Affordable Housing Challenge Project is an initiative of the University of Toronto School of Cities. The AHCP collective brings together scholars from across the University of Toronto, who are researching issues related to housing affordability from different disciplinary perspectives, with the objective of working together to research, discuss and debate the causes, processes, policies and consequences of declining housing affordability.
Distinct solutions for a distinct population: A community-based approach to affordable housing for young people experiencing homelessness in Toronto
Publication Date
2021
Authors
- Katie MacEntee, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
- Paula Braitstein, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
- Alex Abramovich, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (CAMH), Toronto, ON
Abstract
Youth are on the street in large part because they can’t afford housing in or around Toronto.
It is estimated that there are between 850-2000 youth experiencing homelessness on any given night in Toronto (City of Toronto, 2018; Gaetz & O’Grady, 2002). When COVID-19 hit the city early in 2020, the already over extended emergency shelter system was further stressed (Perri, Dosani, & Hwang, 2020). There is a lack of focused services to support youth under 25 who are experiencing homelessness to find secure, long term housing (Gaetz & Dej, 2017). We outline the need for the City of Toronto to adopt a Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) approach that is targeted at key populations of youth experiencing homelessness and provides intersectional supports for transitioning out of homelessness into long term, safe, and affordable housing.
Paper
Overview of Youth Homelessness in Toronto
The City of Toronto’s recent Street Needs Assessment (2018)found that youth represent 10% of the total homeless population in the city. Half (52%) of these respondents were new to the streets, with a smaller percentage (10%) being homeless for 6 to 12 months. The longer youth stay on the streets the more likely they are to encounter violence, experience worsening mental health, develop addiction challenges, and become more entrenched in street life (Gaetz, O’Grady, Kidd, & Schwan, 2016).
There are multiple pathways into homelessness for youth; however, primary drivers are family conflict, poverty, and child abuse (Cull, Platzer, & Balloch, 2006; Embleton, Lee, Gunn, Ayuku, & Braitstein, 2016; Public Health Agency of Canada, 2006). Identity-based family conflict, resulting from a young person coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and Two-Spirited (LGBTQ2S), is another major contributing factor to youth homelessness (Abramovich & Shelton, 2017a). Additional factors include involvement with child protection services, housing instability, poverty, migration, abuse, and mental health issues (City of Toronto, 2018; Gaetz et al., 2016). Youth who lack family support or who are exiting public systems, such as child welfare and the juvenile justice system, may experience particular difficulties finding and maintaining stable housing.
Homelessness is associated with multiple negative health impacts. The majority (52%) of youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto report one or more type of health condition, one quarter (24%) report having been hospitalized in the last year and over a third (35%) report visiting an Emergency Department (City of Toronto, 2018). There are also reported high rates of self-harm and suicidality (Frederick, Kirst, & Erickson, 2012). Other major concerns include problematic alcohol and substance use, mental health challenges, risk of HIV infection through unprotected sexual contact or injection drug use, respiratory health concerns associated with living rough or in poor housing conditions, poor nutrition, and premature death (Gaetz et al., 2016; Kulik, Gaetz, Crowe, & Ford-Jones, 2011). These concerns are amplified by barriers to healthcare (e.g. distrust of service providers, and discrimination by service providers) that keep youth experiencing homelessness from accessing available healthcare services when needed (Barker, Kerr, Nguyen, Wood, & DeBeck, 2015).
Lack of housing further impacts young people’s future opportunities. For example, youth who experience homelessness are likely to experience chronic housing insecurity and unemployment (Gaetz et al., 2016). They are targeted by law enforcement and often end up ensnared in the criminal justice system (O’Grady, Gaetz, & Buccieri, 2013). Homelessness reduces the likelihood of youth completing their basic education (Dhillon, 2011). The vast majority of youth experiencing homelessness rely on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as their main source of income (WHO, 2014). These challenges and barriers can combine to leave youth trapped in a cycle of poverty that continues into adulthood (WHO, 2014).
