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Many educators in California are unaware of just how harmful out of school suspensions can be. When suspended students are barred from attending school, more often than not, the rule broken was some form of minor misconduct. This update of "Lost Instruction Time in California Schools" demonstrates that despite the important efforts by the state of California to reduce suspensions, those efforts are seriously insufficient.

Through an examination of its discursive presence in the UK Parliament (Westminster), this article explores political elites' problematisations of LGBT homelessness. In particular, I consider whether the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that have been critically identified in relation to the mainstreaming of 'gay rights' in other sites are evident in the emerging discourse on LGBT homelessness in Westminster. I find that the cross-party emphasis on data collection as a predicate for action on LGBT homelessness enables the Conservatives to signal sexual progress without risking the Party's traditional supporters. Moreover, the almost exclusive focus on LGBT homeless youth in the parliamentary discourse, which is echoed to a lesser degree in existing research, stabilises divisions of 'deserving/undeserving' poor and entrenches the relationship between housing security, normative forms of intimacy and anti-migrant nationalist sentiments. To escape the terms of its current emergence, I argue, a coalitional and grass-roots-led definition of the problem of LGBT homelessness is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the mediating role of resilience and living in care experiences between risk exposure (victimization by community and adverse childhood experiences) and psychosocial outcomes (housing instability, delinquency, and post-traumatic stress reactions) for youth receiving child welfare and community services. Method: Two hundred and fifty-one youths (14–19 years old) who are receiving interventions from the Department of Community Services in Nova Scotia, Canada, were recruited. Multiple measures were administered to the youth. Results and conclusion: Resilience and experiences of living in care significantly mediated the relationship between risk factors and outcomes, with youth demographic characteristics influencing the pattern of these relationships. Findings suggested that resilience and living in care experiences could reduce the effects of risk factors on psychosocial outcomes. These findings demonstrate a role for Child Welfare agencies in promoting youth access to the resilience-enabling resources necessary to sustain well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 35 000 youth experience homelessness on any given night in the United States (US). Unhoused youth experience unique physical and mental health challenges and face barriers in every social determinant of health (SDoH), which may be amplified in the LGBTQ+ population. Objective: The objective of this study was to define characteristics of the unhoused youth population and their utilization of healthcare to inform programs to meet their needs. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the College of Charleston's YOUth Count survey was conducted, focusing on health-related characteristics, challenges, healthcare utilization, and SDoH of youth aged 18 to 25 experiencing homelessness in Charleston, SC. Results: Almost three-quarters of respondents (74.6%) reported mental health challenges and 35% reported physical health challenges. A significantly higher proportion of those who engaged in survival sex were LGBTQ+ . More than half (68.4%) visited the emergency department (ED) and 29.3% were admitted to the hospital in the past 12 months. Housing status, safety, food insecurity, sexual orientation, prior foster care, and survival sex were all significantly associated with ED utilization. Housing status and survival sex were significantly associated with hospital admission. Conclusions: Addressing SDoH is essential to improving health outcomes and healthcare utilization among unhoused youth, particularly in the LGBTQ+ population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People experiencing homelessness are at greater risk of exposure and poor health outcomes from COVID-19. However, little data exist on the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 among homeless populations. Tomitigate the spread and severity, uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is needed. This can be challenging among youth experiencing homelessness who are more likely to be unvaccinated when compared to stably housed youth. Objective: We conducted this study to determine the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 among youth experiencing homelessness. Methods: We examined experiences of COVID-19 symptoms, self-report of infection, and rates of COVID-19 antibodies and distinguished between natural and vaccinated immunity among youth experiencing homelessness (N = 265) recruited in one large metropolitan area in the south. Results: Based on self-report, very few participants experienced any symptoms, and 80%had never been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those with COVID-19 antibodies (68%), the proportion with antibodies resulting from natural infection was 44%. The vaccination rate was 42%. Younger and vaccinated participants and those in shelters were likelier to have COVID-19 antibodies. Black and Hispanic youth were more likely than White youth to have had COVID-19. Those who adopted only one or two prevention behaviors were more likely to acquire a natural infection than those who adopted three or more prevention behaviors. Discussion: Youth experiencing homelessness report low vaccination rates, disrupted access to healthcare and social supports, and underlying chronic conditions, which may explain why they face poorer outcomes when infected with COVID-19. Vaccination and risk mitigation strategies to combat the high prevalence of COVID-19 are especially needed for sheltered youth who are at high risk yet are often asymptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well-established, although complex, association between aggression and psychosis, particularly in the early stages of illness. Some persons display aggressive behaviors even prior to psychosis onset. However, factors associated with aggressive behaviors prior to and at first-episode psychosis (FEP) onset remain underdocumented. The objective is two-fold: 1) to describe the prevalence of verbal and physical aggression occurring during the premorbid phase and at FEP onset; 2) distinguish the factors associated with aggressive behaviors during these two periods. Data on aggressive behaviors and factors potentially associated therewith were collected through research interviews and chart reviews among 567 persons with FEP admitted to two early intervention services in Montreal, Canada. