Programs that provide shelter and a safe place to sleep as well as access to food, medical care and other types of assistance for children and/or youth who have run away from or been pushed out of their homes, or who are acting out and at risk for abuse pending return to their own families or a suitable alternative placement. The most common causes for youth becoming homeless, in addition to being kicked out of their homes or running away, are being abandoned or neglected, experiencing financial hardship, aging out of foster care, conflicts related to their sexual orientation, having a substance use disorder or experiencing the death of a family member or guardian. Such facilities usually provide in-house individual, group and family counselling and the full range of other secondary services related to runaways and other homeless youth including referral to appropriate resources. Homeless youth are different than homeless adults because they often have not learned the essential life skills needed to live on their own such as how to drive or ride a bus, get a job or pay bills. Homeless youth are also more likely than other youth their age to experience mental illness, suffer poor health, drop out of school, and become involved with or victims of criminal activity, including being exploited, abused or even killed.

[ View Programs and Services (7) | Related Topics ]

Community-based programs staffed by outreach workers who support vulnerable and at-risk youth, build relationships with them, and provide them with information about and referrals to other forms of support and opportunities that can lead to positive social, educational, economic and health outcomes. Services offered may include assistance with the youth's immediate concerns or crisis, help navigate the system and access the services they need, support sessions for their families and caregivers, opportunities to connect with other youth and access peer support, and/or a safe space in a drop-in centre. Youth outreach programs may implement various strategies to reach the youth population where they are, including social media outreach, partnerships with youth serving organizations, maintaining a presence at community events attended by youth, or through peer mentors or youth ambassadors.

[ View Programs and Services (2) | Related Topics ]

Programs that provide emotional support, information and guidance for children and adolescents who have run away from home and for the entire family, if appropriate, with the objective of identifying and resolving the problems that prompted the youth to leave home and/or assisting the youth to formulate and implement a workable plan for his or her immediate future.

[ View Programs and Services (4) | Related Topics ]