COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

2.4 YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
SECTOR
In focus groups across the country, young people
were clear on three things:
(1) there were very few
interventions available
to help them before they
became homeless,
(2) they had difficulty
accessing homelessness
services and supports
once they did become
homeless, and
(3) they had difficulty
transitioning out of
homelessness quickly, in part
due to policies, practices, and
staff behaviours within the
youth homelessness sector.
These three themes suggest that in many communities across
Canada, youth homelessness sectors are not structured to
prevent homelessness. While youth explained that emergency
homelessness services are life-saving and in dire need of funding,
they also articulated a need for services to focus on quickly
transitioning youth out of homelessness, as well as provide
supports well before a young person becomes homeless.
Minimal Early Intervention Efforts
Many youth explained that few services or supports were accessible
to them when they were at risk of homelessness and needed help.
Youth reported numerous instances in which they sought help from
the youth homelessness sector but were told by staff that there was
nothing that could be done until they were “actually homeless,” or
met specific criteria. For some youth this was a deeply frustrating
experience, with several disengaging from seeking help.
“There aren’t really
any programs to
help at-risk youth
kids before they’re
homeless. It’s
only once you’re
homeless.”
CALGARY YOUTH
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 87