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with aggressive behaviors in both periods. In the premorbid phase, 46.1 % (n = 257/558) of patients presented aggression (verbal: 35.9 %; towards objects: 24.2 %; against others: 27.9 %). At FEP, 18.1 % (n = 101/558) presented aggressive behaviors (verbal: 12.9 %; towards objects: 6.1 %; against others: 8.8 %). In the premorbid phase, lower education, prior justice involvement, cluster B personality traits/disorder and poorer functioning were associated with aggressive behaviors, while, at FEP, only prior homelessness was associated with aggression. Aggressive behaviors are frequent in patients with FEP, prior onset and at FEP. Premorbid aggressive behaviors seem to be associated with premorbid difficulties. Early detection of youth with psychosis and those at high risk of psychosis, particularly homeless youth, is necessary to provide access to early specialized interventions and possibly prevent aggressive behaviors and their consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing movement in Canada towards youth homelessness prevention. One such response, called shelter diversion aims to move young people into safe and supportive housing as quickly as possible. The objective of this project is to assess how, and in what ways, shelter diversion operates and whether this intervention permanently or temporarily diverts youth from homelessness. Our project is grounded in principles of community-based participatory research including community/university partnerships and an advisory committee of lived-experience experts. Our team is utilizing mixed methods to capture the outcomes of diversion programs. Data collection began in September 2022 and ended in May 2024. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis is underway. Preliminary results show differences in how diversion is defined and implemented across organizations. There are also differences in staffing models and program budgets. The findings from this study will contribute to a recommendation for a national definition and adaptable program model for shelter diversion, easily accessible to support the expansion of diversion programs into youth-serving organizations across Canada. This study is the first in Canada to examine the effectiveness of shelter diversion as an early intervention strategy to prevent youth homelessness on a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention and early intervention have become part of the Australian policy discourse; however, the prevention and early intervention of youth homelessness remain significantly underdeveloped and underfunded in practice. Consequently, too many young people experience homelessness. This article presents the 'Community of Schools and Services' (COSS) Model as an innovative approach to the prevention of youth homelessness. The COSS Model is an Australian place-based collective impact approach that uses data gathered via population screening in secondary schools to identify and then support adolescents at risk of homelessness and also reorganizes the local support system available to vulnerable young people and their families. This paper is not the result of a research project. Rather, this paper presents the findings of the Embedded Development and Outcomes Measurement (EDOM) report, which is a feature of the COSS Model. This paper is limited to findings from the COSS Model implementation in Albury, NSW, known as the Albury Project, from 2019 to 2023. The Albury Project has demonstrated significant reductions in the risk of homelessness and entry into the local homelessness service system. Findings reveal that: (1) when COSS Model support is delivered to identified at-risk students, 40–50% of individuals are no longer at such high risk of homelessness 12-months later; (2) only 3–5% of students identified as at risk of homelessness and supported through the COSS Model sought assistance from local homelessness services in the following two years; and (3) the flow of adolescents (12–18 years) into the local homelessness services was reduced by 40% from 2019 to 2023. As an evidence-based, complex innovation, there are major policy, funding, and implementation challenges in scaling the model to multiple community sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adults experiencing homelessness face multiple challenges and are often confronted with additional barriers stemming from adverse past experiences. Whereas youth homelessness rates appear to increase across Europe, our knowledge on its nature in Belgium remains limited. Based on recent local point-in-time counts on homelessness in Belgium (2020–2022) and a focus group (2022) to interpret these results, we examine the profiles of more than 2000 homeless young adults and distinguish between three distinct groups (youth care leavers, Belgians with no care history, and newcomers). Alongside the need for universal prevention, tailored interventions are crucial for each subgroup to address their unique needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Homelessness is associated with a variety of stressors, including safety concerns, and uncertainty about the future as well as stigmatization, that can lead to or exacerbate pre-existing physical and mental health issues. This study explores the association between stress, hope, stigmatization, and social support among youth experiencing homelessness. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional survey data were collected on n = 100 youth between the ages of 18 - 29 (60% identified as men, 28% as women, and 10% as transgender/gender diverse) experiencing homelessness in New York City. Result: Transgender or gender-diverse youth reported lower levels of hope and social support compared to the rest of the sample. Additionally, participants identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) reported higher levels of professional support than heterosexual-identifying participants. Further analysis revealed a correlation between longer length of homelessness and less perceived social support. Finally, the association between discrimination, stress and hope was weaker for respondents with higher levels of social support quantity and quality, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that social support is an essential protective factor from both street-based stress and discrimination. It is vital to facilitate adequate support to youth experiencing homelessness, especially for the gender-diverse youth who report lower levels of hopefulness.

