Without A Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey

3.9 Mental health and addictions needs of young people
should be prioritized in community planning and
service delivery.
The data from this survey demonstrated the extent to which mental health
and addictions are clearly an issue for many young people who experience
homelessness. The implications for this include:
a) The need for all service providers to adopt a ‘trauma informed care’
approach and ensure all staff are trained and supported to do this
work.
b) Harm reduction programming and supports should be available to
all young people who need it, and all staff should be trained and
supported to do this work.
c) Local and regional health authorities should work with communities
to ensure that all young people between 13-24 have access to
necessary mental health and addictions supports.
d) Targeted approaches that are tailored to youth needs, such as rapid
prevention responses for newly homeless youth and augmentative
supports for youth transitioning out of homelessness.
3.10 Foster meaningful youth engagement in all policy
development, planning and implementation
processes.
Young people are very knowledgeable about what has led to their current
situation, what is ‘working’ and what isn’t, and what they need. Youth
should be included in planning in a way that is respectful and meaningful to
them. They should also be compensated for their time and efforts.
WITHOUT A HOME: THE NATIONAL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SURVEY
121