Community Assessment & Initiative on Youth Homelessness in Toronto
York University
HH/NURS4525A: Health and Healing: Community as Partner
, Community Assessment & Initiative on Youth Homelessness in Toronto
Homelessness remains to be one of the significant problems in Toronto. Through the data
collection process, it has been identified that one of the most negatively impacted age groups is
the homeless youth. With their age, they lack financial and social support to assist them in
transitioning into the responsibilities of adulthood, which can have a detrimental impact and
long-term effects on their mental and physical health (The Homeless Hub, n.d). Poor overall
health among the homeless youth are caused by a delay in seeking treatment as they decline to
access healthcare due to their experience of discrimination, stigmatization, and poor treatment
from health care providers (HCPs). This report aims to identify this population's specific needs
regarding their social determinants of Health (SDoH), develop advocacy initiatives to urge all
levels of governments and organizations to help increase access to mental health services, and
reduce stigmatization towards the homeless youth.
Community Description
The community of interest are the homeless youth in Toronto. There is a rate of 12% of
homeless youth in the age range of 16-24 years old with individuals who identify themselves as
part of the Indigenous and/or LGBTQ community (City of Toronto, 2021). The homeless youth
in Toronto face various challenges in maintaining their health and well-being. Many of their
issues stem from adverse early life experience and trauma which is further exacerbated by social
determinants of health such as poverty, lack of social support and coping skills, and the lack of
education (Stafford & Wood, 2017).
Community Consultation
, Structured Face-to-Face Interviews
Conducting a face-to-face interview will be an effective way to gather information about
the homeless population living in Toronto, shelter managers and street service providers. Given
the living conditions of the homeless youth populations, accessing the technology would create
barriers for them to complete the interviews. Hence, completing an in-person face-to-face
interview will allow us to recruit more participants and we will be able to obtain diverse
experiences from different homeless youths. Up to 75% of the homeless youth are living in city-
administered shelters, thus an interview is best to take place in a shelter (City of Toronto, 2021).
We can prepare a set of open-ended questions, allowing the interviewer to collect broader
information. Friendly approaches from us will help build rapport and develop trust with the
youth, which will motivate them to disclose sensitive information (Schober, 2018). At the same
time, we can also interview homeless shelter managers and street service providers from
different homeless organizations such as Covenant House Toronto, The 519 and YouthLink. This
will allow us to get a different perspective of the homeless youth’s experiences surrounding their
needs and the available mental health resources provided. Interviewing individuals who have
direct interaction with the youth allows us to have a better understanding of the ways that
different organizations and shelters use to assist the youth.
In-Person Focus Groups
Focus group is a discussion led by a facilitator whose goal is to have a better
understanding of the group or population involved (Stamler et al., 2020). By conducting focus
groups in the community or shelters within the City of Toronto, we, as community health nurses
(CHNs), can gather a comprehensive understanding of the various perceptions, beliefs, attitudes
and experiences of this population. This can also reveal their needs, access, and availability of
York University
HH/NURS4525A: Health and Healing: Community as Partner
, Community Assessment & Initiative on Youth Homelessness in Toronto
Homelessness remains to be one of the significant problems in Toronto. Through the data
collection process, it has been identified that one of the most negatively impacted age groups is
the homeless youth. With their age, they lack financial and social support to assist them in
transitioning into the responsibilities of adulthood, which can have a detrimental impact and
long-term effects on their mental and physical health (The Homeless Hub, n.d). Poor overall
health among the homeless youth are caused by a delay in seeking treatment as they decline to
access healthcare due to their experience of discrimination, stigmatization, and poor treatment
from health care providers (HCPs). This report aims to identify this population's specific needs
regarding their social determinants of Health (SDoH), develop advocacy initiatives to urge all
levels of governments and organizations to help increase access to mental health services, and
reduce stigmatization towards the homeless youth.
Community Description
The community of interest are the homeless youth in Toronto. There is a rate of 12% of
homeless youth in the age range of 16-24 years old with individuals who identify themselves as
part of the Indigenous and/or LGBTQ community (City of Toronto, 2021). The homeless youth
in Toronto face various challenges in maintaining their health and well-being. Many of their
issues stem from adverse early life experience and trauma which is further exacerbated by social
determinants of health such as poverty, lack of social support and coping skills, and the lack of
education (Stafford & Wood, 2017).
Community Consultation
, Structured Face-to-Face Interviews
Conducting a face-to-face interview will be an effective way to gather information about
the homeless population living in Toronto, shelter managers and street service providers. Given
the living conditions of the homeless youth populations, accessing the technology would create
barriers for them to complete the interviews. Hence, completing an in-person face-to-face
interview will allow us to recruit more participants and we will be able to obtain diverse
experiences from different homeless youths. Up to 75% of the homeless youth are living in city-
administered shelters, thus an interview is best to take place in a shelter (City of Toronto, 2021).
We can prepare a set of open-ended questions, allowing the interviewer to collect broader
information. Friendly approaches from us will help build rapport and develop trust with the
youth, which will motivate them to disclose sensitive information (Schober, 2018). At the same
time, we can also interview homeless shelter managers and street service providers from
different homeless organizations such as Covenant House Toronto, The 519 and YouthLink. This
will allow us to get a different perspective of the homeless youth’s experiences surrounding their
needs and the available mental health resources provided. Interviewing individuals who have
direct interaction with the youth allows us to have a better understanding of the ways that
different organizations and shelters use to assist the youth.
In-Person Focus Groups
Focus group is a discussion led by a facilitator whose goal is to have a better
understanding of the group or population involved (Stamler et al., 2020). By conducting focus
groups in the community or shelters within the City of Toronto, we, as community health nurses
(CHNs), can gather a comprehensive understanding of the various perceptions, beliefs, attitudes
and experiences of this population. This can also reveal their needs, access, and availability of