Youth homelessness represents a persistent and significant challenge for service sectors with limited best practice guidance. Housing supports, in particular, are widely deployed, with the practice-oriented literature providing little detail regarding service design beyond broad domains such as employment support and life skills coaching. The present multiple case study investigation was designed to develop a preliminary understanding of the guiding principles that attend the development of interventions that support youth exiting homelessness in the Canadian context. These case studies were conducted with a diverse group of five organizations recognized as sector leaders, with findings considered in light of practice standards from the better-established adult housing literature. Key findings with respect to service models included the strategies used to provide flexible, culturally responsive, tailored services with an emphasis on specialist support. Implementation factors included the navigation of strategic partnerships, the use of data in capacity-building, and the benefits and drawbacks of larger, centralized service environments versus smaller, dispersed environments. Youth-specific considerations in housing stabilization models are highlighted. This work contributes to a growing body of literature that seeks to articulate best practices in the effort to address and prevent youth homelessness.

Supportive housing (SH), largely consisting of Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), is the primarly intervention being applied to the one-in-ten young adults that experience homelessness in the United States each year. To date, efforts to understand the perception of these programs among young adult tenants have focused singularly on TLPs or PSH. The current qualitative study builds upon previous evidence through a comparative analysis of young adult perceptions of TLPs and PSH and examines the the physical, social, and service environments associated with each program. Results suggest six themes, including three themes focused on factors associated with location, common to both TLPs and PSH: desired proximity to friends, family, and amenities; wanted distance from negative influences; and increased ability to assimilate. Three additional themes focused on the environment internal to the housing program that differentiated the models: shared space with roommates, the service environment and relationships with SH staff, and the moving on process. Findings indicate that location is an important but complex element of the housing environment for all young SH tenants with both positive and negative factors. Within the housing environment, more TLP residents had roommates and spoke of utilizing the services associated with their housing, but discussed feeling less prepared for life after SH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examines Hirschi's redefinition of self-control and its link to violence. Utilizing a sample of 287 homeless street youth the paper explores the criminogenic impacts of three different operationalizations of self-control. It investigates the direct effects of bonding self-control, attitudinal self-control, and decisional self-control on violence and assesses the indirect relationships that bonding self-control and attitudinal self-control have with violence through their associations with decisional self-control. Results indicate all three measures of self-control contribute to the understanding of intentions to engage in violence. Further, evidence reveals that both bonding self-control and attitudinal self-control have indirect links to offending through their impact on decisional self-control. Findings are discussed and suggestions for future research offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis was performed to determine pooled prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide behaviors (including ideation, attempts), and associated risk factors among runaway and homeless youth (RHY). The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published from January 1995 to May 2023. Initially, 8465 papers were screened, resulting in 69 included studies. The results showed that among RHY, lifetime prevalence rates were 42% for NSSI, 38% for suicidal ideation, and 27% for suicide attempts. Lifetime prevalence of NSSI and suicide behaviors was higher among adolescent minors (aged 12–17 years) compared to young adults (aged 18–24 years). Also, NSSI and suicide behaviors were associated with having a childhood history of physical and sexual abuse. Developing an impactful community-based suicide prevention campaign tailored for RHY appears warranted. Peer groups and mentorship programs would provide invaluable support for young individuals, as supportive friendships protect against NSSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth homelessness represents a persistent and significant challenge for service sectors with limited best practice guidance. Housing supports, in particular, are widely deployed, with the practice-oriented literature providing little detail regarding service design beyond broad domains such as employment support and life skills coaching. The present multiple case study investigation was designed to develop a preliminary understanding of the guiding principles that attend the development of interventions that support youth exiting homelessness in the Canadian context. These case studies were conducted with a diverse group of five organizations recognized as sector leaders, with findings considered in light of practice standards from the better-established adult housing literature. Key findings with respect to service models included the strategies used to provide flexible, culturally responsive, tailored services with an emphasis on specialist support. Implementation factors included the navigation of strategic partnerships, the use of data in capacity-building, and the benefits and drawbacks of larger, centralized service environments versus smaller, dispersed environments. Youth-specific considerations in housing stabilization models are highlighted. This work contributes to a growing body of literature that seeks to articulate best practices in the effort to address and prevent youth homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth impacted by homelessness experience diminished cognition due to a variety of reasons including mental health symptoms, alcohol and substance use, and adverse childhood experiences. However, the status of specific brain regions which could impact important cognitive functions in homeless youth remains unclear. In this pilot comparative and correlational study, a series of demographic, psychological, cognitive assessments, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed in 10 male youth experiencing homelessness and 9 age-matched healthy male controls (age range: 18-25 years). Participants experiencing homelessness had significantly decreased regional brain gray matter tissue in comparison to the controls. Moreover, there were strong inverse correlations between the brain regions classically associated with executive decision-making (prefrontal cortices), depression (insular lobes), and conflict resolution (anterior cingulate), and the level of the symptoms detected by their questionnaires.

