Black youth experiencing homelessness and criminal justice involvement: findings from the without a home national youth homelessness survey in Canada

Youth homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system (CJS) are deeply interconnected in Canada, with Black youth disproportionately affected due to systemic and structural inequities. While research on race, gender, and the CJS is growing, the specific experiences of Black youth facing housing precarity remain underexplored. This paper investigates the relationship between Black youth homelessness and CJS involvement using data from the 2019 Without a Home: National Youth Homelessness Survey – Canada’s largest study of youth experiencing homelessness. The survey (n = 1,375) was conducted in 49 communities through 98 youth-serving agencies. Data were collected on demographics, housing history, education, income, health, and CJS involvement. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare group differences, and logistic regression assessed the relationship between race and recent CJS contact. Our findings demonstrate that Black youth experiencing homelessness were significantly more likely than white youth to report recent CJS involvement and tended to experience homelessness at a younger age. Problematic substance use was associated with higher CJS involvement across all groups. These findings indicate that Black youth experiencing homelessness are overrepresented in the CJS, reflecting entrenched systemic inequities. Culturally responsive, equity-oriented, and prevention-focused strategies are urgently needed to address the intersecting challenges of homelessness and criminalization.