Without A Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey

Transitions from care should be a particular source of concern for us in our efforts to
address youth homelessness. These transitions raise many issues. Some young people
choose to leave because of bad experiences and inadequate support in group homes or
foster care. Other youth simply ‘age out’ 2 of the foster care system and are left to fend for
themselves, often lacking the necessary resources and preparation for living independently
at such a young age. What is the State’s obligation to young people in these cases?
A key challenge is that in most jurisdictions child protection legislation and practice have
not kept pace with the social and economic changes that make it much more difficult for
young people to live independently in their teens and early twenties. As discussed earlier,
over 40% of young Canadians (between the ages of 20 and 29) live with their parents
because of the high cost of housing, poor labour market prospects, and the need for
additional educational qualifications. In this context, child protection services that cut off
support for young people at the age of 18 or even 21 leave young people in jeopardy and
at risk of homelessness.
Involvement in child protection services
In our survey, almost sixty percent (57.8%)
of youth indicated some kind of involvement
with child protection services in the past. Once
again, it should be noted that the nature of this
involvement can vary considerably, ranging
from a short-term, one time only intervention,
to long-term involvement. The average age
when involvement in child protection began for
study participants was 8.5, and for one third
(31.5%) involvement began before the age of 6.
The average age when involvement with child
protection services ended was 12.5, but 53%
reported that they were still involved with child
protection services beyond the age of 16.
57.8%
indicated some kind of
involvement with child
protection services in the past
53%
were involved with child
protection servics beyond
the age of 16
2. In Canada, child protection legislation is a provincial responsibility, and there are significant jurisdictional differences. This means
that the actual age at which the State remains responsible for young people in care varies from province to province. In Ontario, for
instance, young people ‘age out’ at 18, but can also voluntarily withdraw from care at 16.
WITHOUT A HOME: THE NATIONAL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SURVEY
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