Did You Know?

• Homeless youth are 11 times more likely to die than their peers.
• On the street there is a constant threat of violence, exploitation, drugs and illness. In a 2002 study, 45.7% of street youth reported being attacked in the past year, as compared to 6.3% for their non-homeless peers, 52.8% reported being threatened with an attack and 42% had been sexually assaulted or threatened with sexual assault.
• Approximately 20% of shelter youth are struggling with addictions.
• Female street youth are 2–3 times more likely to become pregnant and 2–4 times more likely to miscarry than non-homeless female youth.
• Most male and female street youth have worked in the sex trade. 31% reported engaging in street prostitution, phone or internet sex, massage or stripping at least once in their lives.
• The majority of homeless youth are poorly educated. 56% of male street youth have Grade 11 or less, 31% have Grade 12 and 12% have university, college or technical school. 60% of female street youth have Grade 11 or less, 33% have Grade 12 and 6% have university or college or technical school.
• Of those who attended school and were assessed by counsellors, 25.6% of street youth were diagnosed with anger management problems, 19.1% with ADD, 15.2% with hyperactivity and 4.5% with dyslexia.
• In Toronto, about 10,000 youth spend time on the street each year. Across Canada, there is an estimated 65,000 homeless youth living on the street or in shelters.

The street is no place for kids.