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.
of youth who participated in the survey self-identified as Black
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.
of youth at Eva’s who self-identified as 2SLGBTQ+ also self-identified as Black
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
identified as
male
identified as
non-binary
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.