Employment and Other Income Sources Among Homeless Youth

Abstract

Homeless youth report high rates of unemployment. While homeless serving agencies usually offer employment services, most homeless youth are disengaged from homeless service agencies, and a limited number of studies have examined employment and other income sources among service disconnected youth. Our study examined income sources and change in income among service disconnected youth, all of whom received Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy (SBOA, N = 79). Findings revealed that over time employment and legal income from non-survival behaviors increased (e.g., governmental assistance and receiving income from friends and relatives), while income from survival behaviors decreased (e.g., prostitution, stealing, selling possessions, selling blood or plasma). Although unemployment among these youth remained high (62%), income from survival behaviors reduced most drastically. Findings also suggest that employment is linked to housing stability and mental health, as is substance use and income, which suggests that mental health, housing, and substance use treatment services are important components in income stabilization for homeless youth.

Scoping Review: Suicide Specific Intervention Programmes for People Experiencing Homelessness

“…Three studies are reported in representing four papers ( Table 2 ). Slesnick et al [ 16 ] and Wu et al [ 36 ] are geographically located in the US and report outcomes following a randomized controlled trial. Lynn et al [ 37 ] study was also located in the US, and Adams et al [ 38 ] was based in Ireland.…”

“…Lynn et al [ 37 ] study was also located in the US, and Adams et al [ 38 ] was based in Ireland. The study populations consist of adult participants and staff members [ 38 ], adolescents and their parents [ 37 ] and young adults aged 18 to 24 years [ 16 , 36 ]. All studies report randomized controlled trial methods, except for Adams et al [ 38 ] reporting a mixed-methods study ( Table 2 ).…”

“…The identified studies addressed suicidal ideation and behaviors in adolescents as well as in adults, encompassing youths aged 11 to 14-year-olds [ 36 ], young adults aged 18 to 24 years [ 16 , 37 ], and adults above the age of 18 [ 38 ]. Previous suicide attempts were reported in two of the studies.…”

“…For those who are homeless, consistent research reports risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors such as excess unemployment [ 11 ], early adverse childhood experiences [ 12 ], substance misuse [ 13 ], and lack of perceived social and emotional support [ 14 ]. Moreover, risk of attempting and completing suicide increases due to stressful life events, chronic physical illnesses, and untreated mental illnesses [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Study protocol for a group-based motivational interviewing brief intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among young adults experiencing homelessness

“…Employment variables include current employment status, number of different paid jobs in the past 3 months, and longest time spent in any one job in the past 3 months [ 91 ]. Economic stability is assessed in terms of income in the past 30 days from various sources (e.g., job, relatives or friends, government assistance, street economy) [ 92 ], and items asking how much of a problem it was in the past 3 months to get clothes, medical care/treatment, a place to clean up, a clean and safe place to sleep, and enough to eat, (0 = none to 4 = a great deal ) [ 93 , 94 ]. Housing stability is assessed with items adapted from Tsemberis et al (2007) [ 95 ], asking how often they had spent the night in various locations in the past 3 months (e.g., their own house, apartment or room; someone else’s apartment or house; emergency shelter; transitional housing program; outdoors, the street, or a park; car or other private vehicle; abandoned building; hotel/motel; 0 = never to 7 = everyday ).…”