The Youth we serve

OVER-REPRESENTATION
IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM

In December 2022, the team at Eva’s conducted our first youth survey in five years

The survey confirmed what we had come to know anecdotally via our intake experience:

there is an overrepresentation of Black,

newcomer, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth

accessing services at Eva’s.

The legacy of colonialism and anti-Black racism that exists throughout different systems results in outcomes in which Black youth are over-represented among young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

51%

of youth who participated in the survey self-identified as Black

82.5%

identified as racialized

24%

of youth self-identified

as 2SLGBTQ+

According to a recent Toronto-based study, the number of 2SLGBTQ+ youth living in a public space, or vacant building increased from 13% pre-pandemic to 33% since the pandemic began. [1]

Issues such as racism, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia intersect, significantly impacting youth with multiple identities.

46%

of youth at Eva’s who self-identified as 2SLGBTQ+ also self-identified as Black

73%

of youth who self-identified as 2SLGBTQ+ also self-identified as racialized

25%

of youth identified themselves as a refugee/refugee claimant

90%

Of these individuals, 90% self-identified as Black

100%

Of these individuals, 100% self-identified as racialized

As war, human rights abuses, and environmental disasters continue internationally, we have come to see more and more youth who identify as refugees or refugee claimants seeking support from Eva’s upon arriving in Canada. This is a new trend that we will continue to monitor in order to ensure we are delivering the most relevant supports to these young people.

AGE DATA

According to a national study, 86.7% of youth first experience homelessness before the age of 16 have experienced multiple episodes. [2]

6.25%

of youth were under

the age of 18

The average age of youth is 21, and most of the young people were between the ages of 20 – 23

GENDER IDENTITY

Compared to national data, we are seeing a higher percentage of youth identifying as female, trans, and non-binary.

identified as

female

41%

identified as

male

6%

identified as

non-binary

5%

identified as

trans male

About the survey

112 youth completed the survey, with a 97% completion rate. This survey data includes results from our two emergency shelters (Place and the Satellite Hotel) and transitional housing site (Phoenix). This data doesn’t include the youth in our YOUth Belong program, where 100% of the youth self-identify as Black. This is a moment in time snapshot of the youth seeking our services at that time.

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