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Chapter 1 - What is Eva's Phoenix?
Chapter 2 - Eva's National Initiative
Chapter 3 - Homeless Youth - Who Are They?
Chapter 4 - Effective Programs
for Homeless Youth
Chapter 5 - Developing the Vision
for Eva's Phoenix
Chapter 6 - Turning the Vision into Reality
Chapter 7 - Developing Strategic Partnerships
Chapter 8 - Working with Funders
Chapter 9 - Youth Goal-Setting and
Case Management Approach
Chapter 10 - Working with Youth
Chapter 11 - Mentorship
Chapter 12 - Working with Staff
Chapter 13 - Making the Transition
to Community
Chapter 14 - Social Enterprise
Chapter 15 - Evaluation
Chapter 16 - Policies and Procedures

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Chapter 3 - Homeless Youth:
Who are they and why are they on the street?

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A national profile

A CMHC Environmental Scan on Youth Homelessness (2001) described the following profile of homeless youth:

  • Throughout the country, homeless youth have the same general characteristics: exposure to physical violence, mental health problems, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual abuse and conflicts with the law.
  • They are often isolated with no family ties and few friends. Many have been raised in foster homes, have a lack of education and skills, and suffer from poor physical health.
  • While the majority of homeless youth are male, the number of young women who are homeless is growing.
  • Some groups, such as Aboriginal youth and gay/lesbian youth avoid using shelters for fear of discrimination.

The same study discussed the lifestyle and survival strategies employed by homeless youth:

  • Many homeless youth survive on a day-to-day basis by couch surfing, or they may live in overcrowded or unsuitable housing. Other survival strategies include pooling resources to rent accommodation, staying at emergency shelters, or sleeping outside or in abandoned buildings.
  • A significant number of homeless youth become involved in illegal activities such as selling drugs, shoplifting and prostitution.
  • The lifestyle of homeless youth puts their health at risk; and the longer a person is homeless, the worse his or her health becomes. In Quebec, Toronto and the prairies, HIV/AIDS as well as Hepatitis B and C are concerns, while in Montréal and Toronto, suicide is a serious issue. Other medical concerns of homeless youth include tuberculosis, problems with their feet, scabies, dental problems, sexually transmitted diseases and viral infections.

CMHC described the causes of youth homelessness:

  • Family breakdown, a lack of affordable housing and increasing poverty are major factors contributing to the problem.
  • Family violence: One Toronto study indicated that more than 70% of youth on the streets leave home because of physical or sexual abuse.
  • Other causes contributing to youth homelessness include: a lack of affordable housing, increasing poverty, a lack of job readiness, education or experience, gaps in child welfare and protection services, and gaps in services for those with mental health problems, drug addictions and those with dual diagnoses.

(Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2001. Environmental Scan on Youth Homelessness. Socio-economic series – Issue 86. Ottawa: author)

 

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