Homelessness is a pervasive and multifaceted global issue affecting societies across various economic landscapes. This study provides a critical and extensive examination of youth homelessness in Maiduguri and Lagos, Nigeria. By analysing socio-economic characteristics, pathways into homelessness, living conditions, health challenges and experiences of social discrimination, the study underscores the importance of tailored interventions considering regional variations and the diverse needs of homeless youth populations. The findings highlight both commonalities and disparities, reflecting the complex interplay of socio-economic factors and regional dynamics, and provide valuable insights for developing effective policies and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study aimed to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected a medium-sized community's frontline workers in the Canadian youth homelessness services sector. This study phenomenological case study elicited practitioner knowledge and experience in servicing homeless youth in a medium-sized community – Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Two in-depth focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample of participants (N = 9). Thematic analysis revealed five overarching themes: a) Community Connection, b) COVID-19 Challenges and Services, c) Provider Well-being, d) Successes, and e) Youth Services and Housing. The results illustrate the early impact of COVID-19 on service providers and provision for youth experiencing homelessness, and the adaptations needed to provide them with services during this time. Replication of this research into other regions and social services is recommended. Future research that provides a retrospective account would offer a valuable point of comparison of providing social services to homeless youth during and after COVID-19 public restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychiatric disorders and homelessness are related, but temporal associations are unclear. We aimed to explore the overlap between hospital-based psychiatric disorders and sheltered homelessness. Methods: This population-based cohort study was conducted using the Danish registers e.g., the Danish Homeless Register and the Danish National Patient Register. The study cohort included all individuals aged 15 years or older, living in Denmark at least one day during 2002–2021 (born 1984–2006). First psychiatric diagnosis was used to define psychiatric disorder and first homeless shelter contact to define homelessness. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and cumulative incidences were estimated. Results: Among 1 530 325 individuals accounting for 16 787 562 person-years at risk aged 15–38 years, 11 433 (0.8%) had at least one homeless shelter contact. Among 1 406 410 individuals accounting for 14 131 060 person-years at risk, 210 730 had at least one psychiatric disorder. People with any psychiatric disorder had increased risk of sheltered homelessness relative to individuals with no psychiatric disorder [IRR 9.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.8–9.6]. Ten years after first psychiatric disorder, 3.0% (95% CI 2.9–3.1) had at least one homeless shelter contact. Individuals experiencing homelessness had increased risk of any psychiatric disorder compared to individuals with no homeless shelter contact (IRR 7.0, 95% CI 6.7–7.4). Ten years after first homeless shelter contact, 47.1% (45.3–48.0) had received a hospital-based psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusion: Strong bidirectional associations between psychiatric disorders and homelessness were identified. Health and social care professionals should be aware of and address these high risks of accumulated psychiatric and social problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent estimates indicate that there are over a million runaway and homeless youth and young adults (RHY) in the United States (US). Exposure to trauma, violence, and substance abuse, coupled with a lack of community support services, puts homeless youth at high risk of being exploited and trafficked. Although access to safe housing and supportive services such as physical and mental healthcare is an effective response to the vulnerability of RHY towards being trafficked, the number of youth experiencing homelessness exceeds the capacity of available housing resources in most US communities. We undertake a RHY-informed, systematic, and data-driven approach to project the collective capacity required by service providers to adequately meet the needs of RHY in New York City, including those most at risk of being trafficked. Our approach involves an integer linear programming model that extends the multiple multidimensional knapsack problem and is informed by partnerships with key stakeholders. The mathematical model allows for time-dependent allocation and capacity expansion, while incorporating stochastic youth arrivals and length of stays, services provided in a periodic fashion, and service delivery time windows. Our RHY and service provider-centered approach is an important step toward meeting the actual, rather than presumed, survival needs of vulnerable youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite widespread recognition of the health and social risks posed by parental incarceration (PI) and homelessness, these challenges are rarely considered in unison. We sought to (a) assess the experiences of homelessness among youth with and without a history of PI and (b) compare the health and healthcare utilization among youth with a combined history of PI and homelessness. Method: Examining data from eighth-, ninth-, and 11th-grade public school participants in the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 110,904), we calculated univariate and multivariate analyses to characterize the health status and care utilization of youth who have experienced PI, past-year homelessness, or both. Results: We observed higher prevalence of homelessness among youth with a history of PI compared to