Transitioning Out of Homelessness
When transitioning out of homelessness youth in Canada often follow non-linear trajectories (Gaetz & Dej, 2017). They typically move in and out of stable housing in connection with disrupted access to employment and/or education and attainment of other personal goals (Gaetz et al., 2016; Quirouette, Frederick, Hughes, Karabanow, & Kidd, 2016). However, with housing youth do better. For example, research has shown that when youth who struggle with addictions can access housing their overall health improves and they also experience an increase in treatment access and a decrease in the likelihood of death (Cheng, Wood, Feng, Mathias, & Montaner, 2013).
Housing Needs of Key Populations of Youth
Ending youth homelessness requires prioritizing disproportionately represented populations of youth experiencing homelessness because a one size fits all approach does not work. Stemming the flow of youth entering the cycle of housing insecurity is critical, as are family reconciliation supports that enable youth to return home when it is safe to do so (Gaetz et al., 2016). However, prevention is too late for those who are already street-involved and experiencing homelessness and for some youth family reconciliation is not appropriate. The most promising way forward is to develop a plan that responds to the distinct needs of key populations (Abramovich, 2016; Gaetz & Dej, 2017). We focus here on youth who identify as LGBTQ2S, racialized, migrant, Indigenous, and girls and young women. These populations are highlighted, also, in the City of Toronto’s (2019) housing policy and planning, although not necessarily with a focus on youth. It is important to note that youth may identify across these key populations (e.g. Indigenous, transgender, and gay) further compounding their experiences of marginalization and ultimately impacting their ability to access and maintain secure housing.
LGBTQ2S Youth
Compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth, LGBTQ2S youth tend to become homeless at a younger age and experience homelessness for longer episodes (Abramovich & Shelton, 2017a; Gaetz et al., 2016). A quarter (24%) of youth who participated in the Toronto Street Needs Assessment (2018) identified as LGBTQ2S. However, this is likely an under representation. Youth who identify as LGBTQ2S frequently avoid accessing support services and shelters, due to discrimination, violence, and heteronormative and cisnormative programming and policies (e.g. intake forms and housing programs that categorize youth based on the gender binary) (Abramovich, 2017). Housing support for this key population needs to be LGBTQ2S inclusive and affirming. Supports should be prepared to respond to the increased exposure to violence, exploitation and social exclusion experienced by this population (Côté & Blais, 2019). Trans youth may have unique transition-related healthcare and legal needs (e.g. access to hormones and support changing legal identification) (Abramovich & Shelton, 2017b). Access to safe housing for this population can be marred by homophobic and transphobic landlords. LGBTQ2S youth typically earn less money and experience higher rates of unemployment and sexual and gender discrimination compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts (Waite, Ecker, & Ross, 2019). This makes securing long term housing more difficult and increases the likelihood of poverty.
Indigenous Youth
The City of Toronto (2019) reports that Indigenous Peoples represent an estimated 16% of the overall homeless population, compared to composing only 1-2.5% of the population in Toronto. High rates of homelessness amongst First Nations, Metis and Inuit people can be traced back to Canada’s colonial history and ongoing systemic racism (National Inquiry into Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Girls, 2019). This key population is more likely to have lived in the care of the state (Kidd, Thistle, Beaulieu, O’Grady, & Gaetz, 2019). Thistle (2017) articulates that an Indigenous understanding of homelessness extends beyond the lack of a structural place to live, and includes an isolation from kin, culture and land. Indigenous young women experience intersecting oppressions associated with gender, poverty and race. Evidence illustrating increased risk of suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, physical and sexual violence (Bingham et al., 2019) suggests the importance of access to mental health services. Housing services for Indigenous youth need to consider the greater incidence of incarceration amongst this population (Barker, Alfred, et al., 2015) and understand the impact of this on housing access and employment opportunities. Youth who spent their childhood living in Indigenous communities, growing up on a reserve, and who are newer to the city (Gaetz et al., 2016) may benefit from support with system navigation. The housing response for Indigenous youth experiencing homelessness must be connected to individual Indigenous cultures (e.g. language programs, linkages with elders) and extended family in ways that support a (re)engagement with traditional knowledge systems and self-determination (Kidd et al., 2019; Oliver & LeBlanc, 2015).
