Combating youth homelessness in Canada: what lessons for Europe
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Transcript of Combating youth homelessness in Canada: what lessons for Europe
Homeless Youth
Stephen Gaetz Director, Canadian Homelessness Research Network Faculty of Education, York University
Rethinking models of prevention, accommodation and support for
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Thinking about
youth homelessness . . .
Numbers 37,500 over a year
6000 on any given night
• 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)
Characteristics of population
Causes of homelessness
The Canadian Response to
Homelessness - First phase
Can we move from THIS . . . . . . to This!
Soooo . . .
How do we get there?
1. Systems Approach The best approaches go beyond stand alone
agency-based programs, to operate in an integrated way at a systems level
• 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.
Creating an integrated systems response
Youth Homelessness is a Fusion Policy Issue
Solving youth homelessness is NOT solely the responsibility of the sector
• 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.
2) Youth Development focus
• 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
Understand how socio-economic shifts have changed adolescence and young adulthood.
A Conceptual Shift is required!
The focus should be on successful
Transitions to ADULTHOOD NOT
Transitions to independence
• Age
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Ethnicity - newcomers
- Aboriginal youth
3) Consider: What works and for whom?
• Stop forcing young people to leave their communities
• Retool Emergency Services (a shift away from a dependence on emergency services, to a focus on prevention and housing)
• STOP criminalization of homelessness
4) Stop doing what isn’t working
A Framework for
Thinking About Prevention
Part 1
Primary Prevention
Goal: Working upstream to
prevent new cases
Working in Schools
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)
Anti-Discrimination
. . . because sometimes young people’s problems are actually other people’s problems.
The Schools / Work Project – Alone in London (United Kingdom) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Homeless Hub – Curriculum and learning resources (Canada)
International Insights
Part 2
Systems Prevention
• Child Protection
• Youth criminal justice – discharge planning and support
• Mental health discharge planning and support
Goal: Zero Discharge into Homelessness
Child Protection Reform
The Schools / Work Project – Alone in London (United Kingdom) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Homeless Hub – Curriculum and learning resources (Canada)
International Insights
Part 3
Early Intervention
Interventions when someone becomes, or is about to become homeless.
Key interventions
• a pre-assessment checklist to help decide who would benefit from a common assessment
• a standard form to record the assessment
• a delivery plan and review form
• Coordinated intervention
Coordinated Assessment
Case Management
Six dimensions are:
1. Collaboration and cooperation—a true team approach,
2. Right matching of services—person-centered,
3. Contextual case management—culture and flexibility,
4. The right kind of engagement—relationships and advocacy,
5. Coordinated and well-managed system—ethics and communication, and
6. Evaluation for success—support and training.
Case Management
Unfortunately, family is often framed as a problem and as part of a young person’s past.
Family Reconnection
• Mediation
• Conflict resolution training
• Supporting families
Shelter Diversion
• Respite and “Time out” housing
• Mediation
• Keeping young people in their communities
St. Basil’s Birmingham Nightstop (DePaul UK) Youth Reconnect (Australia) Raft – Niagara region Family Reconnect – Eva’s initiatives
International Insights
Part 4
Accommodation
and Supports
Accommodation as part of a system of care
• Retool emergency sector to shorten homelessness
• Transitional housing for youth
• Permanent housing / affordable housing
• Support for youth with complex needs
• Connecting people back to communities / mainstreaming services
• Reducing legal and service barriers
Necessary components:
Accommodation Options for Youth
- Youth development approach
- Youth can stay for 2 years or more
- Education, training employment
- Life skills
- Support with mental health and addictions
Transitional housing
FOYER
Report and Tool kit
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
Is there still a role for
transitional housing?
the
homeless
hub
www.homelesshub.ca
Questions?