title: Eviction and loss of income assistance among street-involved youth in Canada.
abstract: Loss of housing and income assistance among vulnerable youth has not been well described in the literature, yet it is a crucial issue for public health. This study examines the prevalence and correlates of loss of income assistance as well as eviction among street-involved youth. We collected data from a prospective cohort of street-involved youth aged 14-26. Among 770 participants, 64.3 per cent reported having housing and 77.1 per cent reported receiving income assistance at some point during the study period. Further, 28.6 and 20.0 per cent of youth reported having been evicted and losing income assistance, respectively. In multivariable generalized estimating equations analysis, heavy alcohol use, unprotected sex, being a victim of violence, and homelessness were all independently associated with eviction. Separately, homelessness, recent incarceration, and drug dealing were independently associated with loss of income assistance. Eviction and loss of income assistance are common experiences among street-involved youth with multiple vulnerabilities. Our findings highlight the importance of improving continued engagement with critical social services.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia's (UBC) MD program, Vancouver, Canada.|Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zivanovic
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Omura
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.|Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.|Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 613-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, Canada V6Z 1Y6.|School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada V6B 5K3.
authors.forename: Kora
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DeBeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D064423:Drug Trafficking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult