DECIPHERING LINKAGES CONTEXTUALIZING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND YOUTH JUSTICE

DECIPHERING LINKAGES: CONTEXTUALIZING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND YOUTH JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT Dr. Erin Dej Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology Wilfrid Laurier University

KEY MESSAGES 1. Homelessness is a socially created phenomenon and our response to homelessness needs to reflect this 2. There are structural and systemic drivers of youth homelessness that result in unnecessary and traumatic experiences for young people 3. Many of these same drivers also lead to youth involvement with the criminal justice system 4. Breaking down silos and forging connections between sectors is key to the prevention and ending of youth homelessness

THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN CANADA

DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS Homelessness describes the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, unhealthy, unsafe, stressful and distressing. 1. Unsheltered 2. Emergency sheltered 3. Provisionally accommodated 4. At risk of homelessness

12 DIMENSIONS OF INDIGENOUS HOMELESSNESS 1. Historic displacement homelessness 2. Contemporary geographic separation homelessness 3. Spiritual disconnection homelessness 4. Mental disruption and imbalance homelessness 5. Cultural disintegration and loss homelessness 6. Overcrowding homelessness 7. Relocation and mobility homelessness 8. Going homelessness 9. Nowhere to go homelessness 10. Escaping or evading harm homelessness 11. Emergency crisis homelessness 12. Climatic refugee homelessness Thistle, 2017

HOMELESSNES S IN CANADA 235, 000 Canadians homeless every year 30, 000 A night 5, 000 On the street 1. 5 million Canadians in core housing need

14, 000 People use a shelter each night SHELTER USE 20, 000 Annual decrease in shelter use 4. 5 days Increased length of stay Segaert,

HOW DID WE GET HERE? 25, 000 20, 000 15, 000 10, 000 5, 000 0 1982 1995 2006 2019+

WHERE ARE WE GOING? § Remove 530, 000 from core housing need § Cut chronic homelessness by 50% § 100, 000 new housing units § Repair 300, 000 units § Protect 385, 000 households § Canada Housing Benefit to support 300, 000 households

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN CANADA

DEFINITION OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS • The situation and experience of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of parents and/or caregivers, but do not have the means or ability to acquire a stable, safe or consistent residence. • Youth homelessness is a complex social issue because as a society we have failed to provide young people and their families with the necessary and adequate supports that will enable them to move forward with their lives in a safe and planned way. In addition to experiencing economic deprivation and a lack of secure housing, many young people who are homeless lack the personal experience of living independently and at the same time may be in the throes of significant developmental (social, physical, emotional and cognitive) changes. As a result, they may not have the resources, resilience, education, social supports or life skills necessary to foster a safe and nurturing transition to adulthood and independence. Few young people choose to be homeless, nor wish to be defined by their homelessness, and the experience is generally negative and stressful. • Youth homelessness is the denial of basic human rights and once identified as such, it must be remedied. All young people have the right to the

YO UTH HOMELESSNESS 35, 000 each 30% 40% Youth experience homelessness year Indigenous LGBTQ 2 S+ Experienced homelessness before age 16 Gaetz et al. ,

CAUSES OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS conflict discrimination personal trauma poverty

SOLUTIONS

1. No preconditions 2. Youth choice 3. Positive development 4. Individualized HOUSING FIRST FOR YOUTH 5. Social inclusion

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION • Redefining how systems work • Expanding the mandate, resources, tools • Harmonization across systems

DRILLING DOWN ON YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

YOUTH AND CHILD PROTECTION “As a kid, when you tell a social worker, say you’re fifteen years old and you tell your social worker, ‘I’m not getting fed, ’ and your social worker doesn’t believe you, because they think that the foster home that you’re in is providing you with necessities. You keep telling them that and they still don’t believe you, because you’re 15 years old – ‘you don’t know better, you’re a kid. ’ So, I think social services needs to listen to the kids that are actually in need of help… If my social worker actually listened to the concerns I had about being abused and being neglected, then I wouldn’t Schwan et al. , have had the things that I grew up 58% 47% 65% 42% 70% Involvement with child protection In foster care Indigenous youth in foster care Housed youth who live with parents Housed youth who receive financial support from parents

YOUTH AND POVERTY • Intergenerational poverty • Interdependency between housing – education - employment

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM “We may say that the prisons are ghettos with walls, while ghettos are prisons without walls” (Bauman, 2001: 121)

BI-DIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIP Homelessne ss Criminal justice system

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

FACT ORS LEADING TO YO UTH JUSTICE INVO LVEMENT 1. Poverty-driven income generation 2. Inequitable criminal justice system 3. Criminalization of homelessness “It’s hard living cheque to cheque. Whether I work or I’m on welfare, I’m still living cheque to cheque with no money until I get the next one. I sell drugs and steal when I have to but that doesn’t mean I’m proud to destroy someone’s life or someone’s business. ” Young man, 23 Gaetz et al. ,

POLICE CONTACT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS HOUSED YOUTH 78% Contact with police 46% Searched 18 % Searched 44% Arrested 11% Arrested 72% of those convicted spent time in custody

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH INVOLVED IN CRIME TYPES OF CRIME • Not completed high school • Ticketing (i. e. , jaywalking) • Spent overnight in public • Public consumption of alcohol • Used substances • Shoplifting food & clothes • Deeply entrenched in street life • Minor assault

SAFE STREETS ACT, ONTARIO 31, 000 tickets $1. 5 million in fines 0. 03% fines recovered 95% Conviction rate Mathieu, 2019

RACIALIZED EXPERIENCES • Racialized and Indigenous youth who are homeless feel targeted • Disproportionate ‘carding’ rates for racialized youth

• Use less force • Treat us equally • Respect our rights • Be accountable SOLUTIONS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

SYSTEMS BARRIERS • Effect of criminal record • Bail conditions • Lack of legal support • Develop into chronic homelessness

DISCHARGING INTO HOMELESSNES S • Little known about youth discharge from custody to homelessness • Key vulnerability point • Discharge planning policies/regulations as driver into homelessness

VICTIMIZATION YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS 68% 58% Victim of crime Victim of violent crime HOUSED YOUTH 19% 8% GREATEST RISK OF VICTIMIZATION • • Women Indigenous youth LGBTQ 2 S+ youth Youth ages 16 -17 Victim of crime Victim of violent crime

SOLUTIONS

• End child abuse • End violence against young people who are poor or homeless • End the criminalization of Indigenous peoples and young people of colour RECOMMENDATIONS BY YOUTH

HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

THANK YOU Email: edej@wlu. ca Twitter: Erin. Dej