Youth Homelessness Basics
What is youth homelessness?
This term describes young people who do not have a safe or stable place to live.
What is family breakdown?
Problems at home, such as conflict or abuse, are a major cause of youth homelessness.
Homelessness is caused due to substance abuse.
Myth. Drug use is usually a result of homelessness.
What is Couch Surfing?
Staying over at a relative or friend’s house, without a stable home.
A place where youth can go after school to play games, meet friends, and feel safe
What is a drop in center?
What is hidden homelessness?
Staying temporarily with friends or relatives instead of having your own home is called this.
What is the foster care system?
Youth who leave this system may not have enough support afterward.
The reason people are homeless is because they are not willing to work.
Myth. Many people experiencing homelessness are employed, but it is hard to have a stable job without a home.
What are runaways?
Youth who flee their homes, without their guardians’ permission due to conflict at home.
A service that helps youth find a place to live when they have no home
What is a shelter?
In canada, people under this age are often considered youth
25
What is poverty?
Not having enough money to pay for housing can lead to homelessness.
35,000 people are homeless every night in Canada.
Fact.
The biggest factor causing youth homelessness.
What is Family Conflict?
A person you can talk to when you feel anxious, stressed, or need advice
What is a counselor?
What is stable housing?
Housing that is safe, permanent, and affordable is described as this.
What is family rejection?
Some youth leave home because their family does not accept who they are.
There are more women who are homeless than men.
Myth. In shelters, 64.7% of people living there are men and 31.9% were women.
What is Temporarily disconnected?
Youth who are left without a home for a short period of time, and escape it with little help and a low chance of becoming homeless again.
A short term place to stay when a youth member cannot stay at home tonight?
What is emergency housing?
Who are unaccompanied youth?
These are young people who experience homelessness without parents or guardians.
What is lack of mental health support?
Not being able to get help for mental health needs can increase the risk of homelessness.
In Durham, there are over 400 homeless youth.
Fact.
Solutions to youth homelessness.
What is support, early prevention, and housing assistance?
What is a life skills training program?
A program that helps youth learn skills for jobs, school, and everyday life