Towards a Delivery System of Services for Rural Homeless Youth: A Literature Review and Case Study

Abstract

The majority of the literature on homelessness conceptualizes it as an urban problem and a wide body of research exists that provides estimates of metropolitan street youth and qualitatively describes their experiences. Similar descriptions and population estimates are virtually absent for youth who experience rural homelessness despite the number of urban homeless youth with rural origins. Indeed, although some metropolitan literature does remark on rural youth homelessness, it comments only on its invisible nature. This exclusion has significant implications in that it marginalizes the rural homeless and hinders the development of social policy to address the issues this population faces. Drawing on existing literature on rural youth homelessness, discussions with service providers in a rural area and a small number of interviews with youth, this paper begins to explore key issues facing homeless rural youth, existing intervention options and recommendations for the development of service delivery systems.

A cluster analysis of service utilization and incarceration among homeless youth

“…Many of these young people run from abusive and neglectful families (Tyler and Cauce, 2002), while others leave home due to family conflict (Skott-Myhre et al, 2008 ) or because of their own behavioral problems (Whitbeck and Hoyt, 1999). Additionally, there is a sizeable group of youth who run away or are forced to leave home because of their sexual orientation (Cochran et al, 2002).…”

The primary health care service experiences and needs of homeless youth: A narrative synthesis of current evidence

“…This paper reports the fi ndings of a narrative synthesis designed to determine: (1) the PHC services homeless youth access; (2) experiences of services, reported outcomes and barriers to use; (3) the PHC service needs and gaps of homeless youth. These fi ndings will contribute to an evidence-based understanding of how PHC Adapted from (Beer et al, 2003;Skott-Myhre et al, 2008). …”

“…Tertiary supports involve interventions when homelessness has actually occurred. The goal of this type of intervention is outcome-oriented; that is, these programmes assist homeless youth in securing safe and independent accommodation (Skott-Myhre, Raby, & Nikolaou, 2008) see Table 1.…”

Services to young people with complex support needs in rural and regional Australia: Beyond a metro-centric response

“…In addition to challenges of adequate resources and geographical distance, young people with complex support needs are often in contact with multiple service systems. There is a need for continuum of care models in service delivery in order to address the diverse support needs of young people (Skott-myhre et al, 2008). Collaboration with other services was something that the majority of participants in non-metropolitan areas aspired to:…”

“…It can also encompass experiences of social isolation, inertia and poverty (Driscoll, 2014). Young people in non-metropolitan areas have poorer outcomes than their urban counterparts in terms of health (Orlowski et al, 2016); mental health (Smokowski, Cotter, Robertson, & Guo, 2013); education (Welch, Helme, & Lamb, 2007); choice of housing (Skott-myhre, Raby, & Nikolaou, 2008) and employment (Abbott-Chapman, Johnston, & Jetson, 2014).…”