those without. The group with dual PI-homelessness experience had a higher proportion of youth that were younger, male, and non-White; and living in poverty or urban areas compared to youth with PI history only. Even after accounting for demographic factors, the dual PI-homelessness group evidenced higher expected odds for several physical health conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes), and differences in care utilization indicators relative to individual PI and homelessness groups. Discussion: Findings suggest that PI may be overrepresented among recently homeless youth and that youth with such dual experience possess distinct, and often elevated, health service needs. Health, education, housing, and other systems may need intersectoral strategies to better identify and support this at-risk subset of youth through clinical and policy approaches. Public Significance Statement: This study found higher rates of recent homelessness among youth who have ever had a parent incarcerated. Both homelessness and parental incarceration tracked with worse health and use of health care services, with a potentially compounding effect. Understanding and acting upon multiple marginalization among youth is a critical task to achieve health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health concerns have been well studied among youth experiencing homelessness, yet few studies have explored factors that contribute to well-being in this population. The current cross-sectional study examined rates and correlates of well-being among youth experiencing homelessness. This is a descriptive, secondary analysis of the baseline data from a clinical intervention study. Ninety-nine youth (aged 16-25) who were experiencing homelessness were recruited in Chicago. Approximately 40% of the sample reported average or above average well-being relative to existing benchmarks. Having medical insurance, a mobile phone, and a history of more severe childhood trauma were unique cross-sectional predictors of worse well-being (all ps

Being homeless is broadly understood to be traumagenic. Thus, support services for individuals experiencing homelessness (such as youth refuge) are encouraged to use trauma-informed models of care. However, there is a dearth of research that (1) focuses on youth refuge specifically, despite refuges being the most common response for youth homelessness worldwide, and (2) explains trauma-informed care models in detail so that they may be evaluated in practice. This paper outlines a trauma-aware framework used for nearly a decade within a youth refuge located in Melbourne, Australia: a psychologically informed environment (PIE). The paper provides: (1) an overview of trauma-informed care before describing what a PIE entails; (2) the how of a PIE, including core principles, their theoretical underpinnings, and how these principles are practically applied; and (3) the why of a PIE, focusing on implications for practice. A PIE is underpinned by key theoretical approaches such as attachment theory, the core emotional needs model, psychodynamic theory and formulation, social cognitive theory, and the transtheoretical model of change. A PIE encompasses five core principles of (1) relationships, rules, responsiveness, and roles; (2) physical and social spaces; (3) learning and enquiry; (4) staff support and training; and (5) psychological awareness. Overall, PIEs have been found to increase consumer engagement and decrease evictions, instill confidence and improve empathy within the staff, and decrease the risk for organizations, as seen by low incident rates. It is hoped that by providing this detailed outline of a PIE, more research can be undertaken into youth refuge care models, and more psychologically informed frameworks that address the multi-directional relationship between trauma and homelessness can be employed.

Dietary intake of long-chain n -3 PUFA (n -3 PUFA), particularly EPA and DHA, has been associated with psychological well-being, but little is known about the n -3 PUFA intake of homeless youth. The current study determined the association between depression and anxiety symptoms and n -3 PUFA intake and erythrocytes status in homeless youth. Totally, 114 homeless youth aged 18–24 years were recruited from a drop-in centre. n -3 PUFA dietary intake was assessed using an FFQ, and erythrocytes status was determined by gas chromatography (GC). Linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between psychological well-being and n -3 PUFA intake and status. The mean intakes of EPA and DHA for all participants (0·06 ± 0·13 g/d and 0·11 ± 0·24 g/d) were well below recommended levels, and mean erythrocytes EPA + DHA (n -3 index) in the cohort (2·42 %) was lower than reported for healthy, housed adolescents and those with clinical depression. There was no association of n -3 PUFA intake and erythrocytes status with either depression or anxiety. However, the relationships of depression with dietary EPA (P = 0·017) and DHA (P = 0·008), as well as erythrocytes DHA (P = 0·007) and n 3-index (P = 0·009), were significantly moderated by sex even after adjusting for confounders. Specifically, among females, as the intake and status of these n -3 PUFA decreased, depression increased. Our findings show poor dietary intake and low erythrocytes status of n -3 PUFA among homeless youth, which is associated with depressive symptoms among females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth homelessness is a growing crisis in the United States that is associated with a range of adverse outcomes. A variety of social service programs exist to address youth homelessness and its consequences, such as street outreach and diversion services, emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and rapid rehousing services, among others. