Gleb Polstvin
Contributor
A recent study co-authored by a York professor, reveals increasing number of homeless youth are being victimized on Toronto streets.
York’s Stephen Gaetz, associate dean of research and field development at the faculty of education, in collaboration with Kristy Buccieri, PhD candidate with the faculty of education at York, and Bill O’Grady, professor of sociology and anthropology at University of Guelph, surveyed 244 homeless youth who struggled to survive and make their ends meet living on the street.
The statistical findings indicate more than 76 percent of the homeless youth were victimized by violent crimes, and 72 percent reported multiple incidents in the past year.
Approximately 85.9 percent of females reported being victims of violence in comparison to 71.8 percent of males.
The authors argue that queer female youth are reportedly the single most victimized social group among street youth in Toronto.
According to the report, 60 percent of lesbian and bisexual females were assaulted and victimized, and only 20 percent of all victimized homeless youth filed a report with the police.
The study states, “Street youth are more vulnerable to crime than are young people in the general population.”
The report suggested that the City of Toronto and non-profit agencies must improve the programs that target youth homelessness prevention.
