Young people who are homeless face considerable barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment. These barriers are best understood through the concept of social exclusion, or the degree to which individual experiences and histories overlap with certain social, political and economic conditions such as poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, sexism, racism and homophobia. These factors can restrict young people’s access to spaces, institutions, and practices that increase opportunities and reduce risk. People who are stably housed experience distinct and significant advantages when moving into the labour force, advantages that many of us take for granted, such as having a home address, adult support to transition into adulthood, and access to food, recreation and transportation.
Gaetz, S., O’Grady, B., Buccieri, K., Karabanow, J., & Marsolais, A. (Eds.), Youth Homelessness in Canada: Implications for Policy and Practice. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.