Interfaces of precarity and the networks of precarious lifeworlds: Experiences of housing, social supports, and work in youth homelessness

Homeless Youth in Toronto Are Nutritionally Vulnerable

This article explores structural determinants as possible causes of the homelessness of Aboriginal youth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It includes a brief literature review and provides some of the findings of a recent research project, which implemented an Aboriginal research methodology with homeless youth in Toronto. These findings point to a strong link between Aboriginal children growing up in poverty and involvement in child welfare and becoming homeless as a youth. Suggestions for positive change at the policy-level are offered in order to prevent the next generation of Aboriginal children growing up to become homeless youth.

This article explores structural determinants as possible causes of the homelessness of Aboriginal youth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It includes a brief literature review and provides some of the findings of a recent research project, which implemented an Aboriginal research methodology with homeless youth in Toronto. These findings point to a strong link between Aboriginal children growing up in poverty and involvement in child welfare and becoming homeless as youth. Suggestions for positive change at the policy level are offered in order to prevent the next generation of Aboriginal children growing up to become homeless youth.

Objectives Farmworkers in Michigan face precarious and exploitative labor conditions that affect their access to affordable, fair, and quality housing, which are key social determinants of health. We sought to assess the health, working conditions, and housing access, affordability, and quality of farmworkers living in and outside of employer-provided housing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a mixed methods cross-sectional study in collaboration with community partners from the Michigan Farmworker Project and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. We assessed housing, labor conditions, and general health through in-depth phone interviews with seasonal, migrant, and H-2A farmworkers (n = 63) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) in Michigan. Descriptive analyses of these data included comparisons by type of farmworker and type of housing (employer-provided or other). Results The majority of farmworkers interviewed were women and seasonal farmworkers and spoke primarily Spanish. A significant share of farmworker participants reported living in poverty (38.3%) and had low or very low food security (27.0%). Nearly half of farmworkers (47.6%) rated their health as “fair” or “poor” during the year prior to the interview, and more than a third reported 3 or more chronic conditions (39.6%) and lack of health insurance coverage (38.7%). Among the 43 workers tested, 25.6% reported testing positive for COVID-19. Farmworkers reported experiences of objectification and dehumanization. Three-quarters of workers reported feeling that they were treated as less than human by supervisors and one-third reported verbal abuse. Farmworkers also experienced challenges exacerbated by their social vulnerability that impeded them from finding affordable, quality housing. Regarding housing quality, the majority of workers (80.6%) reported one or more environmental hazards around their residence, and about a third reported not having air conditioning (33.%) and lacking a functioning washing machine (33.9%). Concerns about the quality of drinking water accessible to workers and exposure to chemicals were shared by participants. Conclusion This study adds valuable knowledge to the understanding of the systemic barriers to housing and work conditions for female and male seasonal, migrant, and H-2A farmworkers in Michigan. Shortcomings in the regulatory and policy environment result in precarious housing and work conditions, including exploitative labor practices. These conditions negate equality, fairness, and health equity, important tenants for public health.

The pandemic and the ever-climbing housing price have exacerbated Toronto's homeless problem. Notably, youth (age 16-24) make up a fast-growing population (11%) of homeless people in Toronto. A hidden population conceals beneath the notoriety of Toronto's youth homelessness is women under age 25, as they represent almost one-half of homeless youth in Canada. Their need for food and shelter often puts them at risk of involvement in sex trades as means of support for basic needs. Furthermore, they carry their own set of challenges for homeless people, but they are also the hardest to reach for support as many fear that institutional intervention will snap their children away from them. Therefore, to make up for the lack of the City's Housing First strategy and the lengthy social housing waitlist, there is a need for supportive, affordable, secure and safe housing that integrates services to bring homeless pregnant women, mothers and children closer to support and strengthen their independence of living in the future. This study introduces a new housing model named Supportive-Coliving to bond and empower homeless single young mothers. It is a type of supportive transitional housing that integrates Co-living characteristics. The study provides a preliminary theoretical grounding for this novel housing concept by investigating its programming, interior design, financial structure, and the mechanism to transition out residents while successfully adhering to the establishing principles. Moreover, the study will identify partnership and funding opportunities and the barriers that hinder Supportive-Coliving development.

