A Profile of Vancouver's Street Youth

Compiled by Covenant House from On the Streets, Youth in Vancouver
prepared by Bill McCarthy for the BC Ministry of Social Services Global Information

  • over 10,500 (now 15,000) runaways reported in BC annually
  • 500-1000 youth on the streets on any given night throught the year

Family Backgrounds

  • 70% of youth reported abusive family situations
  • 30% of youth reported what we would consider normal family situations

Geographic Origins of Vancouver's Street Youth

  • 37% are from the Greater Vancouver region
  • 25% are from elsewhere in BC
  • 38% are from elsewhere in Canada

Gender

  • 58% of Vancouver's street youth are male
  • 42% of Vancouver's street youth are female

Family Profiles of Vancouver's Street Youth

  • 66% have lived with 4 or more family types (i.e. both parents, parent and step-parent, relative, foster home, group home)
  • 40% come from families where there was alcohol abuse
  • 30% come from families where there was drug abuse
  • 70% come from families where there was physical abuse
  • 62% come from families where there is a history of crime
  • 81% have had to leave their home
  • 60% have had problems in school
  • 50% want to graduate from college or university
  • 28% want to graduate from high school

Profile of Street Youth

  • 80% have no work experience
  • 75% have panhandled for money
  • 94% have made money through criminal activities (i.e. shoplifting, dealing drugs, theft, prostitution)
  • 90% have spent at least one day without eating
  • 95% have walked all night at least once
  • 80% have spent the night in an all night restaurant once
  • 65% have stayed in an abandoned building at least once
  • 90% report that their belongings have been stolen at least once
  • 40% report that they have been assaulted at least once
  • 93% have smoked marijuana at least once since leaving home (91% said it was a frequent occurence)
  • 71% have used crack cocaine at least once since leaving home (62% said it was a frequent occurence)
  • 39% had been charged with a criminal offense while living at home
  • 55% have been charged with a criminal offense while living on the street
  • 40% have attempted suicide at lease once (7% have tried more than nine times) since living on the street
Vancouver Vs Toronto Street Youth
  Toronto Vancouver
Hungry a Few Times 55%

70%

Often Went Without Food 26%

45%

Beaten 3+ Times 24%

40%

Often Spent night in Donut Shop 20%

37%

Often Spent Night Walking Around 28% 44%
Committed Theft 55% 74%
Sold Drugs 48% 80%
Committed Assault 56% 66%
Engaged in Prostitution 16%

34%

In this section

 

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