Activity 3: Facts about youth
homelessness (group activity)
Purpose of activity: Reflect on the list of adjectives students originally came up with a few
weeks ago and compile an updated list of adjectives to compare with the original mega-list
created. It will be eye-opening to reflect on any misconceptions students originally had and see
how much they have absorbed about homelessness. If you did not incorporate Activity 1 in your
class or club before your Sleep Out event, conduct that one at your event instead of this one.
Steps:
1. Ask students to anonymously write down 10 adjectives that describe homeless people
a. Anonymity may inspire students to openly share their thoughts
b. Encourage students to be honest with their opinions. The purpose of the activity
is to get a sense of how students view of homelessness has changed
2. Collect students’ anonymous lists of adjectives and compile a mega-list
a. Common myths about homeless people are: lazy, scary, addicts…
3. As a class, review the mega-list
a. Invite students to expand on adjectives listed
b. Invite students to discuss or debate any adjectives listed
4. If there are many outstanding myths that still need busting, continue with the variation
of the second part of this activity
a. Have pairs/groups of students discuss any remaining myths:
i. Why this myth is common?
ii. What is the fact?
iii. How can you share this fact to bust this myth once and for all?
iv. Share this myth busting information with your fellow sleepers
Activity: cut out each myth and distribute to a pair/group of students - is their myth true or
false?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. Homelessness is an easy way out
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. If a youth is homeless, it’s their own fault
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. About half of homeless youth in Vancouver
have been abused by their parents or caregivers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Most homeless youth have a mental illness
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Pretty much all homeless people are old men
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6. There aren’t any homeless people in my community
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7. All homeless people need is a place to live
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8. Homeless people are all drug addicts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9. There isn’t anything we can do to help homeless youth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10. Homeless people are lazy and don’t want to work
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11. Homeless people just need to get a job
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12. Homeless people are dangerous/ aggressive/ scary/ abusive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13. Giving homeless people money just enables them to continue with their ways
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity Answers:
1. Homelessness is an easy way out
False
 People often flee neglect, abuse, etc.
 They spend their days trying to meet their basic needs
 It is difficult to look for a job if they need to find food, line up for shelters each day and
have no appropriate clothing
2. If a youth is homeless, it’s their own fault
False
 ‘Poor choices’ rarely contribute to homelessness; often circumstances outside those
choices play a role (ex. Homeless young people are often thrown out of the family
home)
 Young people often flee neglect, abuse and in general, unsafe environments
 Mental illness is common in youth before they end up on the street, often as a result of
their past experiences
3. About half of homeless youth in Vancouver have been abused by their parents or
caregivers
True
 Physical, emotional and psychological abuse are three types of abuse these youth have
faced
 51% of youth who stayed at Covenant House last year reported being physically abused
before they left home
 60% of female youth served last year reported sexual abuse before leaving the home
 23% of male youth served last year reported sexual abuse before leaving the home
4. Most homeless youth a have mental illness
True
 Up to 85% of youth served at Covenant House last year had a mental illness, whether it
be depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
 As a result of abuse most youth faced before leaving home, and while living on the
street, their mental health is commonly compromised
5. Pretty much all homeless people are old men
False



Covenant House Vancouver serves over 1,400 at-risk and homeless youth every single
year
38% of youth served last year were young women
The fastest growing populations of homeless people in our community are women and
families
6. There aren’t any homeless people in my community
False
 The hidden homeless population is hard to identify and impossible to see. These people
may have somewhere to sleep, but it may not be consistent, is usually not safe and is
often a trade for something else in return, such as sexual favours. It is estimated that
the hidden homeless population consists of more women than men for this reason.
 It is also common for homeless youth to leave their original community for a community
that offers more resources, or even offers a gentler climate through the winter. For
example, there are youth on the streets in Vancouver that are from towns across the
Province and the country.
7. All homeless people need is a place to live
False
 It is true among a very small percentage of homeless people (more frequently adults
than youth) that they are on the street because of the lack of affordable housing and
this is also often connected to a loss of income (such as losing a job).
 Due to the high level of mental health issues among the homeless population, housing is
not the only way to help those without a home. It is crucial that housing be
accompanied by other supports in order to create lasting change
8. Homeless people are all drug addicts
False
 Although drug-use is common on the street, it is often in response to homelessness
rather than a contributing factor to it
 Homeless people often start using drugs and alcohol to self- medicate:
o Due to the horrors the majority of homeless youth have faced in their young lives, in
addition to a lack of mental health support, it is common for substances to be
misused as a way of numbing the pain of their past

Marijuana is commonly used to “forget” and often leads to other drugs such as cocaine
and crystal meth (both of which help you stay awake- so they don’t fall asleep and get
robbed or abused)
9. There isn’t anything we can do to help homeless youth
False
 Learn the facts about homelessness and advocate for your peers!
 Homeless youth need love and support from their community to improve their lives,
often including help recovering from their past before they can move forward
10. Homeless people are lazy and don’t want to work
False
 Everybody needs money to meet their basic needs and live a fulfilling life. Just like
people with homes, homeless people want a job so they too can have this
 Getting a job as a homeless youth can be quite a challenge for several reasons (see Myth
#11)
11. Homeless people just need to get a job
False
 Lack of a job isn’t the only thing that keeps people living on the street; learning
disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse & cleanliness are barriers to employment
 Most youth at Covenant House haven’t finished their grade 12 high school education
 A job doesn’t always mean you can afford a home; the average hourly rate to survive on
your own in Vancouver is $19/hour
12. Homeless people are dangerous/aggressive/ scary/ abusive
False
 Although life on the street is dangerous, homeless people commit few crimes against
those who try to help them
 83% of youth at Covenant House experienced physical or sexual victimization while
living on the street; victimization is abuse from a peer for their own benefit
 The rate of abuse among homeless people is high because life on the street is about
survival of the fittest which is why someone who can improve their circumstance by
exploiting someone else will do so
13. Giving homeless people money just enables them to continue with their ways
True- if you give it directly to them
 Covenant House suggests that if you who see someone panhandling and want to help
them, to give them a granola bar or other food, rather than money
 You can help youth move away from life on the street by donating to an organization
that serves this population; dozens of organizations like Covenant House offer support
to help homeless people find healthy, independent futures (off the street)
Some Myths from this activity have been copied or adapted from:
The Portland Rescue Mission 10 Myth’s About Homelessness:
http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/learn-more/myths-about-homelessness/
Simon Fraser University’s Learning about Homelessness in British Columbia:
http://www.sfu.ca/~pendakur/teaching/homelessness/Learning.About.Homelessness.pdf