Addressing Youth Homelessness: A Call to Action

Youth homelessness is a pressing issue that affects thousands of young people every year. Despite growing awareness, the crisis persists, leaving many young people without stable housing, access to basic necessities, and the opportunities they need to build better futures. In Canada alone, it’s estimated that between 35,000 and 40,000 youth experience some level of homelessness annually. This is more than just a housing crisis—it’s a challenge that has deep implications for the health, safety, and well-being of our society’s most vulnerable members.

Now is the time for action. By understanding the complexities behind youth homelessness and advocating for solutions, we can work together to create a future where every young person has a safe place to call home and an opportunity for a bright and healthy future.

The Causes of Youth Homelessness

Youth homelessness is not the result of one single factor. Instead, it could stem from a combination of family, societal, and personal challenges. Some of the primary contributors include:

1. Family Conflict and Abuse: Many young people leave home due to family breakdowns, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented among the homeless population, often facing rejection or violence at home due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
2. Poverty and Housing Instability: Families struggling with poverty often face housing insecurity, putting young people at greater risk of homelessness. For some, even temporary economic setbacks can lead to long-term housing instability.
3. Mental Health Challenges: Many homeless youth struggle with untreated mental health conditions, which can be both a cause and a consequence of homelessness. Without access to support, these conditions often escalate, making it difficult for youth to secure and maintain housing.
4. Aging Out of Foster Care: Youth aging out of the provincial care system often find themselves without the support networks necessary to transition into independent living. Without a safety net, many fall into homelessness shortly after leaving care.
5. Lack of Access to Education and Employment: Without a stable home, many young people struggle to complete their education or gain the employment experience necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. This lack of opportunities perpetuates the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

The Challenges Faced by Homeless Youth

Homelessness poses immense challenges for young people, and the longer they remain homeless, the greater the risk of facing further trauma. Some of the major obstacles homeless youth encounter can include:

• Health Risks: Without access to consistent healthcare, homeless youth are vulnerable to a wide range of physical and mental health issues, including untreated illnesses, malnutrition, and exposure to extreme weather conditions.
• Education Disruption: Homelessness disrupts education, leading to low attendance rates, difficulty completing schoolwork, and ultimately lower graduation rates. This hinders future opportunities for employment and financial stability.
• Exploitation and Danger: Homeless youth are at a heightened risk of exploitation, human trafficking, and involvement in unsafe activities to survive. Living on the streets often means exposure to violence, substance abuse, and exploitation.
• Limited Access to Resources: Many homeless youth struggle to access the resources they need to transition out of homelessness, such as stable housing, education, employment opportunities, and healthcare.

A Holistic Approach to Addressing Youth Homelessness

Addressing youth homelessness requires a multifaceted approach that focuses on prevention, intervention, and long-term support. Here are several areas where we can focus our efforts:

1. Prevention Strategies: The first step to addressing youth homelessness is preventing it before it happens. This involves family support programs, mental health services, and targeted interventions for youth at risk of aging out of foster care or experiencing family conflict. Programs that provide mediation and counselling can help youth stay connected to their families or find safe alternatives.
2. Safe and Affordable Housing: Providing safe, affordable housing is essential for youth transitioning out of homelessness. Emergency shelters, transitional housing, and long-term housing solutions are needed to give young people the stability required to focus on education, employment, and mental health.
3. Access to Education and Employment: Programs that focus on helping homeless youth continue their education and gain employment skills can give them the tools to become self-sufficient. Job training, internships, and access to post-secondary education can open doors to long-term stability.
4. Mental Health and Support Services: Youth experiencing homelessness often struggle with trauma, mental health challenges, and substance abuse. Holistic mental health services that are youth-centered and trauma-informed can provide essential support. Wraparound services that include counselling, addiction support, and life skills training are critical for long-term success.
5. Community and Government Collaboration: Solving youth homelessness requires strong partnerships between governments, non-profit organisations, schools, and local communities. Investment in affordable housing, social services, and youth-specific programs is key to creating long-term solutions.

How We Can Make a Difference

Partners for Youth is built around a dynamic and intentional group of supports and interventions all designed to help prevent youth homelessness.  From the New Brunswick Youth in Care Network which is a support system for youth in and from care to Youth Works and PFY Connect which provided targeted supports regarding employment and mental health, we understand the complexities and what is needed to have a positive impact.  Youth homelessness is a challenge that affects us all, but together we can work toward meaningful change. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Advocate for Policy Change: Advocate for policies that promote affordable housing, access to education, mental health services, and support for youth aging out of foster care. Political will and action are crucial to ending youth homelessness.
• Support Local Organisations: Many organisations are dedicated to providing support to homeless youth. Donating time, resources, or funds to local shelters, outreach programs, or youth services can make a significant difference.
• Raise Awareness: Help bring attention to the issue of youth homelessness by sharing information and stories. The more people understand the complexities and challenges of youth homelessness, the more we can build collective action toward solving it.
• Mentorship and Volunteerism: Volunteering your time to mentor or support homeless youth through educational programs, job training, or social services can help empower them to overcome their challenges and move toward a stable future.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action

Addressing youth homelessness is not just about providing a roof over someone’s head—it’s about creating pathways for young people to thrive and succeed. By investing in prevention, offering support, and building strong networks of care, we can help end the cycle of youth homelessness and create a brighter future for all.

This is a call to action. The time to address youth homelessness is now. By working together—families, communities, organisations, and governments—we can build a society where no young person has to face homelessness alone.