ABSTRACT
Youth homelessness is a powerful and evocative social issue. In economically prosperous countries, youth homelessness is one of the more visible forms of poverty and disadvantage, and has become emblematic of inequality. Homeless youth are considered some of the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and socially excluded people in developed countries, due in part to their status as youth. However, youth homelessness is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. Although at first glance it can appear to be self-evident, referring to the lack of adequate residence or housing, the more we look at and consider the issue, the more we find a complex intersection of different forces, which are linked to, lead to and result from, youth homelessness. This chapter provides an overview of the different ways we think about youth homelessness, including definitions and different conceptualisations of this complex and heterogeneous social phenomenon. It will then highlight an often overlooked aspect of youth homelessness – the family – which shapes the pathways into and experiences of youth homelessness.