The pandemic and the ever-climbing housing price have exacerbated Toronto's homeless problem. Notably, youth (age 16-24) make up a fast-growing population (11%) of homeless people in Toronto. A hidden population conceals beneath the notoriety of Toronto's youth homelessness is women under age 25, as they represent almost one-half of homeless youth in Canada. Their need for food and shelter often puts them at risk of involvement in sex trades as means of support for basic needs. Furthermore, they carry their own set of challenges for homeless people, but they are also the hardest to reach for support as many fear that institutional intervention will snap their children away from them. Therefore, to make up for the lack of the City's Housing First strategy and the lengthy social housing waitlist, there is a need for supportive, affordable, secure and safe housing that integrates services to bring homeless pregnant women, mothers and children closer to support and strengthen their independence of living in the future. This study introduces a new housing model named Supportive-Coliving to bond and empower homeless single young mothers. It is a type of supportive transitional housing that integrates Co-living characteristics. The study provides a preliminary theoretical grounding for this novel housing concept by investigating its programming, interior design, financial structure, and the mechanism to transition out residents while successfully adhering to the establishing principles. Moreover, the study will identify partnership and funding opportunities and the barriers that hinder Supportive-Coliving development.

International studies show consistently that street-involved or homeless youth have elevated levels of involvement in violence, both as victim and perpetrator. This study recruited equal numbers of male (n=75) and female (n=75) youth, aged 16-20 years, who were accessing service for street-involved youth in Toronto, Canada. This paper examines the correlates of their experiences of violent victimization and perpetration, applying both bivariate and multivariate analyses. We find that because so many of the risk factors for youth violence in general are already concentrateci in street youth, it is difficult to identify additional attributes that clearly differentiate the youth who are most likely to be implicated in violence. Some links however were found. Specifically, being male, having a mental health diagnosis, selling drugs and carrying a knife or a gun were associated with victimization, and carrying a knife and selling drugs 50+ times in the past year were significant factors in the more frequent perpetration of violence against others.

In this case study I present preliminary findings on the development of Eva's Phoenix—a pilot project designed to provide housing and employment‐training opportunities for homeless youth in Toronto, Canada. I focus on the construction‐training program for youth and explore some of the tensions that can arise in a project of this nature. These include consulting youth about the project's directions and facilitating their participation, representational authority in relation to how the project is promoted, and the need to reconcile different values and expectations for delivering the program on the part of partnering organizations and the youth themselves. I challenge perceptions of welfare and welfare reform in relation to youth and offer some insights into what types of services and interventions can potentially help homeless youth, [homelessness, youth, housing, employment training]

Objective: To explain the low nutrient intakes of homeless youth in Toronto by looking at their usual food intake patterns and the food they obtained from charitable programs and their own purchases. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 261 homeless youth (149 male, 112 female), recruited from outdoor locations and drop-in centres in downtown Toronto. Drawing on data from two 24-hour dietary intake recalls, youths’ usual food intakes were estimated and compared to Canada’s Food Guide recommendations. The nutritional quality of youths’ food intakes from charitable meal programs and food purchases was compared. Results: The mean usual food intakes for homeless males and females were well below current recommendations for all four food groups and below the usual intakes of adults, 19-30 years, in the general population. On a given day, youths’ mean energy intakes were 1962 ± 1394 kcal for females and 2163 ± 1542 kcal for males, with more energy coming from “other foods” than any other food group. Regardless of whether they obtained food from charitable meal programs or purchased it for themselves, youths’ mean intakes from the four food groups were very low and most youth consumed no whole grains or dark green or orange vegetables (i.e., foods recommended in Canada’s Food Guide). Conclusion: The low nutritional quality of youths’ food intakes is consistent with the high prevalence of nutrient inadequacies previously documented in this sample. The existing food acquisition strategies of homeless youth appear to be insufficient for them to meet their nutritional needs.

To describe homeless youths' experiences of food insecurity and examine the relation between chronic food deprivation and food acquisition practices. A cross-sectional survey of homeless youths was conducted in 2003 to assess their nutritional vulnerability and describe their food acquisition practices. Toronto, Canada. Two hundred and sixty-one youths, aged 16-24 years, who had spent ten or more of the past thirty nights sleeping in a temporary shelter, public space or friend's place, because they had no place of their own. Most participant recruitment (70%) occurred outdoors, but 30% were recruited in drop-in centres. Over the past 30 d, 28% of males and 43% of females experienced chronic food deprivation (i.e. reduced food intake for > or =10 d), and 32% of females and 48% of males reported problems obtaining water to drink. Most youths routinely obtained meals at charitable programmes and panhandled for money for food, and many routinely stole food or ate day-old food obtained from restaurants. In contrast, eating food discarded by others and postponing debt payments were strategies of desperation, more common among youths experiencing chronic food deprivation. Additionally, for males, deliberately seeking the company of friends, relatives or acquaintances to obtain food, and for females, borrowing money or trading sex for food, were associated with chronic food deprivation. The pervasiveness and severity of food insecurity experienced by the youths and their desperate means of food acquisition highlight the need for more effective responses to the plight of homeless youths in Canadian cities.

