{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,6]],"date-time":"2026-09-06T07:40:50Z","timestamp":1788680450620,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]],"date-time":"2022-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1661126400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Making the Shift Network of Centres of Excellence","award":["Grant R900206525"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Grant R900206525"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Research has shown that youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face barriers to social inclusion and are at risk for poor mental health. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening the health, wellbeing, and economic circumstances of people around the world, this study aims to assess the impacts of the pandemic on YEH in Toronto, Ontario, as well as to identify recommendations for future waves of COVID-19.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with YEH (ages 16\u201324, n = 45) and staff who work in one of four downtown emergency shelters for youth (n = 31) in Toronto, Ontario.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>YEH experienced both structural changes and psychosocial impacts resulting from the pandemic. Structural changes included a reduction in services, barriers to employment and housing, and changes to routines. Psychosocial outcomes included isolation, worsened mental health, and increased substance use. Impacts were magnified and distinct for subpopulations of youth, including for youth that identified as Black, 2SLGBTQ+, or those new to Canada.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic increased distress among YEH while also limiting access to services. There is therefore a need to balance health and safety with continued access to in-person services, and to shift the response to youth homelessness to focus on prevention, housing, and equitable supports for subpopulations of youth.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0273502","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]],"date-time":"2022-08-22T17:35:04Z","timestamp":1661189704000},"page":"e0273502","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["\u201cI feel like I\u2019m in a revolving door, and COVID has made it spin a lot faster\u201d: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4915-0339","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Amanda","family":"Noble","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Benjamin","family":"Owens","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Naomi","family":"Thulien","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amanda","family":"Suleiman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0273502.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2021.06.024","article-title":"What can internet users\u2019 behaviours reveal about the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? A systematic review.","volume":"198","author":"V Gianfredi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref002","article-title":"Economic effects of coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) on the world economy","author":"N. Fernandes","year":"2020","journal-title":"SSRN"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref003","unstructured":"City of Toronto. Street Needs Assessment 2021. 2021. Accessed at: https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/legdocs\/mmis\/2021\/ec\/bgrd\/backgroundfile-171729.pdf"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref004","first-page":"c2016","volume-title":"Without a home: The national youth homelessness survey","author":"S Gaetz"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1080\/10530789.2018.1480892","article-title":"The invisibility of disability for homeless youth","volume":"27","author":"S Baker Collins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/10530789.2021.1940719","article-title":"Making visible the prevalence of self-identified disability among youth experiencing homelessness","author":"S Baker Collins","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref007","first-page":"c2018","author":"S Kidd"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0273502.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0256288","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0256288","article-title":"Tacking exclusion: A pilot mixed method quasi-experimental identity capital intervention for young people exiting homelessness","volume":"16","author":"N Thulien","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0273502.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1177\/1359105307080593","article-title":"Health inequalities and homelessness: Considering material, spatial and relational dimensions","volume":"12","author":"D Hodgetts","year":"2007","journal-title":"Journal of Health Psychology"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref010","author":"S Gaetz","year":"2010"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2986","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2020.579038","article-title":"Immediate psychological effects of the COVID-19 quarantine in youth from Italy and Spain.","volume":"11","author":"M Orgil\u00e9s","year":"2020","journal-title":"Frontiers in psychology"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2020.05.004","article-title":"Adolescents\u2019 motivations to engage in social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: associations with mental and social health","volume":"67","author":"B Oosterhoff","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e23057","DOI":"10.2196\/23057","article-title":"Psychosocial challenges and opportunities for youth with chronic health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"3","author":"A Serlachius","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref014","article-title":"Mental health among transgender and gender diverse youth: An exploration of effects during the COVID-19 pandemic.","author":"LD Hawke","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref015","article-title":"Vulnerable youth and the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"146","author":"RIS Cohen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2020.11.005","article-title":"Youth experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Unique needs and practical strategies from international perspectives","volume":"68","author":"JRG O\u2019Brien","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0273502.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2020.07.026","article-title":"The urgent and growing needs of youths experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.","volume":"67","author":"Auerswald","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0273502.