1 / 40

Youth Homelessness

Youth Homelessness. Stephen Gaetz. Part 1. Understanding Youth Homelessness. Numbers 37,500 over a year 6000 on any given night. DEFINING youth homelessness. Characteristics of population. 2/3 are male

fernandon
Download Presentation

Youth Homelessness

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Youth Homelessness Stephen Gaetz

  2. Part 1 Understanding Youth Homelessness

  3. Numbers37,500 over a year 6000 on any given night

  4. DEFINING youth homelessness . . .

  5. Characteristics of population • 2/3 are male • Some minority pops over-represented (including aboriginal youth) • LGBT youth over-represented • Average length of stay? 4 years • Age difference matters – (under 16, 16-18, 19-25)

  6. Causes of homelessness

  7. The importance of developing a response based on the needs of young people.

  8. Part 2 A Strategy to End Youth Homelessness

  9. Can we move from this? To this? Emergency Response Housing and Supports Housing and Supports Emergency Response Prevention Prevention

  10. Soooo . . . How do we get there?

  11. Develop a Plan

  12. 2. Create an Integrated Systems Approach The best approaches go beyond stand alone agency-based programs, to operate in an integrated way at a systems level

  13. Creating an integrated • systems response • A “system of care” approach • Ensuring an adequate • supply of Affordable Housing • Active involvement by all levels of government and departmental integration • Strategic coordination of services within the sector and including mainstream services.

  14. 3. Facilitate active, strategic and coordinated engagement by all levels of government, and interdepartmental collaboration

  15. Solving youth homelessness is NOTsolely the responsibility of the sector Youth Homelessness is a Fusion Policy Issue

  16. 4) Adopt a Youth Development focus • A recognition of the distinctive needs of youth. • The primacy of a Positive Youth Development approach. • Differentiation of strategies and services based on age. • Attention to Diversity.

  17. Understand how socio-economic shifts have changed adolescence and young adulthood. • Rise in credentialism(important to stay in school longer) • Full time jobs paying living wage are scarce (most young people can only get low paying part time work) • Young people stay in the parental home much longer

  18. A Conceptual Shift is required! • The focus should be on successful • Transitions to ADULTHOOD • NOT • Transitions to independence

  19. 5. Incorporate research, data gathering and information sharing

  20. Part 3 Preventing Youth Homelessness

  21. A Framework for Thinking About Prevention Primary Prevention Systems Prevention Early Intervention

  22. Primary Prevention Working upstream to prevent new cases

  23. Working in Schools

  24. Working with Families • Connecting with resources • Strengthening anger management and conflict resolution skills within families • Foster parenting skills and healthy childhood development • Ensure young people have access to early childhood education, adequate nutrition and enriched engagement (arts, sports)

  25. Anti-Discrimination . . . because sometimes young people’s problems are actually other people’s problems.

  26. Systems Prevention Zero Discharge into Homelessness • Child Protection • Youth criminal justice • Mental health

  27. Early Intervention • When someone becomes, or is about to become homeless.

  28. Key interventions

  29. Shelter Diversion • Respite and “Time out” housing • Mediation • Keeping young • people in their • communities

  30. Part 4 Retooling the Emergency System

  31. Retooling means • Shorter stays in emergency shelters • Integration into a ‘system of care’ • Go smaller • Zero discharge into homelessness • Day programs and case management

  32. Retooling means • Outreach • Mental health supports • Harm reduction • An anti-discrimination framework and practice • Addressing legal and justice issues

  33. Part 5 Accommodation And Supports

  34. Accommodation Housing as part of a system of care Social and Health Supports Income and Employment Education Youth Engagement System of Care

  35. Accommodation Options for Youth

  36. Is there still a role for transitional housing?

  37. Housing First • Centering the project on the needs of youth • Young people must demonstrate a desire for change • Adopting a client-centred case-management approach • Focus on personal development, life skills and enhancing self esteem • Education and training opportunities

  38. Coming of Age will be available for free download on Thursday, February 27, 2014 www.homelesshub.ca

  39. New and improved Homeless Hub www.homelesshub.ca

  40. Questions?

More Related