How can Shelter Conditions be Improved to Ensure the Safety of Youth at Risk?
Anneka Vayaal
As the youth living in homeless shelters increases, the concern for their safety becomes prevalent. The number of children in Toronto shelters has tripled since 2016. While vulnerable to the circumstances making them homeless in the first place, they are faced by an additional threat: violence in the shelters created to keep them safe.1 According to a city-commissioned study from scientific associate Dr. Nick Kerman, who collected data from Toronto shelters from 2011 to 2021, violent incidents have increased over time. This is due to the housing crisis, difficulty in accessing mental health services, and an increasingly toxic drug supply. As a result, shelter staff feel more unsafe at their places of work, leaving them unable to provide proper care to those in need, especially children. While many parents were separated from their children due to their circumstances, many were concerned about their safety and well-being and had a fear of violence as well as a lack of privacy. An increased number of residents in winter exacerbates these concerns, where multiple strangers would be crowded into one shelter or service area- examples of such violence include verbal and physical attacks and threats of harm to oneself or others, including staff members. Psychiatrist Dr. David Gratzer expressed concerns about methamphetamine use related to psychosis, suggesting that this was an issue in city shelters as well as outside of them.2 In response, the city is devising a plan based on Dr. Kerman’s study to create safer conditions within shelters. Public organizations such as community centres and places of worship are already taking steps to help those most at risk. In addition to basics such as food and clothing, members of these organizations connect personally with those who can relate the best to the workers. Personal interaction and engagement with those who may need it the most encourage support of those most susceptible to mental health issues.3
Gibson, V. (2024). Toronto’s homeless shelters now house almost triple the number of kids they did eight years ago — with more than 1,400 in hotel rooms paid for by city hall. Toronto Star.https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontos-homeless-shelters-now-house-almost-triple-the-number-of-kids-they-did-eight-years/article_55f428d2-8b1b-11ef-9bf8-3b5399673383.html#:~:text=Toronto's%20homeless%20shelters%20now%20house,2024%20at%204%3A10%20p.m.
Kerman, N., Kidd, S. A., & Stergiopoulos, V. (2024). The shelter safety study: An examination of violence and service restrictions in Toronto’s shelter system. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.https://www.camh.ca/-/media/news-and-stories-files/shelter-safety-study-final-report-april-2024-sm-pdf.pdf
Jeffords, S., Draaisma, M., & Jabakhanji, S. (2024). City vows to improve safety in homeless shelters as report says violence on rise. CBC News.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/shelter-safety-study-city-of-toronto-1.7188712