About Youth Homelessness

No home, no bed - a life on the street and in crisis.

Lisa ran away from home after her parents beat her for talking to boys at school. She is just one of the many stories on the streets.

The City of Toronto, one of the richest cities in the world, has the largest homeless population in Canada.

• 28% of the homeless people in Toronto are youth

• The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness (1999) estimates that each year, 10,000 youth spend at least some time on the streets of Toronto.

• On any given night, 1,500 to 2,000 youth in Toronto are homeless.

• Youth poverty has steadily increased over the last 10 years.

• The links between youth poverty and adult problems are well established.

• Youth are among the most disadvantaged of all homeless people, facing barriers to income support, finishing high school, paid employment and rental accommodation due to their age.

• The longer youth remain homeless the worse their health and life chances become.

   

  Facts About The Youth That Youth Without Shelter Serves

   

  They are representative of all levels of socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual orientation.

   

   They are between the ages of 16 and 24.  60% are male.

   

   Over 70% have experienced some form of sexual, physical or emotional abuse.

   

   Approximately 30% are experiencing mental health issues.

   

   34% have considered suicide.

   

   33% suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

   

   Approximately 20% are struggling with addictions.

   

   65% come from families with substance abuse problems.

   

   Prior to arriving at YWS 40% have gone without food for one day in the past week.

   

   56% of homeless male youth have Grade 11 or less; 60% female homeless youth have Grade 11 or less.

   

  Sources:  CBC News Report “No Way Home” 2004; Youth Homelessness in Canada, The Road To Solutions by Raising the Roof, March 2009; Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health and Homelessness 2006 Toronto by Canadian Institute for Health Information.

   

Myths About Youth Homelessness

One of the most most important things you can do to help the homeless is to realize that the tired old stereotypes concerning them just are not true.

Myth:  They want to be homeless.

Fact:  Less than six per cent of the homeless are that way by choice.

Myth:  They’re to blame for being homeless.

Fact:  Most homeless are victims.  Some have suffered from child abuse or violence.  Nearly one quarter are children.  Many have lost their jobs.  All have lost their homes.

Myth:  They don’t work.

Fact:  Many homeless people are among the working poor.  A person earning a minimum wage can’t earn enough to support a family of three or pay inner-city rent.

Myth:  They are mentally ill.

Fact:  About 30 per cent of the homeless are estimated to be emotionally disturbed.  One per cent  may need long-term hospitalization; the others can become self-sufficient with help.

Myth:  They are heavy drug users.

Fact:  Some homeless are substance abusers; research suggests one in five.  Many of these are included in the 30 per cent who suffer from mental illness.

Myth:  They are dangerous.

Fact:  Sometimes an encounter with the homeless may end in tragedy.  It is extremely rare, though.  In general, the homeless are among the least threatening group in our society.  If anything, they are often the victims of crimes, not the perpetuators.