Brief report: youth pathways out of homelessness - preliminary findings.
While there exists an extensive body of knowledge regarding the risks associated with youth homelessness, very little work has addressed the process of exiting street contexts. This paper reports baseline findings from an ongoing longitudinal study assessing factors associated with a successful transition out of homelessness. Fifty-one formerly homeless youth who obtained stable housing in the past 2 months to 2 years participated in this study which took place in two Canadian urban centres. Findings include poorer functioning across all domains for youth residing in housing contexts without supports, a lack of relationship between psychological and behavioural aspects of community integration, and the central role of self-concept in mental health and quality of life. These findings suggest the need for ongoing support for youth exiting street spaces and social contexts, with attention to the importance of self-concept and psychological aspects of community integration.
Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen St. W., Unit 2-1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6J 1H1. Electronic address: sean_kidd@camh.net.
Sean A
SA
Kidd
Jeff
J
Karabanow
Jean
J
Hughes
Tyler
T
Frederick
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
Community integration; Homeless adolescents; Homeless youth; Homelessness; Housing; Mental health; Quality of life; Self-concept; Street youth