Without A Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey

8.2% responded negatively (disagreeing ‘somewhat’ or ‘strongly’) to all nine friendship
questions.
Importantly, young people who only experienced homelessness once were less likely to
report negative associations with friends (16.6%) than youth with multiple episodes of
homelessness (32.2%).
Family
It is generally recognized that having positive
relationships with family members can be an asset
to physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
Family conflict is an underlying factor that leads to
homelessness for many youth. Moreover, a significant
percentage of homeless youth report experiencing
physical, sexual, or emotional abuse within their family,
with many entering foster care or group homes.
This history of conflict underlies a common myth that
when young people leave home, they sever relations
with family members and no longer desire or pursue
contact. However, this is not necessarily the case.
When asked whether they were currently in regular
contact with family (meaning contact with any family
member at least once a month), over two thirds
(71.6%) said yes, and about one third (28.5%) said no.
71.6%
of youth surveyed were
in contact with a family
member at least once
per month
77.3%
of youth surveyed
would like to improve
relationships with
family
For many youth, contact with family was deemed important (63.5%). Across the sample,
86% of those who currently have contact with family identified it as important, and
amongst those who do not have contact, 35.2% suggested it was important.
Moving forward, three quarters of the sample (77.3%) would like to improve relationships
with some members of their family or guardians. Among the youth surveyed, 49% are
actively working on improving relations and 28.3% want to but are not right now. Among
participants, 22% indicated they had no interest in improving family relations.
WITHOUT A HOME: THE NATIONAL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SURVEY
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