Government Policy and Youth Homelessness: What’s Being Done and What More Is Needed?
Andrea Laturski
Youth homelessness is a significant and complex issue in Canada, affecting thousands of young people each year. Government policies and initiatives are critical in addressing this crisis, but while there has been progress, many gaps remain. To create lasting change, it is essential to evaluate current efforts and identify areas for improvement.
In 2017, the Canadian government launched its National Housing Strategy (NHS), a 10-year, $72 billion plan aimed at reducing homelessness and improving housing affordability across the country (Hardwick, 2024). The strategy is built around a "housing-first" approach, which prioritizes providing homeless individuals, including youth, with stable housing before addressing other issues such as employment, education, or mental health (Hardwick, 2024). While the NHS marks significant progress in recognizing homelessness as a priority, there are concerns about whether the plan adequately addresses the unique needs of youth (Hardwick, 2024). Youth homelessness is distinct from adult homelessness—many young people become homeless due to family conflict, abuse, or aging out of the foster care system (Homeless Hub, 2024). Therefore, strategies tailored to the specific challenges young people face are essential (Homeless Hub, 2024). Unfortunately, the NHS does not sufficiently prioritize these youth-specific solutions, leaving gaps in its effectiveness.
To effectively combat youth homelessness, Canada can draw on successful policies and programs from other countries. While Canada’s National Housing Strategy embraces the housing-first model, this approach needs to be more youth-focused. Countries like Finland, which has virtually eradicated homelessness, have demonstrated the success of the housing-first model by integrating it with comprehensive support services tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations, including young people (Boone, Cournède, & Plouin, 2021). In Finland, housing is viewed as a basic human right, and once homeless individuals are provided with permanent homes, they are offered intensive wraparound services like mental health care, education, and job placement (Juhila, Raitakari, & Ranta, 2022). Adopting a youth-specific housing-first model in Canada, with a strong focus on long-term housing stability and individualized support, could significantly reduce youth homelessness.
In addition, one of the main reasons young people become homeless in Canada is because they age out of the foster care system without adequate support. In countries like New Zealand and Australia, youth leaving foster care are provided with extended financial and housing support until they are at least 21 or 25 years old (Deloitte Access Economics, 2018). Additionally, these countries offer personalized transition plans, ensuring that young people have access to stable housing, education, and employment opportunities (Deloitte Access Economics, 2018). Canada should implement similar policies nationwide, ensuring that youth aging out of care do not become homeless as soon as they turn 18.
Furthermore, lack of affordable housing is a significant barrier to resolving youth homelessness. The UK has developed “youth foyers”, a model that offers affordable housing paired with education, training, and employment opportunities for homeless youth (Hanover Welfare Services & Brotherhood of St Laurence, 2014). These facilities help young people transition to independent living by providing not just a roof over their heads but also the skills and resources they need to build stable, productive lives (Hanover Welfare Services & Brotherhood of St Laurence, 2014). Canada should explore establishing more youth-specific housing projects like foyers, particularly in urban centers where youth homelessness is most prevalent.
Lastly, in Norway, the government has made significant investments in mental health programs targeted at homeless youth, recognizing that untreated mental health issues are a major barrier to stability (Holte, 2024). By creating youth-specific mental health programs, including mobile mental health units that reach homeless youth directly on the streets, Norway has successfully reduced youth homelessness (Heaslip, et al., 2021). Canada should similarly prioritize mental health services for homeless youth, ensuring they have access to immediate and long-term care.
While Canada’s National Housing Strategy and existing social services have made strides in addressing homelessness, they fall short in adequately serving the unique needs of homeless youth. By adopting a youth-specific housing-first model, improving support for youth aging out of foster care, expanding affordable housing options, and strengthening mental health services, Canada can make significant progress in ending youth homelessness. Ultimately, solving youth homelessness requires a holistic approach—one that addresses not only the lack of housing but also the underlying issues of family conflict, mental health, and economic instability.
References
Boone, L., Cournède, B., & Plouin, M. (2021, December 13). Finland’s Zero Homeless Strategy: Lessons from a Success Story. Ecoscope. https://oecdecoscope.blog/2021/12/13/finlands-zero-homeless-strategy-lessons-from-a-success-story/#:~:text=Finland's%20success%20is%20not%20a,agency%20(ARA%2C%202021).
Deloitte Access Economics. (2018). Extending care to 21 years in New South Wales. https://thehomestretch.org.au/site/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Home-stretch-campaign-NSW-Oct-2018-v3.pdf
Hanover Welfare Services & Brotherhood of St Laurence. (2014). Education first youth foyer: Practice framework. https://library.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/11432/1/BSL_mallett-etal_EFYF_PracticeFramework.pdf
Hardwick, J. (2024, October 15). Why the National Housing Strategy failed. Canadian Dimension. https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/why-the-national-housing-strategy-failed#:~:text=In%202017%2C%20the%20Trudeau%20government,was%20earmarked%20in%20Budget%202024.
Heaslip, V., Richer, S., Simkhada, B., Dogan, H., & Green, S. (2021). Use of technology to promote health and wellbeing of people who are homeless: A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(13), 6845. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136845
Holte, A. (2024). Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders in a rich welfare state: A Norwegian perspective. Mental Health & Prevention, 33, (200321). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200321.
Homeless Hub. (2024). Youth homelessness prevention. https://homelesshub.ca/collection/prevention/youth-homelessness-prevention/
Juhila, K., Raitakari, S., & Ranta, J. (2022). Housing first: Combatting long-term homelessness in Finland. In de la Porte, C., Eydal, G. B., Kauko, J., Nohrstedt, D., ‘t Hart, P., & Tranøy, B. S (Eds.), Successful Public Policy in the Nordic Countries: Cases, Lessons, Challenges (pp. 495–513). Oxford Academic.https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192856296.003.0024.