combating youth homelessness in canada: what lessons for europe
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given by Stephen Gaetz, York University, Toronto (Canada) at the 2013 FEANTSA Conference "Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation: policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness" http://feantsa.org/spip.php?article1596&lang=enTRANSCRIPT
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?