a young person might have precipitating events, such as family conflict related to identity-based prejudices that make leaving a safer option than remaining at home. Dr. Nichols argues that when young people try to seek housing, they encounter a rental market that is expensive and often discriminatory towards young people. She identifies institutional pathways leading to youth homelessness as well, such as inadequate planning for young people exiting child welfare, corrections, and in-patient mental health facilities. Dr. Nichols concludes by arguing that COVID-19 has increased family stress levels in unprecedented ways, which has negatively impacted young people’s mental health and ability to rely on strategies and supports that might have been available to them prior to the pandemic. This video is 5:03 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Naomi Nichols: Why do some young people become homeless?
- There are many reasons some young people become homeless, and youth may define homelessness in different ways.
- Sometimes homelessness is experienced temporarily, such as being kicked out of the house in an episodic way that can be weathered.
- Other times homelessness is more pronounced and longer-term where institutional supports are required to help young people re-stabilize.
- The housing rental market is a factor in youth homelessness. It is expensive and landlords may discriminate against young people.
- Prior to experiencing homelessness, a young person might have precipitating events, such as conflict with parents, living in an unsafe environment, and/or identity-based prejudices that make it safer to leave.
- Young people may follow institutional pathways into homelessness, such as leaving child welfare, the justice system, and in-patient mental health facilities without a plan established for safe and secure housing.
- The impact of COVID-19, such as job loss and financial instability, has increased family stress levels and mental health issues, which impacts young people within the family.
- The pandemic has also reduced the strategies young people might have previously relied on to navigate experiences of homelessness, such as couch surfing and turning to people within one’s social network for respite.
- During the pandemic young people also lost physical connections within their schools and supportive people within them, such as guidance counselors.
Dr. Nichols has extensively researched institutional responses to youth homelessness and is the author of the book, “Youth, school, and community: Participatory institutional ethnographies” (Nichols, 2019). Ideally, schools should be places where young people feel safe and included. For some youth, however, they are places of exclusion and marginalization. Particularly for a young person who is having interpersonal struggles, such as conflict with their parents, school may become an extension of these challenges. They may have additional conflict with teachers or peers, they may struggle with understanding or completing the coursework, or they may choose to stop attending altogether. When robust supports are in place, the school can be a site of youth homelessness prevention work, but without these supports we see systems-level failure.
A review of pre-service teacher certification standards in the United States and Canada found that there are few requirements for teacher candidates to obtain training in mental health-relevant interventions, despite teachers’ unique positionality and ability to promote student social and emotional well-being (Brown, Phillippo, Weston, & Rodger, 2019). When we ask why young people become homeless, we must consider that it is because our systems and institutions fail to prevent it from occurring. We see these gaps across sectors, including education, child welfare, health care, mental health care, and youth justice. When young people are not well-served by these systems, they risk falling into homelessness.
Among the most commonly identified systems-level pathways into youth homeless is that of child welfare, such as residing in foster care. Dr. Nichols and her team (2017) led an analysis of the child welfare data from the first national survey of youth homelessness in Canada and found that 58% were involved with the child welfare system at some point in their life. This figure is striking in itself, but even more so when we consider that only 0.3% of the general population has had contact – meaning that youth experiencing homelessness are 193 times more likely to have been through child welfare systems (Nichols et al., 2017). In the next video, Dr. Naomi Nichols reflects on how systemic failures in the education and child welfare systems can contribute to youth homelessness.
Dr. Naomi Nichols: Child welfare, schools, and youth
In this video, Dr. Naomi Nichols argues that youth experiencing homelessness are invisibilized in public systems that are not well equipped to facilitate positive referrals between their institutions. She identifies schools and child welfare as a particular gap. Dr. Nichols explains that school officials have a duty to report a student who is 16 or under and experiencing homelessness to child welfare officials. However, the child welfare system pivots on parental abuse and neglect, so if this is not the cause for the report, the child welfare worker can say the youth is not eligible for protection. This video is 1:16 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Naomi Nichols: Child welfare, schools, and youth
- Youth experiencing homelessness are invisibilized and failed by public systems that are not equipped to facilitate positive referrals between their institutions.
- Within schools, youth homelessness often goes unnoticed. If a young person is 16 or under, school officials have a duty to report the situation to child welfare services.