Racialized Youth
Racialized youth are disproportionately represented amongst the homeless youth population in Toronto (City of Toronto, 2018). Pathways into homelessness for racialized youth are shaped by Canada’s system of racist oppression and White supremacy, with historic links to state sanctioned slavery, community displacement, and more recent school structure policy (such as the curricular emphasis on multiculturalism rather than a more substantive critical anti-racism) limits young Black bodies’ rights and opportunities (Maynard, 2017). When considering housing supports for this population, the Toronto Police Department’s racial profiling of Black and Brown youth must be acknowledged as driving an over representation of racialized youth in the criminal justice system and detrimental impacts on future housing and employment opportunities (O’Grady, Gaetz, & Buccieri, 2011). Various forms of discrimination and racism by service providers, teachers and other school officials also impact this key populations’ transition out of homelessness (Springer, Lum, & Roswell, 2013). Challenges for Black LGBTQ2S youth are heightened due to exclusion from Black and LGBTQ2S communities (Benn, 2017). Housing support that targets this key population should recognise the diversity of racialized youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto and provide services that are fundamentally culturally appropriate and anti-racist.
Girls and Young women
Girls and young women represented 31% of the respondents of the Toronto Street Needs Assessment (2018). Although, similar to LGBTQ2S youth, the gendered experience of hidden homeless likely contributes to the under reporting of girls and young women who are experiencing housing insecurity (Van Berkum & Oudshoorn, 2019). Girls and young women’s housing concerns are impacted by systemic inequities in employment and remuneration making market-rate housing more difficult to access for this population (City of Toronto, 2019). Recent research suggests that women may require longer support when exiting homelessness (Jadidzadeh & Falvo, 2019). The increased likelihood of this key population to be supporting family dependents brings with it intersecting concerns related to access to childcare, food, and housing for parents and children. If fleeing intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic abuse, health and legal services may be required. There are also ongoing safety and security concerns for survivors of domestic abuse who have managed to secure independent housing (Tutty, Ogden, Giurgiu, & Weaver-Dunlop, 2013).
Migrant Youth
Migrant status is an umbrella term that includes immigrants, permanent residents, temporary workers, and documented and undocumented refugees. The Toronto Street Needs Assessment (2018) identified migration as a key contributor to homelessness in the city. In a national study, newcomer youth were likely to report multiple experiences of homelessness (Gaetz et al., 2016). Youth who are new to Canada or new to the city encounter a number of obstacles that are indicative of tailored housing response needs. For example, Walsh, Hanley, Ives, and Hordyk (2016) identified support needs associated with: gaining status and employment, treatment for residual trauma from the migration experience, language and translation, navigating and building familiarity with Canadian service systems, guidance on how to address systemic discrimination based on their migrant status, and housing loss connected to job security (for temporary foreign workers).
Affordable Housing in Toronto
Affordable housing is commonly defined as housing that costs less than 30% of a household’s income before tax (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2018). However, when rental rates rose by 50% from 2011-2019, access to affordable housing in Toronto became – and remains – scarce (City of Toronto, 2020b). In 2018, a bachelor apartment was estimated to cost nearly three quarters (73%) of a young person’s average monthly income (City of Toronto, 2020b; Statistics Canada, 2020). Although housing is a universal human right, it is not a reality for many young people in Toronto.
Canada’s National Housing Strategy (2017) has committed to cutting homelessness in half and recognizes the following key populations as those ‘most in need’: women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans and young adults. The Housing TO 2020-2030 Action Plan (2019) lays the groundwork for the development of 18,000 new supportive homes and women and girls are expected to gain access to an additional 10,000 new affordable rental and supportive homes. The Housing Commissioner of Toronto is expected to consult key populations in a review of housing programs and policies to ensure they follow an anti-discrimination framework (City of Toronto, 2019). To date, however, the City’s response to the housing needs of key populations of youth experiencing homelessness has so far been insufficient or, in some cases, woefully absent. It is imperative that diverse representation of youth who are disproportionately impacted by homelessness and have experienced housing insecurity be ensured an equal and accessible role in consultations throughout these developments.