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reached the United States in early 2020, altering nearly every facet of daily life, including the way social service organizations structure and deliver their programming. To understand the implications of the pandemic on housing and homelessness services for youth, the current study examines data from interviews conducted with staff from a large non-profit in Austin, Texas, serving vulnerable transition-age youth. Through these interviews, programmatic changes that occurred as a result of COVID-19—as well as challenges and facilitators to service delivery—were identified. This article provides an overview of these key learnings, as well as recommendations derived from these key learnings, for other organizations adapting their housing and homelessness services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being homeless is broadly understood to be traumagenic. Thus, support services for individuals experiencing homelessness (such as youth refuge) are encouraged to use trauma-informed models of care. However, there is a dearth of research that (1) focuses on youth refuge specifically, despite refuges being the most common response for youth homelessness worldwide, and (2) explains trauma-informed care models in detail so that they may be evaluated in practice. This paper outlines a trauma-aware framework used for nearly a decade within a youth refuge located in Melbourne, Australia: a psychologically informed environment (PIE). The paper provides: (1) an overview of trauma-informed care before describing what a PIE entails; (2) the how of a PIE, including core principles, their theoretical underpinnings, and how these principles are practically applied; and (3) the why of a PIE, focusing on implications for practice. A PIE is underpinned by key theoretical approaches such as attachment theory, the core emotional needs model, psychodynamic theory and formulation, social cognitive theory, and the transtheoretical model of change. A PIE encompasses five core principles of (1) relationships, rules, responsiveness, and roles; (2) physical and social spaces; (3) learning and enquiry; (4) staff support and training; and (5) psychological awareness. Overall, PIEs have been found to increase consumer engagement and decrease evictions, instill confidence and improve empathy within the staff, and decrease the risk for organizations, as seen by low incident rates. It is hoped that by providing this detailed outline of a PIE, more research can be undertaken into youth refuge care models, and more psychologically informed frameworks that address the multi-directional relationship between trauma and homelessness can be employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research affirms that municipal laws regulate and criminalize activities associated with homelessness. Research has yet to explore how these laws intersect with other socio-legal processes to create socially organized relations of surveillance and punishment for those who are its targets. This participatory institutional ethnography began with interviews with precariously housed and homeless youth to learn about their socio-legal histories across a range of public sector institutions. Analysis of interviews revealed common points of friction in young people's lives, which anchored subsequent policy and legislative analysis. In this article, we show how young people's early experiences with the police recursively organize how their subsequent criminal-legal work unfolds—particularly, as they spend more time in public spaces that are governed by neo-vagrancy by-laws and provincial safe streets legislation. Analytically, the concept of pervasive penality (Herring et al., Social Problems 67: 131–149 2020) oriented us toward the socio-legal relations that link the activities of young people on the streets with police officers, child protection workers, public transit guards, and other professionals who administer policy and law. Homeless youth are often drawn into relations of surveillance because they are viewed to be in need of protection; over time, however, these same relations position youth as the targets of penalizing policies and laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given the high prevalence of Black youth experiencing homelessness, this study sought to understand if race impacts service use and whether other marginalized identities (e.g., gender, sexual orientation) are associated with unique service patterns among youth experiencing homelessness. Method: We used data collected from 1,046 homeless youth (ages 13–24) in Los Angeles County, CA, between October 2011 and June 2013. We used classification tree analyses to rank predictors of service use in order of importance and to test linear and nonlinear relationships among selected variables. Results: Across service type (i.e., shelter, therapy, employment, or health services), the classification tree analyses highlighted race as a primary predictor of service use. Conclusions: Critical race theory may be a useful framework for future explorations of service use among Black youth experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, as race consistently emerges as a feature of importance, providers should consider how race impacts service use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The barefoot entrepreneurship literature rarely acknowledges the role of space in the development of informal economic activities. However, the concept of liminal space, defined as a place of transition and largely discussed in geography, can provide a new conceptual lens through which the trajectories of barefoot entrepreneurs can be viewed. This interdisciplinary research leverages this perspective to raise the following question: How do barefoot entrepreneurs experience liminal spaces to engage in informal economic activities? To answer this question, this article explores how 10 homeless youths in New York City panhandle, steal, deal and prostitute themselves to survive. Drawing on a four-year ethnography and the use of geographic methods, we explain how these barefoot entrepreneurs experience liminal spaces. More precisely, we underline how these spaces are ambivalent places of becoming: on the one hand, they support the development of barefoot entrepreneurship; but