Homeless Youth

Street Youth & Drugs

Drugs are a prevalent issue among street youth. Drugs are why some youth end up on the street and why some youth stay on the street for long periods of time. The choice drugs of homeless youth are marijuana, cocaine, diazepam, crack, and heroin. Often the choice to use drugs is influenced by family and friends. Alcohol is another issue among homeless youth. In a study of Toronto street youth, 46% failed the CAGE questionnaire. It is normal for street youth to be a user of approximately three different drug types within a year. Unfortunately, only 13% of street youth seek medical attention and most who do never return for follow-up visits. Drug abuse often leads to anxiety and depression among homeless youth. Reports show that Vancouver has a very active drug scene which allows easy access to illicit drug use by homeless youth. (Maser, 2003).

Street Youth & Pregnancy

Another issue that needs to be addressed in homeless youth is sexual health. The average age of the first pregnancy is 16 among female homeless youth. It is very common for homeless girls to have multiple pregnancies. Due to circumstance and poor maternal health, there is a high probability female street youth will have a miscarriage. There is also a high number of elective terminations. Youth pregnancy is often connected to socioeconomic status and poor self-esteem. Another side effect of living on the street is having premature babies and babies with a low birth weight. The issues of safe sex, caring for yourself during pregnancy, and caring for their babies, especially low birth weight babies all need to be addressed. (Hwang, 2001).

Street Youth & Nutrition

A common health issue among street youth is poor nutrition. Poor nutrition is mainly caused by no-income or low-income. Often, homeless youth are forced to choose between job-hunting and food hunting. Without transportation they cannot find a way to acquire food through food banks and community dinners can be difficult. Often the foods they do receive are from unhealthy meal programs and fast-food restaurants.(The Fifth Estate, 2004)

Busker

Street Youth & Economics

36% earn money by pan-handing or squeegeeing
19% sell drugs and do break and enters
18% receive social assistance
17% have paid employment
10% are in the sex trade

(The Fifth Estate, 2004)

Barriers of Employment

Finding employment is a difficult process for homeless youth. First of all, they may have a lack of work experience. Additional barriers are having no phone, no fixed address, and no transportation. Another barrier is health problems and hygiene issues such as having an unkempt or unprofessional appearance. A final barrier is lack of motivation and low-literacy levels. (Covenant House Toronto, 2004)

Dangers of the Street

45.7% of street youth reported being attacked.
52.8% reported being threatened.
42% had been sexually assaulted or threatened with a sexual assault.

(Covenant House Toronto, 2004)

References

Covenant House Toronto. (2004). Facts and stats about youth homelessness. Retrieved on February 12, 2006 from http://www.covenanthouse.on.ca/web/facts_and_stats. html.

Fifth Estate, The. (2004). No way home. Retrieved on February 12, 2006 from http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_nowayhome_who.html

Hwang, S. (2001). Homelessness and Health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164 (2), 229.

Maser, Elana. (2003). Youth fact sheet. Retrieved on February 12, 2006 from http://www.med.uottawa.ca/homeless/ youth/youth_factsheet_e.html.

Pictures Retrieved April 7, 2006, from www.google.com/images. Keywords "homeless" and "homeless youth".