combating youth homelessness in canada: what lessons for europe

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?