COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

MOVING FORWARD
Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey (2016) revealed that among
youth who are homeless in Canada, 85.4% experienced a mental health crisis, 42% had
attempted suicide at least once, and 35.2% had experienced at least one overdose requiring
hospitalization. Research has shown that these challenges often begin long before a young
person is on the street, usually in the context of conflict, violence, and poverty within the family
(Craig & Hodson, 1998; Karabanow et al., 2007). The longer youth and their families are left
without appropriate and timely interventions, the worse the short- and long-term outcomes are
(Schwan et al., 2017).
Many youth become trapped
in cycles of destitution and
suffering, which comes at
an enormous social and
economic cost to Canada.
The challenges youth shared in this study reveal
the severe need for accessible, affordable, and
supportive family and youth-centred mental health
and addiction supports. By providing adequate
supports to youth and their families when issues
emerge, rather than after crises occur, we can
contribute to housing stability for young people, as
well as improve their well-being and health.
“It’s more of changing what
people think is ‘the time’ to help
… Maybe you should help them
when they are on the verge of
becoming homeless, or they’re
well on the way, and they’re
seeking the help beforehand.
Instead of, like, when their bank
account is zero and they’re
on the street, and THEN you
help them. Why didn’t you do
it when they had a few dollars
and a couple of days left? Why
couldn’t you do it then?”
EDMONTON YOUTH
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 85