Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit
The Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit helps Community Entities take action on youth homelessness. It includes practical resources to guide funding decisions, engage Community Advisory Boards, and shift intervention services for youth upstream. The toolkit supports community entities in delivering lasting, preventive solutions as part of a broader youth homelessness strategy.
Youth Homelessness in Canada
Youth homelessness refers to young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of their parents or caregivers, and who, importantly, lack many of the social supports deemed necessary for the transition from childhood to adulthood.
In such circumstances, youth do not have a stable or consistent residence or source of income, nor do they necessarily have adequate access to the support networks necessary to foster a safe and nurturing transition into the responsibilities of adulthood.
Source: HomelessHub.ca/YouthWithoutHome
Causes of Youth Homelessness
Experiences of homelessness among youth are complex and driven by many factors such as family conflict, bullying, or ongoing experiences of structural violence (e.g., colonialism, racism, sexism, homophobia).
Key causes include:
- Family conflict and abuse
- Mental health and substance use
- Aging out of child welfare systems
- Economic hardship
- Discrimination and marginalization
- Educational disruptions
- Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- Lack of social support networks
Impacts of Homelessness on Young People
Experiencing homelessness and becoming entrenched over time can result in a number of long-term consequences:
- Increased risk of exploitation, violence, victimization, physical and sexual abuse.
- Greater involvement with the police and the justice system.
- Disengagement from school and difficulty getting a job.
- Mental health problems and addictions, because life on the streets is inherently stressful.
- Difficulty exiting the streets and moving forward with one’s life (many chronically homeless adults today first experienced homelessness when they were young).
Indigenous youth face a higher risk of homelessness than non-Indigenous youth due to intersecting experiences of prejudice, discrimination, and xenophobic violence.
Addressing these factors requires comprehensive strategies that encompass prevention, intervention, and support services tailored to the unique needs of homeless youth.
© 2025 | Canadian Observatory on Homelessness