Without a Home

On average, youth became involved with child protection services at the age of 8.5, and for one third (31.5%) involvement began before the age of 6. INDIGENOUS YOUTH (70.5%) WERE MORE LIKELY THAN YOUTH WHO WERE MEMBERS OF RACIALIZED COMMUNITIES (43.5%) AND WHITE YOUTH (55.1%) TO REPORT INVOLVEMENT WITH CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES. [...] WITHOUT A HOME: THE NATIONAL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SURVEY 21 Research has demonstrated that the longer a young person remains homeless, the worse their health and well-being become, and the more likely they are to experience exploitation, trauma and addictions, drop out of school and become entrenched in street life. [...] CANADIAN DEFINITION OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS “Youth homelessness” refers to the situation and experience of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of parents and/or caregivers, but do not have the means or ability to acquire a stable, safe or consistent residence. [...] In addition to experiencing economic deprivation and a lack of secure housing, many young people who are homeless lack the personal experience of living independently and at the same time may be in the throes of significant developmental (social, physical, emotional and cognitive) changes. [...] The involvement of child protection services in families can range from primarily investigative, to providing counselling and support, to removal of the child or youth from the home, temporarily or permanent, if it is deemed to be unsafe.