Without A Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey

It should be expected that young people who
were involved with child protection services are
more likely to report a history of abuse. However,
when one looks at priority populations and the
experiences of childhood abuse, certain things
stand out (see Table 2 below). Females are much
more likely than males to experience all types of
abuse. Transgender youth and LGBTQ2S youth
also report more abuse. Significantly, abuse
in childhood is strongly correlated with both
multiple episodes of homelessness, and with
early experiences of homelessness. Indigenous
youth, members of racialized communities, and
newcomers are not significantly more likely to
report childhood abuse.
“If I was taken away from
unfit parents it would have
been good. Police were
contacted countless times
and everyone knew about
the abuse but no one did
anything. The police have
never helped me in my life. I
was hungry and undergoing
trauma and was expected
to just deal with it from a
very early age.”
WOMAN, 17
TABLE 2
Childhood Experiences of Abuse by Gender, Sexual Orientation,
Involvement in Child Protection, Number of Times Homeless and
Early Experience of Homelessness
Experience of Abuse in Childhood
Gender
Sexual
Orientation
In Foster Care
or Group Homes
Number of
times homeless
Age first left
home
PHYSICAL
ABUSE
SEXUAL
ABUSE
OTHER FORMS
OF ABUSE
TOTAL
ABUSE
Male 43.3% 12.0% 36.7% 53.6%
Female 60.0% 38.1% 57.8% 73.5%
Trans/Gender
non-Binary
63.1% 46.0% 69.8% 80.0%
Straight 45.7% 16.4% 39.4% 57.4%
LGBTQ2S 64.4% 41.0% 64.3% 76.1%
No 44.4% 19.2% 42.7% 58.9%
Yes 58.9% 28.6% 51.0% 67.1%
Once 40.1% 13.5% 31.9% 47.4%
2-5 times 50.3% 23.8% 46.7% 65.8%
More than five 65.2% 38.1% 66.3% 79.5%