Homeless Youth

Stephen Gaetz Director, Canadian Homelessness Research Network Faculty of Education, York University

Rethinking models of prevention, accommodation and support for

Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:

key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness

8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Thinking about

youth homelessness . . .

Numbers 37,500 over a year

6000 on any given night

• 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, 19-25)

Characteristics of population

Causes of homelessness

The Canadian Response to

Homelessness - First phase

Can we move from THIS . . . . . . to This!

Soooo . . .

How do we get there?

1. Systems Approach The best approaches go beyond stand alone

agency-based programs, to operate in an integrated way at a systems level

• 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.

Creating an integrated systems response

Youth Homelessness is a Fusion Policy Issue

Solving youth homelessness is NOT solely the responsibility of the sector

• 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.

2) Youth Development focus

• 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

Understand how socio-economic shifts have changed adolescence and young adulthood.

A Conceptual Shift is required!

The focus should be on successful

Transitions to ADULTHOOD NOT

Transitions to independence

• Age

• Gender

• Sexual Orientation

• Ethnicity - newcomers

- Aboriginal youth

3) Consider: What works and for whom?

• Stop forcing young people to leave their communities

• Retool Emergency Services (a shift away from a dependence on emergency services, to a focus on prevention and housing)

• STOP criminalization of homelessness

4) Stop doing what isn’t working

A Framework for

Thinking About Prevention

Part 1

Primary Prevention

Goal: 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.

The Schools / Work Project – Alone in London (United Kingdom) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Homeless Hub – Curriculum and learning resources (Canada)

International Insights

Part 2

Systems Prevention

• Child Protection

• Youth criminal justice – discharge planning and support

• Mental health discharge planning and support

Goal: Zero Discharge into Homelessness

Child Protection Reform

The Schools / Work Project – Alone in London (United Kingdom) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Homeless Hub – Curriculum and learning resources (Canada)

International Insights

Part 3

Early Intervention

Interventions when someone becomes, or is about to become homeless.

Key interventions

• a pre-assessment checklist to help decide who would benefit from a common assessment

• a standard form to record the assessment

• a delivery plan and review form

• Coordinated intervention

Coordinated Assessment

Case Management

Six dimensions are:

1. Collaboration and cooperation—a true team approach,

2. Right matching of services—person-centered,

3. Contextual case management—culture and flexibility,

4. The right kind of engagement—relationships and advocacy,

5. Coordinated and well-managed system—ethics and communication, and

6. Evaluation for success—support and training.

Case Management

Unfortunately, family is often framed as a problem and as part of a young person’s past.

Family Reconnection

• Mediation

• Conflict resolution training

• Supporting families

Shelter Diversion

• Respite and “Time out” housing

• Mediation

• Keeping young people in their communities

St. Basil’s Birmingham Nightstop (DePaul UK) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Raft – Niagara region Family Reconnect – Eva’s initiatives

International Insights

Part 4

Accommodation

and Supports

Accommodation as part of a system of care

• Retool emergency sector to shorten homelessness

• Transitional housing for youth

• Permanent housing / affordable housing

• Support for youth with complex needs

• Connecting people back to communities / mainstreaming services

• Reducing legal and service barriers

Necessary components:

Accommodation Options for Youth

- Youth development approach

- Youth can stay for 2 years or more

- Education, training employment

- Life skills

- Support with mental health and addictions

Transitional housing

FOYER

Report and Tool kit

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

Is there still a role for

transitional housing?

the

homeless

hub

www.homelesshub.ca

Questions?