“Youth homelessness is defined by inherent instability, profound limitations and poverty. At a time when these young people are experiencing loss and potentially trauma, they are simultaneously charged with managing a diverse and complex set of tasks, including obtaining shelter, income and food, making good decisions and developing healthy relationships.”
Coming of Age: Reimagining the Response to Youth Homelessness in Canada
Key Trends in the Guelph-Wellington Community
- Overall chronic homelessness is on the rise.
- Youth chronic homelessness is declining.
- Increased volume of clients.
- Increased complexity of clients.
Chronic homelessness impacts a young person’s physical and mental health as well as support, connections and future opportunities. Additionally, homelessness coupled with child welfare involvement can worsen mental health conditions, with studies showing that homeless youth are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and PTSD due to trauma within the system and the stress of living without stable housing (Fowler, Toro, & Miles, 2017). Moreover, homeless youth with child welfare involvement are at greater risk for engaging in risky behaviours, such as substance abuse and survival sex, often due to the absence of family or community support (Tyler & Schmitz, 2010). These challenges extend into adulthood, with homeless youth more likely to experience continued homelessness, unemployment, and involvement with the criminal justice system (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2020).
Family and relationship breakdown accounts for 57% of youth who accessed a shelter or supportive housing program at Wyndham House in 2024, with most presenting concurrent mental health and addiction-related needs. These issues are often rooted in intergenerational trauma, undiagnosed, and untreated conditions. Addressing these needs requires a holistic approach that includes family reunification and natural supports. The federal Reaching Home directives emphasize supporting at-risk youth by strengthening connections to family, community, and culturally relevant services. By integrating family reunification efforts and enhancing natural support networks these approaches promote a sustainable pathway out of homelessness.
A significant issue exacerbating youth homelessness is the lack of effective discharge planning from hospital and justice settings. In 2024, 12% of youth accessing shelter services in Guelph-Wellington did so directly after discharge from hospital or custody facilities. Unfortunately, there are few pathways to ensure appropriate discharge planning and warm transfers, resulting in increased vulnerability and ongoing trauma. The lack of continuity between health, justice, and housing systems is particularly problematic for transitional-aged youth with eligibility changes based on age. Many services discharge clients upon admission to hospital or custody, causing youth to lose access to support.
Chronic homelessness among Indigenous youth is a critical national issue, deeply rooted in systemic challenges such as colonialism, cultural disruption, and involvement with the child welfare system. Indigenous youth experience disproportionately high rates of homelessness, often stemming from the breakdown of family structures, displacement, and lack of access to resources. The legacy of residential schools, intergenerational trauma, and ongoing systemic injustices has further contributed to their vulnerability, with many Indigenous youth being removed from their families. (Shields & Martin, 2011; Fowler, Toro, & Miles, 2017). Solutions to Indigenous homelessness must integrate community, cultural identity, and traditional knowledge, reconnecting youth to land and culture, aiming to provide holistic, culturally relevant support.
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