Who are Street Youth?

Homeless Hub Backgrounder on who street youth are.

Backgrounder: Who are street youth?

Definition
We use many different terms to describe young people who are homeless, including street youth, street kids, runaways, homeless youth, etc.   Estimates of the number of homeless youth in Toronto at any given time range from around 1,700 to over 2,000  (Gaetz & O’Grady, 2002). According recent estimates, there are anywhere from 65,000 to 150,000 homeless youth living in the streets of Canada on any given day (DeMatteo, D., et al., 1999). Because the population is fairly fluid, the number of homeless youth on the streets over the course of a year is of course much larger.  Our definition of homeless youth, in the Canadian context, includes young people up to the age of 24 who are no longer living with parents or guardians, and who lack stable housing, employment and educational opportunities.  When we speak of homeless youth, we are really talking about young people who are living in extreme poverty, and whose lives are characterized by the inadequacy of income, health care supports and importantly, the kinds of social supports that we typically deem necessary for the transition from childhood to adulthood – parental and family support, teachers, etc. (Homeless Hub, 2009).

Homeless youth may be temporarily living in hostels, staying with friends, living in 'squats', renting cheap rooms in boarding houses or hotels, or actually living on the streets. They may also be living with parents or relatives, but be at imminent risk of losing their shelter.  The reality is that over the course of time the majority of homeless youth move between these various housing situations, thus it can be argued that it is the instability of their housing situation that characterizes their status as homeless youth.

Are street youth any different from adults who are homeless?
Street youth are distinct from the adult homeless population.  First, the causes of homelessness are not exactly the same (for more information, see the Backgrounder: Why do young people become homeless?).  Young people on the streets typically become homeless for a number of reasons (Karabanow, 2004; 2006; 2009; Raising the Roof, 2009).  Conflicts and problems within the family are often significant here.  Around 70% of homeless youth report having experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse (Gaetz, O’Grady and Vaillancourt 1999; Janus, Burgess and McCormack 1987; Janus, Archembault, Brown and Welsh 1995; Kufeldt and Nimmo 1987; Whitbeck and Simons, 1993; Whitbeck and Hoyt, 1999).  In addition, a considerable amount of research demonstrates the relationship between youth homelessness and previous involvement with the child welfare system (Serge, et al., 2002; Gaetz & O;Grady, 2002; Raising the Roof, 2009).

The second major difference between street youth and homeless adults, is that street youth typically lack the experiences and resources to successfully live independently, at least in the short run.  Most wind up on the streets without much – if any – experience of renting or running a household.  Few have much work experience, and becoming homeless may make continuing in school impossible.  So, in addition to having to struggle to survive on the streets, homeless youth must also deal with the trauma of leaving home (and the causes of their homelessness), all the while having to face the challenges of growing into adulthood without the range of supports we usually assume are necessary to make this transition a success.  

The Diversity of the Street Youth Population
When we think of who street youth are, we might already have some ideas in our heads.  Are they young males?  Are they mostly in the downtown areas of cities?  Any comprehensive approach to dealing with street youth must begin with recognition of the incredible diversity that exists within the population, and must be flexible enough to respond to wide ranging needs.

Research on street youth shows the diversity of the population.  For instance, there are typically two homeless males for every female (O’Grady, & Gaetz, 2004).  Some members of specific ethno-racial groups are more likely to become homeless, including black and Aboriginal youth (Springer, 2006; Brown, et al., 2007;  Gaetz & O’Grady, 2002).  In terms of sexuality, research consistently shows that between 20-30 percent of homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (Saewyc, et al 2006; de Castell & Jenson, 2004), which suggests that homophobia is a leading cause of homelessness.

Also found among street youth are legal refugees, those with mental health issues and addictions, etc.  Other factors that differentiate and potentially separate street youth from one another is the length of time they have been on the street, the different "territories" or ranges where they can be found, and not insignificantly, the types of economic activities they might engage in.

Street youth, then, do not represent a homogeneous group.  The factors that tend to divide the rest of Canadian society also divide street youth, including class differences, race, ethnicity and sexuality.  The reality is that street youth are often members of larger marginalized groups and communities.

The point is, young people who are homeless come from all kinds of communities, not just the downtown areas of big cities.  They come from every neighbourhood, every town and city.  We know that street youth appear to come from a broad range of class backgrounds (as determined by the occupational and educational backgrounds of their parents), and not just from low-income families.   Further, one study found that 43% of their sample reported having some history in foster or group homes  (Gaetz & O’Grady, 2002).  For the many homeless youth who come from such backgrounds, they may not have a “home” to return to even if they wanted to.

Stephen Gaetz (2009)
Backgrounder:  “Who are street youth?”
Homeless Hub – Educational Resources.  
York University

Additional Reading:

To explore first hand accounts of the lives of people who have experienced homelessness, visit the Homeless Hub's Experiences section.

For more information on the following subjects, check out the Homeless Hub Topics library:
-    Causes of homelessness
-    Youth
-    Visible Minorities
-    Aboriginal people
-    Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered
-    Single women
-    Social Exclusion
-    Income, Employment and Education

Click here for the American perspective.

Publication Date: 
2009
Editor(s): 
The Homeless Hub
Location: 
Canada