Visions Journal

Complexity and hope

Chelsea Minhas, MSW

Reprinted from the Is It Safe to Be Me? Creating inclusive and accessible workspaces issue of Visions Journal, 2024, 20 (1), pp. 35-36

As someone who has worked alongside homeless, at-risk and trafficked youth for over 16 years, I have learned a lot about this complex issue. When we talk about homelessness, we are not just referring to individuals sleeping rough on the streets—it extends much further than that, to couch surfing, staying in shelters or temporarily living in unsafe environments.

The lack of stable housing not only puts a young person's physical well-being at risk, but also takes a toll on their mental health and overall sense of security.

When I interact with these young people, I see their resilience and strength in the face of adversity. I'm often reminded of a young woman I worked with who was trafficked for many years and whose first trafficker was a family member. This young person is now raising her own daughter. Many youth like her have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect, leading them to leave unsafe living conditions in search of a better life. These young people have hopes and dreams, they are kind and giving and they are an important part of the future of our communities. Homelessness is the least interesting thing about them.

It is crucial to recognize that homelessness is not a choice youth make, but a consequence of complex social issues and systemic failures. They face unique barriers to accessing, stable housing due to a variety of factors. Some of these challenges include:

Lack of legal documentation. Many homeless youth do not have access to essential identification documents, such as birth certificates, photo ID or even immigration paperwork. Sometimes they must leave home without them. Papers also get lost during housing instability or ruined by weather while youth live on the street. This can be difficult to resolve, between cost, wait times and barriers to legal support. Yet these documents are needed to access housing, employment and education.

Limited income and employment opportunities. Homeless youth often lack steady income and face barriers to accessing job opportunities due to their age, lack of experience or limited education. Income assistance and disability rates are not adequate in today's housing market and there are not enough rental supplements available. Without financial stability, affording housing becomes a significant challenge.

Family instability and conflict. Consider this: I have met a young person who, before coming to Covenant House, chose to live on the street because it was safer than their home. Trauma histories and generational challenges can impact families' ability to support youth. This affects young people's chances of securing or maintaining housing. Often the work we do at Covenant House is to support youth to create a network of chosen family.

Mental health and substance use challenges. Homeless youth experience higher rates of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.¹ In addition, some homeless youth experience challenges with their substance use. This can impact a youth's daily functioning and their ability to get or maintain housing. There are limited housing options that meet the needs of youth living with mental health and substance use challenges. Many communities lack developmentally appropriate harm reduction and recovery options.

Barriers to education. Imagine being a young person having to stay up all night on the street to stay safe, then being expected to catch a bus to school with no money and stay alert to learn all day—on an empty stomach. The survival mode of homelessness does not lend itself to success in school. Survival can take priority over school attendance. Our school systems also lack resources to support the trauma and learning needs that homeless youth face—even though so many dedicated and amazing educators advocate relentlessly for students. And without a strong educational foundation, accessing stable housing can be challenging.

Lack of support networks. Homeless youth may have a reduced number of healthy relationships or networks that can provide guidance, mentorship or emotional support. Without these they may feel isolated and overwhelmed, making it harder to navigate the complexities of securing housing.

Trauma history. Many homeless youths have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect or adverse childhood experiences that have a lasting impact on their ability to trust others, form relationships and maintain stability. Addressing these underlying factors and trauma is crucial in helping them overcome barriers to housing.

These are just some of the barriers that homeless youth face when seeking stable housing. To support them, our goal must be to go beyond meeting immediate needs and take a holistic approach. We have to:

• create a safe space where they can feel heard, valued and supported without judgment

• offer developmentally appropriate spaces that say, "I see you, you matter and you are worth it!"

• work closely with young people to create personalized support plans that empower youth to build skills and transition to adulthood in a healthy way

• build trusting relationships and offer resources, such as counselling, education and employment assistance

• advocate for systemic policy changes and increased public awareness in the areas of adolescent mental health and substance use, lack of affordable housing and inadequate developmentally appropriate support systems

In these ways, we can work towards long-term, sustainable solutions that prevent homelessness and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

When we treat homeless youth as equals and involve them in decision-making processes, we empower them to take ownership of their lives and shape their own destinies. At Covenant House, we have Youth Advisory Committees for all our programs. We also host youth consultation events on policy and strategic planning. We listen because, together, we can break the cycle of homelessness.

Working with youth is a privilege. It has been both challenging and rewarding. Each day, I am inspired by their strength, courage and determination. An investment in youth is an investment in community. If we can impact the life of one youth, we can impact generations of change—from one relationship, one investment. Homelessness is the least interesting thing about them.