Youth homelessness in Winnipeg: Building on the Street Health Survey

The research will examine the experiences of homeless young adults and recommend effective solutions to reduce youth homelessness in Winnipeg. Three interrelated teams – a core project team, a research team and an advisory committee – will gather evidence to determine housing solutions suitable for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The research team includes the core project team members and additional community-based and academic researchers. Community partners will act as an advisory committee and help interpret the research findings.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Increasing housing options for homeless youth
Homelessness is a significant issue in Canada, especially for youth and young adults under the age of 30. In Winnipeg, the top reasons for youth homelessness are:

• challenges in accessing safe and affordable housing
• lack of timely and appropriate supports
• relationship challenges

Some youth age out of the child welfare system and suddenly find themselves without housing. Many are of Indigenous descent.

This research intends to examine the factors associated with young adults who are homeless in Winnipeg and recommend possible solutions by asking these questions:

1. How do the health and social experiences of young adults experiencing homelessness differ from those of older individuals?
2. Which factors are associated with young adults’ homelessness and what are the barriers to housing for young adults?
3. How can housing programs and services intended for young adults be made more accessible?
4. What are the housing needs of young adults and how can these needs be addressed by existing programs and services?

This project will use both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The quantitative data are from the “End Homelessness Winnipeg” survey conducted in 2018. To answer the first research question, researchers will use the quantitative data. They’ll test for statistically significant differences between the homelessness experiences of young adults and older individuals.

The qualitative portion will include an exploration of the perspectives of young adults and service providers on:

• the housing needs of young adults
• barriers to housing, service accessibility
• tailoring housing programs and services to the needs of young adults

New knowledge, new results
The project will contribute to practical safe and affordable housing solutions for Winnipeg young adults based on:

• New knowledge of the differences in health and social experiences between young adults and older people experiencing homelessness.
• New knowledge of the factors associated with homelessness among young adults and barriers to their housing.
• Increased involvement by youth who have experienced homelessness.
• Tailored approaches to housing and supports for young adults experiencing homelessness.