Homeless refugee youth experience high rates of traumatic and adverse experiences, a significant burden of mental health needs, and compounded barriers in accessing support services. Despite this, there is a paucity of literature exploring the unique intersections and vulnerabilities faced by this subgroup. This study of Youth Without Shelter (YWS), an emergency residence and referral agency serving homeless youth in Toronto, Canada was a qualitative study of homeless refugee youth. Research goals were to describe the mental health needs and identify the factors contributing to the resiliency of refugee youth experiencing homelessness. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews with YWS youth (n = 6) and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with a realist lens. Results highlighted that the mental health of refugee youth experiencing homelessness was subject to system-level factors such as the immigration process (n = 6), housing insecurity (n = 5), finances (n = 5), education (n = 6), employment (n = 6) and sense of safety (n = 4), with acculturative stress, including culture shock (n = 3) and language (n = 4), also have negative effects. Goal directedness (n = 5), independence or responsibility (n = 4), and nurturing social connectedness with family (n = 5), peers (n = 6), and community (n = 4) contributed to participants' resilience. A model for planning future interventions was proposed and was informed by the lived experience of participants. This model focuses on initially on immediate and basic needs and reflected evidence gathered through this work to attend to long-term needs once individuals have integrated into society. Future efforts will be directed toward translating the lived experience of this population and developing practice guidelines to optimize care.

This article explores the structural determinants of Aboriginal youth homelessness in Toronto, Canada. It includes a literature review and provides some of the findings of a recent research project, which implemented an Aboriginal research methodology, with homeless youth in Toronto. These findings point to a strong link between Aboriginal children growing up with involvement in child welfare and becoming homeless as youth. Suggestions for positive change at the policy level are offered in order to prevent the next generation of Aboriginal children growing up to become homeless youth.

To identify and describe evidence from original studies on the contextual factors, dimensions, and outcomes of decent and precarious work among nursing and care workers. This is a mixed-methods systematic review. The Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SocINDEX databases were searched on January 11, 2024. Two reviewers independently applied eligibility criteria, selected studies, and conducted quality appraisals. We employed data-based convergent synthesis as the data synthesis method. The dimensions of decent and precarious work were analysed deductively using the Employment Quality Framework. Five studies on decent work and 13 studies on precarious work were included. Five contextual factors were common, though opposite, in both decent and precarious work studies: employment contract, position, financial situation, age, and work experience. Three outcomes were also common. Decent work increased, and precarious work decreased, physical and mental health and empowerment, whereas turnover was decreased by decent work and increased by precarious work. Challenges can be converted into positive outcomes for the future, moving towards meaningful work, fair jobs, sustainable employment policies, and attractive career prospects. To achieve this, more knowledge is needed about employment quality in nursing and care work. Young nurses and care workers should be provided opportunities to fully engage in their work and organisations. Training is also crucial for managers, as it decreases authoritarian and controlling management practices. This review is the first to synthesise research evidence on decent and precarious work in nursing and care work, confirming that they are opposite concepts of employment quality. The results benefit nurses and care workers, organisations, and decision-makers. The study was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. No Patient or Public Contribution.

This study examined the relationship between family communication, school engagement, negative peer behaviours, and depressive symptoms in a sample of youths experiencing homelessness. Interviews were conducted with 123 youths experiencing homelessness. Outcome measures included youth self-reports of negative peer behaviours, family communication levels, school engagement, and depressive symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, higher family communication (b = -0.38, t = -2.74, p = 0.007) and higher school engagement (b = -4.32, t = -2.61, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Negative peer behaviours were not associated with depressive symptoms in the sample. Family communication and school engagement may serve as protective factors against depressive symptoms in youths experiencing homelessness. Practitioners who work with youths experiencing homelessness may collaborate with the youths, schools, and families to improve school engagement and family communication when possible.

Toronto Youth Street Stories is an innovative, web-based storytelling project that was conducted with homeless youths in Toronto. As a collaborative knowledge dissemination initiative, the project engaged youthful participants, authors,...