- Many of these youth do not want to be in the child welfare system. Conversely, the child welfare system pivots around parental neglect or abuse and does not see homelessness as a need for protection. If abuse or neglect is not the cause for the report, the child welfare worker can say the youth is ineligible for protection.
Young people who experience homelessness have significantly higher rates of involvement with the child welfare system. This is a systemic failure. When young people are removed from their family it may be for legitimate reasons, such as neglect or abuse, but it is the child welfare authority’s obligation to then act in the role of their parent. Many young people continue to struggle with the effects of the trauma incurred before they were taken into custody. While in care, some young people choose to leave before they reach the official age at which care ends. In these instances, they may engage in couch-surfing, use emergency shelters, or sleep outside in public spaces. Alternatively, some young people continue in care until they reach the age at which it ends, and they may not have the support or ability to live independently. In the next two videos, Dr. Jeff Karabanow and Dr. Bill O’Grady reflect on child welfare as one of many interrelated pathways into youth homelessness.
Dr. Jeff Karabanow: Child welfare and youth homelessness
In this video, Dr. Jeff Karabanow explains that half of the young people experiencing homelessness have come through the child welfare system. He notes that this figure is indicative of the level of trauma these youth experience even prior to care, and how it is not resolved within the system. Dr. Karabanow concludes by arguing that if 1 in 2 people on the streets is coming from child welfare, we need to look more closely at what is happening in that world. This video is 0:32 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Jeff Karabanow: Child welfare and youth homelessness
- Half of young people living on the street have been in the child welfare system.
- This figure is indicative of the level of trauma these young people face even prior to being taken into care, that is then not resolved in the system.
- If 1 in 2 people on the streets is coming from child welfare, we need to look at what is going on in that world.
Dr. Bill O’Grady: Why do some young people become homeless?
In this video, Dr. William [Bill] O’Grady explains that every young person has their own story, but that there are commonalities in why youth experience homelessness. He identifies histories of conflict and abuse as primary factors. Dr. O’Grady notes that approximately half of the young people accessing services for homeless youth have had contact with the child welfare system, indicating early experiences of neglect. He explains that within Ontario the age of support has been extended recently, but that it should be raised even higher to support young people until the age of 21. Dr. O’Grady explains that there is an over-representation of LGBTQ2S+ youth who experience homelessness, compared to the general population. He concludes by noting that youth homelessness needs to be understood as unique from adult homelessness. This video is 3:31 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Bill O’Grady: Why do some young people become homeless?
- Every young person has their own story and unique experiences, but there are some commonalities that emerge.
- Many young people who experience homelessness have a history of family conflict, including physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse.
- Approximately half of the young people who are accessing services for homeless youth have had some experience with the child protection system, which indicates they have had some form of neglect in their younger years.
- Recently there have been changes to the child welfare system within Ontario to increase the age at which young people can receive financial support. Advocates want the age raised further to 21.
- There is an over-representation of LGBTQ2S+ youth who become homeless, compared to the general population percentage.
- The conditions that lead to adult homelessness often include lost employment, alcohol and drug problems, and mental health problems. These factors can apply to youth as well but may be experienced in different ways.
While child welfare involvement is a systemic pathway into homelessness for many young people in Canada, it is even more so for Indigenous youth. Analysis of national survey data shows that Indigenous individuals are nearly four times more likely to be involved with the child welfare system than non-Indigenous persons, which demonstrates that at the population level, Indigenous peoples are at far greater risk of having been involved in the child welfare system, and consequently experiencing homelessness than non-Indigenous peoples (Alberton, Angell, Gorey, & Grenier, 2020). In the next video, Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly speaks about the disproportionate number of Indigenous youth who are in the child welfare system. Following this video, we present a brief documentary from CBC that features Adrianna sharing her personal story. As you watch it, we encourage you to reflect on what you have learned throughout this section on the complex and intersecting reasons some young people become homeless.
Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly: Child welfare involvement and youth homelessness
In this video, Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly explains that young people who experience homelessness often leave school, which has long-term consequences for obtaining employment. She notes that youth leaving child welfare is a major category of young people experiencing homelessness, and that recent advocacy by former foster care children and their supporters has helped extend the period in which they receive financial supports. Dr. Kennelly concludes by noting that there are a disproportionate number of Indigenous youth in the child welfare system because of Canada’s history of colonialism and displacement, leading to inter-generational trauma and entrenchment in poverty. This video is 1:56 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways – Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly: Child welfare involvement and youth homelessness
- When young people become homeless they often drop out of school, because it is too difficult to juggle everyday survival and schoolwork.
