The most vulnerable population among the homeless? It's the kids.

While many people are vaguely aware of how unpleasant homelessness is, especially for adolescents and other youth, oftentimes they underestimate just how permanently damaging the experience can be. Children are in a uniquely vulnerable position, as they need to rely on adults to support them. However, children who are homeless do not have access to this kind of support and are, oftentimes, separated from their families. From serious physical health problems and diseases to mental health conditions like stress and anxiety, the negative effects homelessness can have on their development are numerous.

Children who are homeless or in poverty are more likely than their peers to have developmental delays, learning disabilities, and reduced academic achievement as a result of them not having any safe spaces where they can truly focus on their academics. Additionally, since they constantly have to move schools, this makes them much more likely to need to repeat a grade due to being held back or missing too much school as a whole, which increases the chances of the student dropping out or getting expelled.

You might wonder why this should concern you, but keep in mind that youth homelessness can affect more than just the actual homeless. Many youth that are homeless begin using and abusing drugs, and, as a result, go to rehab, which is government (tax-payer) funded. So if you think it doesn’t affect you, think again. In the end, youth homelessness is a moral, ethical, and economic problem that should concern anyone who lives or works in Canada.

Effects of homelessness on children:

• Children who experience ongoing abuse, violence and homelessness often develop social, emotional, health and behavioural problems

• Are more likely to experience separation from their families

• They have an increased likelihood of serious health problems

• Experience more school mobility, repeat a grade, be expelled or drop out of school, and have lower academic performance

• Homeless children are more likely to experience stress and anxiety

• Children who are homeless or in poverty are more likely than their peers to have developmental delays, learning disabilities and reduced academic achievement.

Child homelessness is not just a personal problem for those who are experiencing homelessness, it also should concern everyone around them. For example, youth who grew up homeless are more likely to start doing drugs, which leads to more money being spent by the government to bring the youth into rehab. So for the betterment of everyone involved, this is not just a them issue, it's a YOU issue too.

Works Cited:

1. AIHW. “Australia’s Children, Homelessness.” Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 3 Apr. 2020, www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/housing/homelessness.

2. “Children and Families.” National Alliance to End Homelessness, Mar. 2021, endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/who-experiences-homelessness/children-and-families/#:~:text=When%20compared%20to%20low%2Dincome.

3. “Homelessness and Children.” Child Family Community Australia, aifs.gov.au/cfca/bibliography/homelessness-and-children.

Researcher: Sumaya Osman (Researcher from Power to the Youth Toronto)

Editor: Katharine Hain (Editor from Power to the Youth Toronto)

Date published: March 6th 2022