on the other hand, they lead to 'entrepreneurial traps' in the sense that these activities tend to increase the entrepreneurs' marginality. Based on these results, we contribute to the literature on barefoot entrepreneurship, and to a better understanding of the implication of liminal spaces in entrepreneurial dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesThe experience of homelessness for young people can affect social, emotional, and physical development, resulting in poorer physical and mental health outcomes. To reduce rates of youth homelessness, a better understanding of both risk and resilience is needed to inform future intervention development. This article presents a systematic review of published research reporting risk or resilience factors related to homelessness among young people in Western countries.MethodsAfter thorough examination for inclusion criteria, 665 abstracts of peer-reviewed quantitative studies of risk or resilience factors for homelessness among young people (ages 0-25) that included an adequate comparison group (e.g., not homeless) were selected. After abstract and full-text screening, 16 articles were reviewed. A primary prevention framework was used to create an explanatory model for the onset of homelessness using risk and resilience factors.ResultsCommon risk factors for youth homelessness included difficulties with family, mental health or substance use problems, a history of problem behaviors, a history of foster care, homelessness as a child, and running away. Common protective factors included a supportive family, a college education, and high socioeconomic status. Findings were integrated into a provisional developmental model of youth homelessness risk. Clinical implications of the model for service development are discussed, and a model for monitoring homelessness risk and resilience factors is proposed.ConclusionsFactors affecting homelessness risk among youths and adults differ, with family, foster care, and schooling playing a much more important role among youths. Findings highlight opportunities for youth homelessness prevention strategies and monitoring.

Abstract Background Street-connected individuals (SCI) in Kenya experience barriers to accessing HIV care. This pilot study provides proof-of-concept for Enabling Adherence to Treatment (EAT), a combination intervention providing modified directly observed therapy (mDOT), daily meals, and peer navigation services to SCI living with HIV or requiring therapy for other conditions (e.g. tuberculosis). The goal of the EAT intervention was to improve engagement in HIV care and viral suppression among SCI living with HIV in an urban setting in Kenya. Methods This pilot study used a single group, pre/post-test design, and enrolled a convenience sample of self-identified SCI of any age. Participants were able to access free hot meals, peer navigation services, and mDOT 6 days per week. We carried out descriptive statistics to characterize participants’ engagement in EAT and HIV treatment outcomes. We used McNemar’s chi-square test to calculate unadjusted differences in HIV outcomes pre- and post-intervention among participants enrolled in HIV care prior to EAT. We compared unadjusted time to initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and first episode of viral load (VL) suppression among participants enrolled in HIV care prior to EAT vs. concurrently with EAT using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Statistical significance was defined as p

The objective of this study was to identify the correlates of being at risk of clinical depression and examine the role of syndemic factors among marginally housed and homeless transitional age youth (TAY). From 2017-2018, 100 TAY between the ages of 18 and 24 in San Francisco were recruited from Larkin Street Youth Services into a cross-sectional study. Participants completed surveys on mental health, substance use, and HIV risk behaviors. A syndemic score ranging from 0-3 was calculated by summing dichotomous measures of moderate or severe anxiety in the past two weeks, PTSD symptoms in the past month and polysubstance use in the past three months. We used modified Poisson regression with robust error variances to identify the correlates of being at risk of clinical depression in the past week, all primary effects measures were modeled separately. Among 100 participants, the average age was 21 (SD = 1.7), 67% were male, 38% were Multiracial, 54% identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or pansexual, 13% were unstably housed, 50% were homeless and 23% were living with HIV. The majority (74%) were at risk of clinical depression, 51% had symptoms of moderate or severe anxiety, 80% exhibited symptoms of PTSD and 33% reported polysubstance use. After controlling for age in years, gender, race/ethnicity and sexual orientation, factors independently associated with being at risk of clinical depression were; symptoms of moderate or severe anxiety (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23-2.12, P

Background: Street-connected individuals (SCI) in Kenya experience barriers to accessing HIV care. This pilot study provides proof-of-concept for Enabling Adherence to Treatment (EAT), a combination intervention providing modified directly observed therapy (mDOT), daily meals, and peer navigation services to SCI living with HIV or requiring therapy for other conditions (e.g. tuberculosis). The goal of the EAT intervention was to improve engagement in HIV care and viral suppression among SCI living with HIV in an urban setting in Kenya. Methods: This pilot study used a single group, pre/post-test design, and enrolled a convenience sample of self-identified SCI of any age. Participants were able to access free hot meals, peer navigation services, and mDOT 6 days per week. We carried out descriptive statistics to characterize participants' engagement in EAT and HIV treatment outcomes. We used McNemar's chi-square test to calculate unadjusted differences in HIV outcomes pre- and post-intervention among participants