If you don't already know what homelessness means, it is someone who is unable to live in a stable residence due to financial or psychological problems, so is forced to live on the streets or they take to the streets, because they feel that it would be the best solution. Homelessness in Canada is a very large and concerning problem due to the growing population. We need to ask ourselves what causes homelessness, why so many young people are affected by the issue, and what can we change so that homelessness in Canada decreases? Many people put the issue of homelessness aside because there are many programs that people can turn to for help, but not all people have the ability to commit to changing their lives. The basic needs of life such as food, water, personal hygiene and a place to sleep are something the homeless do not have. Everywhere we look nowadays we see homeless people, even on the streets of Toronto, which is said to have one of the highest homeless populations in Canada. Homeless youth is a term used to refer to a large group of young people who run away from home, unaccompanied youth, someone who has forced their child out of their home or left their child somewhere, and also young people who are in foster care. The homeless youth population is increasing due to the numerous challenges these children or adolescents face in everyday life; It also continues to grow every year due to the many young people who find themselves in dangerous situations that force them to remain homeless or by their own choice. A third of the homeless population is between the ages of 16 and 24, which is incredibly young and prime years for a teenager or young adult... middle of the paper... or even years of living on the streets . Works Cited Fairchild, M. (2013). How to Help the Homeless 4 ways to help the homeless in your community. About.com.Christianity. Retrieved from http://christianity.about.com/od/faithinaction/qt/homeless.htmMcKay, E. (2009). Independent living accounts: Leaving homelessness in the past. Retrieved from: http://www.raisingtheroof.org/Get-Informed/What-is-Homelessness.aspxhttp://www.raisingtheroof.org/Get-Informed/What-is-Homelessness.aspxSnow, D., A Roof Over Our Heads (2008) Affordable housing and homelessness in Canada. Western Canada Foundation. Retrieved from: http://www.raisingtheroof.org/Get-Informed/What-is-Homelessness.aspxToronto Community Foundation.(2009). Independent living accounts: Leaving homelessness in the past. Retrieved from: http://www.raisingtheroof.org/News-and-Events/Media-Room/Fast-Facts.aspx