Tracing the roots of youth homelessness

YOUTH homelessness can be traced back to problems experienced in childhood and the lack of aftercare means many are more likely to end up on the streets or in prison in adulthood, according to research.

A conference on youth homelessness, organised by Focus Ireland, heard that five, or one third, of young adults whose pathway through youth homelessness was tracked were in prison.

Three were in adult hostels or B&Bs, two others were on the streets, with another either on the streets or on a friend’s sofa. Just one had a home of his own, and none were in aftercare.