enrolled in HIV care prior to EAT. We compared unadjusted time to initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and first episode of viral load (VL) suppression among participants enrolled in HIV care prior to EAT vs. concurrently with EAT using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. We calculated total, fixed, and variable costs of the intervention. Results: Between July 2018 and February 2020, EAT enrolled 87 participants: 46 (53%) female and 75 (86%) living with HIV. At baseline, 60 out of 75 participants living with HIV (80%) had previously enrolled in HIV care. Out of 60, 56 (93%) had initiated ART, 44 (73%) were active in care, and 25 (42%) were virally suppressed (VL < 1000 copies/mL) at their last VL measure in the 19 months before EAT. After 19 months of follow-up, all 75 participants living with HIV had enrolled in HIV care and initiated ART, 65 (87%) were active in care, and 44 (59%) were virally suppressed at their last VL measure. Among the participants who were enrolled in HIV care before EAT, there was a significant increase in the proportion who were active in HIV care and virally suppressed at their last VL measure during EAT enrollment compared to before EAT enrollment. Participants who enrolled in HIV care concurrently with EAT had a significantly shorter time to initiation of ART and first episode of viral suppression compared to participants who enrolled in HIV care prior to EAT. The total cost of the intervention over 19 months was USD $57,448.64. Fixed costs were USD $3623.04 and variable costs were USD $63.75/month/participant. Conclusions: This pilot study provided proof of concept that EAT, a combination intervention providing mDOT, food, and peer navigation services, was feasible to implement and may support engagement in HIV care and achievement of viral suppression among SCI living with HIV in an urban setting in Kenya. Future work should focus on controlled trials of EAT, assessments of feasibility in other contexts, and cost-effectiveness studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the government service interactions for a cohort of formerly homeless youth in Aotearoa New Zealand, using linked administrative data. We report the rates of service interactions pre- and post-housing for a cohort of 69 youth, aged 18–25 years old, who received housing and support from a Housing First provider. 60.9% were women, and 69.6% were Māori. Very high rates of service interactions were seen both before and after they were housed. The evidence shows promising potential improvements in young people's lives when housed. The most significant changes we saw in the one and two years post-housing were in incomes from both wages/salaries and social welfare benefits; there was a significant increase in total income for our cohort. There was also a promising reduction in hospitalisations and emergency deparment admissions. Overall, Housing First shows promising outcomes for youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined heterogeneous trajectories of suicidal ideation among homeless youth experiencing suicidal ideation over 9 months in a randomized controlled intervention study. Suicidal homeless youth (N = 150) were randomly assigned to Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CTSP) + Treatment as Usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Youth reported their suicidal ideation four times during a 9-month period. We also assessed pretreatment mental health, demographic information and session attendance as predictors of the subgroups, as well as suicide-related factors as outcomes at the 9-month follow-up. Growth mixture models suggested three distinct trajectory groups among youth: Fast Declining (74.7%), Chronic (19.3%), and Steadily Declining (6.0%). Youth in the Chronic group used more substances at baseline than the Steadily Declining group, were more likely to be White, non-Hispanic than the Fast Declining group, and attended more CTSP sessions than other groups. Contrastingly, youth in the Steadily Declining group all experienced childhood abuse. Finally, youth in the Chronic group showed significant higher risk for future suicide compared to those in the Fast Declining group at 9 months. Findings support the heterogeneity of treatment responses in suicide intervention among homeless youth, with implications to improve treatment efforts in this very high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street children are particularly susceptible to health-related adversities, including those resulting from substance abuse and child abuse. Information on street children is deficient in Sudan. This study provides basic data on characteristics, factors for leaving home, the pattern of child abuse and substance misuse among street children in Khartoum State, Sudan. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and community-based study. Data were collected through direct questioning of a sample of street children using a structured, standardized, and pretested interview-administered questionnaire. Two hundred and seventy-five (275) street children were interviewed. Most street children were males (83%). Of the interviewed children, 36.7% were illiterate, 66.1% had a single parent, and 36% did not recognize a home to return to. The commonest reported reasons for being on the streets were family conflicts and financial/economic difficulties (28.4 % and 27.5%), respectively. 89.1% of the children admitted to being substance abusers, mostly of glue (86.5%) and smoked tobacco (67.3%). Seventy-five-point three percent 75.3% of the children reported being subjected to a form of abuse, with physical and sexual abuse reported by 70.2% and 27%, respectively. Of the 74 children who reported sexual abuse, 49 were males (29% of males), and 25 were females (65% of females). The survey results are thought to guide further research and shape appropriate policymaking and coordinated interventions by concerned stakeholders, whether governmental or nongovernmental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]