title: The Unique Needs of Homeless Youths With Mental Illness: Baseline Findings From a Housing First Trial.
abstract: Although youth homelessness presents a significant public health problem, the needs of homeless youths with mental illness, as distinct from adults, are not well understood. This study examined the unique demographic, clinical, and service use characteristics of homeless youths.
  
  
  
  At Home/Chez Soi was a large randomized controlled trial of the Housing First model in five cities in Canada. Of 2,255 participants, 7% (N=164) were youths ages 18 to 24. Youths were compared with older participants on baseline demographic, clinical, and service use characteristics.
  
  
  
  More youths than adults had not finished high school (76% versus 54%), had a drug use disorder (66% versus 52%), and had been assaulted in the past six months (44% versus 36%) (all p<.05). Fewer than half the youths (49%) had a regular medical doctor, 50% reported unmet need for health care, and 61% visited an emergency department in the past six months.
  
  
  
  This sample of homeless youths with mental illness had low education, high rates of substance use disorders and victimization, and problems accessing services. These findings suggest that youths have trajectories to homelessness and service needs that are distinct from adults and may guide future planning for this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kozloff
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stergiopoulos
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Adair
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Vachan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Misir
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Townley
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourque
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krausz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Kozloff is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( e-mail: n.kozloff@mail.utoronto.ca ). Dr. Stergiopoulos is with the Department of Psychiatry, and Mr. Misir is with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Adair is with the Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Cheung is with the Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto. Dr. Townley is with the Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bourque is with the Department of Education, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Ontario. Dr. Krausz is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Goering is with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goering
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011638:Public Housing; D055815:Young Adult