Housing Initiatives and Supports: Promising practices and recommendations
In the latter half of this paper we will review the arguments for adopting a Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) approach. We include examples of existing HF4Y programs and initiatives and practical recommendations on how the city and service providers can support the development of a robust long term housing response for key populations of youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
Housing First for distinct youth populations
The housing first model has been a core component of the Toronto housing plan for over 10 years (City of Toronto, 2019). The model advocates immediate access to permanent housing without the requirement to show housing readiness (e.g. sobriety, employment, education enrolment). This is underpinned by the belief that people are more likely to thrive when they are stably housed. A rights-based approach foregrounds a person’s right to choose the housing and supports they require and when they want them. In an effort to address rapid-rehousing needs, the model advocates for the use of dedicated staff to locate and match housing with youth needs, funding for housing deposits and move in costs, as well as case workers to support youth in their housing transition (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2020). Successes of the Housing First approach with adults have been significant (Baxter, Tweed, Katikireddi, & Thomson, 2019), but there are fewer studies looking at the impact of the model to address youth homelessness.
Housing First to Address Youth Homelessness
A key study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Housing First Model for youth experiencing homelessness in Canada was the the At Home/Chez Soi study (2009-2011). The intervention was implemented with a population of youth (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness and mental illness in five Canadian cities (Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver) (Kozloff et al., 2016). The results demonstrate that the provision of permanent supportive housing increased housing stability (Aubry et al., 2020; Thulien, Gastaldo, Hwang, & McCay, 2018). Participants who had completed high school and had access to employment and mental health care were more likely than other participants to maintain housing over the course of the study. Having stable housing was also associated with a reduction in injection drug use (Roy et al., 2016). These results echo previous work that notes that access to housing, rather than individual behaviour, is a key factor to young people’s transitions into and out of homelessness (Karamouzian et al., 2019).
The At Home/Chez Soi study successes are tempered with notable challenges. Access to housing without access to population-specific support was observed to actually increase or introduce new stressors and insecurities in young people’s lives (Kidd et al., 2016). Participants who received housing alone experienced ongoing challenges related to poverty, loss of community and a sense of being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of independent living (Thulien et al., 2018). Housing situated far from affordable food sources and not knowing how to prepare meals resulted in some youth experiencing hunger and malnutrition (Brothers, Lin, Schonberg, Drew, & Auerswald, 2020). The results of this study led to the Housing First model becoming the ‘gold standard’ in homelessness response when integrated alongside robust social supports for young people to help them transition meaningfully off the streets and integrate into society.
Existing Long Term Housing Case Studies: Promising developments and ideas
The following examples are of affordable housing initiatives in Canada. The 2020 modular housing initiative in Toronto illustrates how the unique moment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has instigated new pathways towards efficient housing development. The examples of tailored services in RainCity Housing in British Columbia and the Infinity Project in Calgary illustrate the possibilities and successes of services that respond to the distinct needs of key populations. In presenting these case studies, we echo Gaetz, Ward, and Kimura (2019) who argue for the ongoing need for longitudinal implementation studies that will continue to assess and inform the adaptation of a city-wide response to the youth housing crises. In particular, we note the need for further research that considers the form and duration of housing supports for key populations of youth transitioning out of homelessness and into long term housing.
Modular housing
Modular housing is a 2020 initiative that responds to the abject lack of affordable housing in the city. In partnership with Create TO, the City of Toronto is building 100 single-occupancy prefabricated units with an expected completion date of October 2020. Each unit will have kitchen and washroom facilities and the buildings will have communal kitchens, administrative areas as well as space for other programing (City of Toronto, 2020a). With the onslaught of COVID-19, the city was able to fast-track the site identification and approval process (City of Toronto, 2020c). The two new buildings under construction are the first of a larger initiative to integrate modular housing in the city (City of Toronto, 2019). The city’s efficient approval of the affordable housing development inspires hope for future developments. However, we also note that fast tracking the community consultation process was not ideal. A small but vocal group of neighbours have expressed fear and opposition to the development (Smee, 2020). Their fears are based primarily in the social stigmatization and misconceptions of homelessness. Furthermore, this pilot program has been designated for people over the age of 18, and future research is required to determine whether such an initiative would translate effectively for younger people and how such an initiative would be welcomed by communities.
