Homeless youth.

Definition

We use many different terms to describe young people who are homeless, including street youth,
street kids, runaways, homeless youth, etc
When we speak of homeless youth, we are really talking about young people who are living in
extreme poverty, and whose lives are characterized by the inadequacy of income, health care
supports and importantly, the kinds of social supports that we typically deem necessary for the
transition from childhood to adulthood – parental and family support, teachers, etc.
Homeless youth may be temporarily living in hostels, staying with friends, living in 'squats', renting
cheap rooms in boarding houses or hotels, or actually living on the streets. They may also be
living with parents or relatives, but be at imminent risk of losing their shelter. The reality is that
over the course of time the majority of homeless youth move between these various housing
situations, thus it can be argued that it is the instability of their housing situation that characterizes
their status as homeless youth.

Are street youth any different from adults who are homeless?
Street youth are distinct from the adult homeless population. First, the causes of homelessness
are not exactly the same (for more information, see the Backgrounder: Why do young people
become homeless?). Young people on the streets typically become homeless for a number of
reasons. Conflicts and problems within the family are often significant here. Around 70% of
homeless youth report having experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse
The second major difference between street youth and homeless adults, is that street youth
typically lack the experiences and resources to successfully live independently, at least in the
short run.

The Diversity of the Street Youth Population

When we think of who street youth are, we might already have some ideas in our heads. Are they
young males? Are they mostly in the downtown areas of cities?
Research on street youth shows the diversity of the population. For instance, there are typically
two homeless males for every female. Some members of specific ethno-racial groups are more
likely to become homeless, including black and Aboriginal youth. In terms of sexuality, research
consistently shows that between 20-30 percent of homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgendered, which suggests that homophobia is a leading cause of homelessness.

The point is, young people who are homeless come from all kinds of communities, not just the
downtown areas of big cities. They come from every neighbourhood, every town and city. We
know that street youth appear to come from a broad range of class backgrounds (as determined
by the occupational and educational backgrounds of their parents), and not just from low-income
families.

Stephen Gaetz (2009)

Backgrounder: “Who are street youth?”
Homeless Hub – Educational Resources.
York University
 QUESTIONS

1) What is homeless youth?

Young people who are living in extreme poverty, and whose lives are characterized by the
inadequacy of income, health care supports and importantly, the kinds of social supports

2) Do all homeless youth live in the streets?

No, they may be temporarily living in hostels, staying with friends, living in 'squats', renting
cheap rooms in boarding houses or hotels, or actually living on the streets

3) Why do most teenagers become homeless?

Conflicts and problems within the family are often significant.

4) What are de differences within the population of homeless youth? Refer to the
diversity

Males and females , Ethnicity , Sexuality