Journeys Of Street-Involved Youth Searching For Housing While Using Substances

Abstract

This study focuses on street-involved youth’s experiences with substance use and how it may impact their access to social services, specifically their access to housing and shelter services. I chose to use narrative interviews when speaking with the youth and it was through the sharing of their narratives that different themes, and recommendations for practice were revealed. During the analysis of the data, critical theories were applied, specifically a post-structural and intersectional framework. The youth who participated in this study shared experiences of their hardships, feelings of low motivation in seeking housing, feelings of self-agency regarding their substance use, and the need for more anti-oppressive approaches within housing and shelter services. These anti-oppressive approaches were described by the youth to include more flexible hours, less restrictive shelter rules and a need for more understanding and empathetic service providers. This research highlights important overall insights on the experiences of these youth and how they make sense of their substance use and life on the street.