RainCity Housing: Housing First Program for LGBTQ2S Youth
RainCity Housing is a non-profit housing initiative located in Vancouver, BC that offers LGBTQ2S youth a choice between communal housing and live-alone rental agreements (Munro, Reynolds, & Townsend, 2017). The majority of youth who entered into the first year of the program were Indigenous and trans. Alongside housing support, the program integrates services associated with health, employment and education, as well as life-skills development. Culturally relevant supports for Indigenous youth are available. LGBTQ2S peer and adult mentorship is also provided through this program. Staff identify as LGBTQ2S and have lived experience of homelessness. The program actively works to reject cisnormativity, transphobia and homophobia alongside integrating decolonizing strategies in order to tailor supports and services to individual residents (Munro et al., 2017). This includes efforts to connect youth to medical care that is knowledgeable and respectful of trans, queer, and gender-expansive identities. Emphasizing a relational design, youth experienced a reduced sense of isolation and increased connection between tenants and society at large (Munro et al., 2017).
The Infinity Project: The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary
The Infinity Project, which is integrated into the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary’s population-specific housing programs, follows a HF4Y approach. It is open to all youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness (Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary, 2020). After one year of the program, the vast majority (92%) of the youth remained stably housed. After two years, the proportion of participants who were stably housed fell to 66% (The Homeless Hub, 2012). After 6 months in the program, the majority of youth reported a stable income; however, it was also noted that this income was insufficient to cover the cost of living in Calgary (The Homeless Hub, 2012). One notable lesson from this program is the importance of recognizing young people’s capacity to choose and make decisions about their life, where and how they live. A major challenge with the program was the insufficient supply of affordable housing in the city. Youth required intensive case management and long-term support from the program’s housing workers, especially if they left home before the age of 18. Funding for project staff was critical to keeping case loads manageable and providing youth with the supports they needed, when they needed them.
Conclusions and Recommendations on the Development of a Youth Housing Strategy
There is a lack of competent, safe, affirming housing services that respond to the complex needs of youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Affordable housing is a critical foundation for young people in poverty, and/or living without family support. Prioritizing housing that follows the HF4Y model can greatly improve the ability of youth to effectively integrate into society and lead meaningful, and productive lives.
The City of Toronto needs to develop a housing action plan that commits to supporting a long term affordable housing program for youth experiencing homelessness. The following recommendations outline key considerations when moving forward with this initiative.
- Ensure that youth with lived experiences of homelessness and transitioning out of homelessness are provided with accessible and meaningful participation in all policy development and action planning related to housing responses that will impact youth.
- Ensure that the youth-centred housing plan is tailored to respond to the complex needs of key populations of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ2S youth, Indigenous youth, racialized youth, girls and young women, and migrant youth.
- Link housing supports for youth directly to existing networks of youth services geared to address youth homelessness, including youth drop-in centers, shelters and transitional housing programs, so as to support a smooth transition out of homelessness and decrease the likelihood of returning to homelessness.
- Follow a HF4Y approach geared towards the rapid re-housing of youth who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
- Ensure the youth housing strategy includes integrated supports to increase access to education, employment, physical and mental health, transportation, nutrition/access to food, cultural/community-based services, criminal justice services, and migrant services.
- Increase the availability of affordable housing in Toronto that is accessible to youth, meaning it is accessible and safe for youth to access independently and without the need for adult consent.
- Ensure adequate funding for employees, including funds for employees whose job is dedicated to identifying affordable housing opportunities and for transition support workers. Particular attention should be given to keep support workers’ case loads reasonable so that services can be provided on an ongoing basis and in response to youth’s transitional needs when exiting the streets and (re)integrating with mainstream society.
- Ensure all housing and emergency support service workers are trained to respond appropriately and productively to the unique and intersecting needs of key populations of youth who are experiencing homelessness.
- Housing staff and support should be diverse and reflective of the communities of youth they are serving.
- Ensure housing access, policies and standards conform to current best practices surrounding housing services that focus on meeting the needs of specific youth populations through inclusive, anti-oppressive, anti-racist and gender affirming documentation, guidelines, training and management.
- Integrate long term research and assessment of all housing initiatives to ensure programs are adequately responding to youth who are most in need.
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Affordable Housing Challenge Project 