- There are long-term consequences of not earning a high school diploma, such as difficulty obtaining employment, that can keep young people entrenched in poverty.
- Young people leaving child welfare are a major category of youth experiencing homelessness.
- This has been a long-standing issue that recently has received advocacy from former foster care children and their supporters, extending the length of time young people exiting care are entitled to receive financial support.
- There are a disproportionate number of Indigenous youth in care because of histories of colonialism, displacement, and intergenerational trauma that keep these youth entrenched in poverty.
What do you think?
How do you think Adrianna’s story demonstrates the complexity of why some young people become homeless? In what ways did you see interpersonal, structural, and systemic factors contribute? Take a moment to reflect back on the featured reading detailing a pathway to preventing youth homelessness. What could have been done to prevent Adrianna from experiencing the trauma and hardships she went through?
Adrianna’s story is heart-breaking, as are many young people’s who experience homelessness, because they result from circumstances beyond their control. Throughout this section, we have seen the many hardships that lead young people into homelessness, but also how they use resourceful means to remove themselves from difficult and dangerous situations. This section opened with a story about one of the authors walking along with a young man who had been sleeping rough, using intravenous drugs, not eating well, and not bathing. The public response indicated a lack of understanding about the multiple reasons this young man was homeless, focusing instead on seeing his individual shortcomings. This event occurred nearly 20 years ago before we had a definition of youth homelessness (COH, 2016), and public awareness campaigns such as through Raising the Roof and Home Depot’s “The Orange Door Campaign.” We wondered whether there has been a change in public perception and understanding about youth homelessness over the years. Would people still look away today? We conclude this section with a video of Dr. Jeff Karabanow speaking about research he conducted on public perceptions. While it was in a different city than the story we began with, we would like to hope that it represents a shift towards a more inclusive and supportive direction overall.
Dr. Jeff Karabanow: The public perception of youth homelessness
In this video, Dr. Jeff Karabanow discusses the results of a survey he conducted on public perceptions about youth homelessness in Halifax. He notes that while we tend to have stereotypes and biases pertaining to homelessness in general, the small majority of respondents were deeply compassionate and empathetic towards these young people. Dr. Karabanow shares that the research showed many people felt that it was unconscionable to have young people on the streets and that if families could not support this population, then we need to have deeper interventions as a society. This video is 0:57 in length and has closed captions available in English.
Key Takeaways
- Research in Halifax about public perceptions of young people on the streets showed that the small majority was deeply compassionate and empathetic.
- As a society we tend to have stereotypes and biases related to homelessness, but there is a more empathetic orientation towards young people.
- The research showed many people felt that it was unconscionable to have young people on the streets and that if families could not support this population, then we need to have deeper interventions as a society.
The reasons young people become homeless are complicated and not binary in nature. It is rarely the case that a young person is housed one day and homeless the next – rather, it is often the result of ongoing conflicts and struggles in the young person’s life. These may occur at the interpersonal level, as challenges arise in relationships with parents, siblings, teachers, and peers, and may be a response to the youth’s gender or sexual identity. When interpersonal struggles arise, they are often also located within a context of structural factors such as inequity, poverty, and discrimination. We heard that youth homelessness occurs because society allows it to occur, and that when the problem is identified it is the government’s obligation to step in and make changes. The best change would be a shift towards prevention, which we saw outlined in the roadmap infographic and featured reading.
At the systemic level, there are many institutions that are implicated in youth becoming homeless, such as education, health care, mental health care, and youth justice. However, the most commonly cited was the child welfare system. Not only are youth who experience homelessness 193 times more likely to be involved (Nichols et al., 2017) but those who are Indigenous are even more disproportionately represented. The reasons young people become homeless are complex, but they are also well documented. We know why young people become homeless. Since we know, it is our obligation to prevent it from happening before they face the traumas of a young life spent on the street.
Podcast: Why do some young people become homeless? (40:45)
Click the link below to listen to all of the researchers answer the question “Why do some young people become homeless?” in audio format on our podcast!
