Homeless youth — every face is different, every reason is different

After repeated sexual abuse by her uncle, Anne fled to the streets — where the tools for survival were drugs and prostitution. She came to Youth Without Shelter at age 16, and is learning a new tool — hope.

Youth become homeless for many reasons:

• The largest contributing factor has always been family breakdown. More than 70% of homeless youth are survivors of childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse and/or neglect.

• 50 % are graduates of the child welfare system.

•  (Source: The Fifth Estate: No Way Home, 2004)

   

Other factors that can contribute to youth homelessness include:

• No source of income, and often minimal or no employment experience.

• Poor social and life skills.

• Conflict with the law.

• Mental health and/or physical health issues.

• Drug or alcohol use/abuse as a way of coping with problems.

• Experiences of violence or trauma.

Youth need many supports to overcome homelessness: safe shelter, food and clothing, health cards and identification, emotional support, counselling and referral services, life skills training, educational opportunities, affordable housing, job search skills, social skills and recreational options. Through its programming, Youth Without Shelter offers all of these supports. Programs and services are designed to help our clients cope with and overcome these barriers to responsible and independent living.

                                            We help the whole person.