What do you think of when you hear the word homeless? Society has trained us to think of certain stereotypes and characteristics that alienate these people. The stigma is so strong that many people don’t even know how big of an issue it is. When the topic is brought up in the media, accusatory language is often used, blaming the people experiencing homelessness instead of holding systems that have wronged them accountable. Many don’t even know how affected young people are by this crisis. For every 100 youth (those between the ages of 13-24) in Toronto, one will experience homelessness every year. Those numbers might shock you, I know they left me speechless after hearing them for the first time. So why isn’t anyone talking about this?
Who does this affect?
Youth homelessness is a problem that is ignored far too often. This is absurd since they make up 20% of Canada’s homeless population! Not only that, but many young people are experiencing homelessness during critical stages in their development, leaving them extremely vulnerable. In fact, 40% of homeless youth first experience homelessness before the age of 16. Youth homelessness in Canada also disproportionately affects minority groups. 74% identify as members of racialized communities, 31% identify as Indigenous, and 30% identify as LGBTQ+. Recognizing this population is vital in order to start these conversations within our community.
How does homelessness affect youth?
Experiencing homelessness is always difficult, but experiencing it when you are young comes with its own unique challenges. There are so many things you need to focus on during this critical time such as school and preparing for your future. Youth experiencing homelessness also have adverse effects on their mental health. For example, 77.5% of youth are experiencing homelessness because of family breakdown. 63% have experienced some form of childhood trauma/abuse, and 65% come from families with substance abuse problems. All of this results in a percentage of people that need a great deal of support that extends beyond simply providing shelter.
We need to change our language
Igniting real change can start with things as simple as changing our vocabulary. Homelessness is something that can happen to anyone and is not a defining part of someone’s identity. That being said, our language often implies that it is. Instead of saying ‘a homeless person’, we should start saying ‘a person experiencing homelessness’. This change may seem insignificant but can affect someone’s confidence and overall mental health. After all, someone’s living situation is temporary and not something that makes them who they are. Making this change is an example of a realistic step that anyone can take to make a difference.
Who is making a difference in this sector?
There are so many incredibly hard-working charities and shelters in Toronto all working towards helping youth experiencing homelessness. Having specific resources catered to providing youth with what they need is so important.
For example, Youth Without Shelter is based in Etobicoke and working to support youth in the Toronto area. Not only is YWS providing shelter for youth experiencing homelessness, but they have a series of amazing programs to help support them. For example, they have a stay-in-school program, career program, and life skills initiative. All of these resources help give youth the tools they need to make real change in their life and help them succeed. They also run fundraisers every year that support their youth and showcase local artists! These fundraisers combine social justice and art to spread their message in a powerful way.
Eva’s Phoenix is another incredible shelter located in Toronto that is doing everything it can to support the youth in their community. Eva’s Phoenix also has a series of unique programs that help the youth at their shelter. For example, their ‘Eva’s Print Shop’ is a full-service digital printing facility that makes a difference. This facility has the capability to create all types of print products including posters, flyers, magazines and more. Whenever someone uses this service, all of the profit goes straight to helping youth in their shelter. Not only that, but Eva’s Phoenix uses this program as a way to train youth and give them valuable skills that they can use to join the printing and graphics industry. This training ranges from providing youth with hands-on experience using machinery to teaching graphics programs such as Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. The results from this program are truly remarkable! In fact, 70% of those who complete the training receive full-time work in the printing industry.
The Canadian Courage Project is a new not for profit organization dedicated to providing support to youth experiencing homelessness and their furry companions! They recognize that many shelters don’t have the resources to support animals as well. The team behind the Canadian Courage Project also sees the numerous mental health benefits that come with having an animal companion. Support is given by providing them with pet food, funding for vaccinations, and so much more! Not only that, but this not for profit also believes in supporting local businesses and artists, and often features their work in their fundraising efforts through sweaters and tote bags. The Canadian Courage project is still young. They began during the pandemic and they can’t wait to expand further and support the Toronto community even more.
Youth homelessness is a problem that needs to be addressed, but it is also apparent that there are many people within our community working tirelessly to fix it. I hope this article changed your perspective around homelessness and inspired you to get involved. Remember that this is a problem that can be solved, and sometimes the first step can be as small as starting a conversation.