ROOF Agency

Homeless is a reality in our community and in our country.

This page was developed in an attempt to address the more common questions asked about homelessness and homeless youth. If your particular question remains unanswered, please feel free to email - and we will answer them as best we can.

Q: What characteristics are typical of the youth you work with?

A: ROOF prides itself on recognizing each youth as unique individuals. Their situations are as diverse as they, themselves are. We make every attempt to educate the public and to warn against stereotyping any population. However, there are some common characteristics that seem prevalent among those we serve. These commonalities include: backgrounds in abuse, low self-esteem, difficulty with commitment and trust, an inability to see past the immediate situation, and a real sense of disconnect (from adults and community). Some of the youth we serve suffer with/from mental health issues, alcohol/drug use, victimization (sexual, emotional, physical), exploitation, a lack of education, conflict with the law, an increased amount of direct and indirect exposure to violence, poor physical health, a sense of isolation, strong survival insticts and depression.

Q: Why don’t they just go home?

A: As mentioned above, many of our youth suffer from extreme abuse. Some know no other ‘home’ life but a violent one. The streets, as difficult as it is for us to comprehend, actually represent a ’safer’ place to some youth. Some of the youth we serve take to the streets to escape the violence that has been perpetrated against them or against someone they love. Some are driven to the streets because their is no room in their family for them any longer; and still others hit the streets because they are in such constant turmoil that they (or their parents) can no longer cope. Regardless of why a youth becomes homeless, ROOF remains committed to the ideal that “one youth on the streets is one too many”. With this in mind, we focus on the youths future and support them as they come to terms with their past.

Q: What is it like to be homeless?

A: To answer this question, it is best to use the words of a homeless individual:

“you realize you’re at the bottom of the chain…every night when I go to sleep, I realize, “holy f***! I’m sleeping on a picnic table …I have no home, I have no job, I have no education, I have no money … I don’t have anything …” you wake up in the morning, you don’t have anywhere to go, you have nothing to do, except go sit at a soup kitchen. That’s really, really depressing. Five years ago I never thought I’d be where I am now!”

Being homeless is cold, frightening and degrading. Research shows that the longer a youth remains on the street, the more difficult is becomes to truly end the cycle of homelessness for him/her.

Q: How do youth survive out there?

A: Youth are resilient! Unfortunately there resiliency could be put to much greater use then simply trying to survive. Homeless youth will resort to whatever means necessary to stay alive, be warm, and get food - who wouldn’t? Some panhandle, work part-time jobs, apply to Ontario Works for financial assistance, or commit crimes to survive. Many of the youth we serve spend their nights couch surfing (moving from one friend’s couch to another to avoid sleeping on the streets), squat in abandon and unsafe buildings or sleep in the park. Homeless youth survive by accessing ROOF.

Q: Youth are homeless because they don’t want to obey the rules at home!

A: This comment gets bantered around quite a bit and, again, the best response that I have found comes from directly from a homeless individual…

“If I had the option of not being homeless, I wouldn’t be homeless, you know? I know personally I’d rather be out there going to school…now that I’m in this situation, I can’t get myself out of it, and I’m trying my hardest but it’s not easy….I have nothing. I have 25 cents to my name. I’m gonna sleep on a picnic table in the park tonight! No one wants to live like that, no one in their right mind.”

There ARE youth that ‘hit the streets’ because they are tired of the rules in their homes…..but our experience has been that these youth return home as soon as the reality and harshness of street life hits. These are not the youth we tend to see at ROOF.

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Filed under: Frequently Asked Question on March 27th, 2007