March 15, 2006

Street Youth - Some Myths Debunked

Walk around downtown Hamilton for ten minutes and one thing will strike you: the poverty. Whether it’s the crumbling hulk of the Lister Block, the man beating randomly on some bongos for a few pennies outside the library, or the gathering outside the welfare office, the signs are everywhere.

Hamiltonians are good people and are eager to help when faced with this much need. But there are a few misconceptions about street youth that often stop people from giving their time or money. Here are a few of them:

1.         They want to be on the street.

If you meet 20 street youth, you might find one or two who want to live on the street. Often this is because of mental health issues, or because they’ve been on the street so long they couldn’t live with the rules and restrictions of a rented apartment (the opposite of being institutionalized).

Most street youth, however, desperately want a home and a family and only left because they had to. A recent Toronto study showed that 70 per cent of street youth left home because of physical or sexual abuse.

I was sexually abused by my mom’s boyfriend – she’s still with him today, it’s no good… so I figured the best way to deal with it was to get away. I ran away from home for two weeks and I guess after the two weeks everyone stopped looking for me and so I lived on the streets for two years solid.
(Interview with a street youth who left home at 10 years old)

2.         They spend all their money on drugs.
           
It’s important to make a few distinctions here. If someone on the street comes up to you and mumbles an indistinct plea for change, there’s a chance the money isn’t going anywhere good.

But money can be given in other ways. There are countless social service agencies in Hamilton, all crying out for donations. These agencies use donors’ money to give help through work programs, housing, food banks and in other ways.

Yes, a lot of street youth spend money on drugs and alcohol. But often it’s to block out the pain of life on the street and a history of being abused:

Suffering manic depression and anorexia for at least three years, without the knowledge of any friends or family, I finally found something that helped me cope: drugs.
(Written testimony by a street youth)

Street youth attempt suicide at rates over 100 times the national average, according to ‘Street Youth Suicide’, a 2002 study by the Government of Canada. Drugs are sometimes the only answer street youth find to their depression, hopelessness and loneliness.

3.         They’re violent and unpredictable.
           
Many people are reluctant to volunteer at shelters and drop-in centres, or even to talk to homeless people on the street, because they fear for their safety.

There’s no guarantee that volunteers and staff won’t be hurt – but the likelihood of it happening is fairly low. I know of people who have worked in shelters for 5 or 10 years without physical assault. Verbal assault is a lot more common, though - volunteers and social workers have to learn to develop a thick skin.

4.         They’re streetwise – they can get by.

Yes, they probably can get by. If, that is, you define ‘getting by’ as sleeping in damp abandoned buildings and stealing for food. When faced with this, many street youth consider jail a viable alternative:

If worst came to worst I would commit a crime which would end my butt in jail. I know there I’m going to be safe, clean and have a roof over my head and something to eat.
(Written testimony by a street youth)

Some youth will give the impression that street life is fun - hanging out with their friends, dabbling with drugs, insulting the occasional cop. But their reality is one of days without showers, wondering where the next meal is coming from, and worrying about getting beaten up or raped.

Sleep with your back to the wall, in a corner if you can and make sure it’s somewhat lit so you can see what’s going on and that you’re fairly hard to get to – make sure you’re as hidden as possible but that you can get out of situations.
(Female youth, describing how to stay safe when sleeping outside)

I’ve seen people get shot. I’ve watched a buddy of mine stomp on some guy’s head because he called him a rat. The stuff you see on the streets and the stuff you see in your own home are definitely a lot different.
(Male street youth in interview)

Street youth are simply youth that have had a bad deal from life – and the more people know this, the more likely they are to help. For more information and other youth testimonies, see the October 2005 report ‘Addressing the Needs of Street-Involved Youth in Hamilton’ by the Social Planning and Research Council: http://www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca/Reports/Street-Involved_Final.pdf

Photos courtesy of Rebecca's Place and the BBC