Homelessness doesn't always beg for change, nor does it always rest with the visibly poor. Living on the street is only one form of homelessness, though it is certainly the most visible. Knowing this is important when examining or thinking about youth homelessness, that homelessness is not always visible. Understanding the bevy of reasons for homelessness is also important, especially when the numbers often contradict our prevailing assumptions -- drug addiction is not a prerequisite for homelessness, for instance. And, finally, we have to know what is going on, and where people can go, and if it is enough: do we have a good way to catch those who fall through our safety nets, especially the youth?
The Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, or GMHSC, (2011: 6) defines homelessness as:
- Living on the street
- Staying overnight in emergency shelters
- Staying in places not meant for human habitation
- Moving continuously among temporary housing arrangements provided by friends, family or strangers (“couch surfing”)
It is the final definition of homelessness that is most important to understand when considering youth homelessness. Homeless school-age youth or families with children may have enough connections to avoid emergency shelters, yet may have no home of their own. This invisible homelessness is as important as visible homelessness, because any prevention at that level will keep people off the streets.
It is important to understand, especially for youth homelessness, that substance abuse and mental illness are not the reasons for their situation. According to Mental Illness Awareness Week (2009), while there is a strong correlation between mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness, it is not clear which causes which. More than that, many youth are homeless because they face abuse at home, and take to precarious housing or the street to avoid mistreatment and gain some measure of freedom. The same is often true for homeless women, for whom abuse can create homelessness (Smith, 2011). For both of these demographics prone to homelessness caused by abuse, a greater understanding is necessary for the public to come to terms with the scope of the problem. The GMHSC (2011) also points out that many people are in precarious financial positions, and are one or two missed paycheques away from homelessness. This puts youth in the same situation if their parents are in this precarious situation. In short, homelessness is not a condition for addicts or crazy people, but a sometimes the better or only choice.
Helping the homeless youth is not the same as helping adults; the youth need special services and care, and generally cannot and probably should not use the same services provided to homeless adults (CBC News, 2010). Youth are not the first demographic we think of as being homeless, so they tend to get less attention, and consequently less services. In New Brunswick, there are only three youth shelters, yet there are five urban areas in need of them (CBC News, 2010). These shelters are usually gender-dependant, as well. Youth may not be able to use as well the services provided for employment assistance to the adult homeless, as they might not be old enough to work, or have limited experience.
School is also an important issue in youth homelessness; helping “stable” youth maintain their education is sometimes difficult, and when you add homelessness the situation gets worse. Education is very important to provide to homeless youth, as it will be one of the only ways for them to escape the cyclical nature of homelessness. Specific attention should be given to keeping homeless youth at school. Having a regular, reliable home for youth is one way to do so. If a youth is able to go home every day after school, to some home, it will make it easier for them; having nowhere to go back to contributes to the problem. One way we might keep students educated through homelessness is to provide educational assistance through shelters or social assistance programs. Teaching jobs are scarce, and it could be a boon to homeless youth if teachers were hired by the government to “home school” homeless youth if they are not going to school. While the intention is obviously to encourage students to continue going, their education should still be provided if they cannot or will not.
In short, youth homelessness presents special challenges that adult homelessness does not. I would also argue that priority should be given to the homeless youth, and by spreading awareness of the issue, we can help prevent or mitigate youth homelessness in New Brunswick.
Works Cited
Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee. (2011, March). Experiencing homelessness: The fourth report card on homelessness in Greater Moncton. In Moncton Homelessness. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://monctonhomelessness.org/documents/4th%20moncton%20provincial%20report%20card%202011.pdf
Homelessness and mental illness. (2009). In Mental Illness Awareness Week. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://miaw.ca/en/mental-illness/what-is-mental-illness/homelessness.aspx
Smith, E. (2010, October 31). Inside Grace House: A look at homelessness in Fredericton. The New Brunswick Beacon. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/10/31/inside-grace-house-a-look-at-homelessness-in-fredericton/
Homeless youth need shelters: report. (2011, March 28). CBC News. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/03/28/nb-homelessness-report-card.html