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2020.07.013","article-title":"Behavioral health and service usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among emerging adults currently or recently experiencing homelessness","volume":"67","author":"JS Tucker","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref019","article-title":"\u201cI\u2019m Losing Everything all Over Again\u201d: Responses from Youth Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","author":"L Rew","year":"2021","journal-title":"Archives of Psychiatric Nursing"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.26552\/ems.2021.1.55-63","article-title":"Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Youth Unemployment in the European Union.","volume":"15","author":"M Lambovska","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ekonomicko-manazerske spektrum"},{"issue":"32","key":"pone.0273502.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1049","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6932a1","article-title":"Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic\u2014United States, June 24\u201330, 2020.","volume":"69","author":"M\u00c9 Czeisler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0273502.ref022","first-page":"e0257693","article-title":"Investigating the impacts of COVID-19 among LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness. PLoS One","volume":"16","author":"A Abramovich","year":"2021"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0273502.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732316665344","article-title":"Code saturation versus meaning saturation: how many interviews are enough?.","volume":"27","author":"MM Hennink","year":"2017","journal-title":"Qualitative health research"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X05279903","article-title":"How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability","volume":"18","author":"G Guest","year":"2006","journal-title":"Field methods."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology.","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qualitative research in psychology"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0273502.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1390","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2010.07.030","article-title":"The public health critical race methodology: Praxis for antiracism research.","volume":"71","author":"CL Ford","year":"2010","journal-title":"Social science & medicine"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref027","author":"SB Merriam","year":"2015"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1177\/160940690900800105","article-title":"The space between: On being an insider-outsider in qualitative research.","volume":"8","author":"SC Dwyer","year":"2009","journal-title":"International journal of qualitative methods"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref029","unstructured":"City of Toronto. Physical distancing for shelter sites. 2021. Accessed at: https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/community-people\/community-partners\/emergency-shelter-operators\/about-torontos-shelter-system\/new-shelter-locations\/physical-distancing-shelter-sites\/."},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref030","unstructured":"City of Toronto. Toronto Overdose Action Plan: Status Report 2021. 2021. Accessed at: https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/legdocs\/mmis\/2021\/hl\/bgrd\/backgroundfile-167327.pdf."},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref031","volume-title":"Policing Black lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present","author":"R. Maynard","year":"2017"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref032","first-page":"609","article-title":"UBER in the US and Canada: Is the Gig-Economy Exploiting or Exploring Labor and Employment Laws by Going beyond the Dichotomous Workers\u2019 Classification.","volume":"24","author":"Y. Maozami","year":"2016","journal-title":"U. Miami Int\u2019l & Comp. L. Rev"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0273502.ref033","first-page":"15","article-title":"Relationships between boredom proneness, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and substance use.","volume":"8","author":"N. LePera","year":"2011","journal-title":"The New School Psychology Bulletin"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2019.04.001","article-title":"Boredom proneness as a predictor of depression, anxiety and stress: The moderating effects of dispositional mindfulness.","volume":"146","author":"FK Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Personality and Individual Differences"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102328","DOI":"10.1016\/j.janxdis.2020.102328","article-title":"The relationship between perceived stress and emotional distress during the COVID-19 outbreak: Effects of boredom proneness and coping style","volume":"77","author":"L Yan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of anxiety disorders"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref036","article-title":"Mental well-being and physical activity of young experiencing homelessness before and during COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal study.","author":"J Thomas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mental Health and Physical Activity"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref037","first-page":"c2020","author":"N Thulien"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0273502.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1037\/tra0000784","article-title":"The outbreak that was always here: Racial trauma in the context of COVID-19 and implications for mental health providers","volume":"12","author":"SR Liu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2019.03.006","article-title":"Race-related traumatic events online and mental health among adolescents of colour","volume":"65","author":"BM Tynes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(18)31130-9","article-title":"Police killings and their spillover effects on the mental health of Black Americans: A population-based, quasi-experimental study","volume":"28","author":"J Bor","year":"2018","journal-title":"The Lancet"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0245268","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0245268","article-title":"A systemic review and meta-analysis of victimization and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ youth people with experiences of self-harm and suicide.","volume":"16","author":"AJ Williams","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref042","article-title":"Implications of COVID-19 for LGBTQ youth mental health and suicide prevention","author":"A Green","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trevor Project"},{"issue":"S1","key":"pone.0273502.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S239","DOI":"10.1037\/tra0000837","article-title":"LGBTQ populations: Psychologically vulnerable communities in the COVID-19 pandemic.","volume":"12","author":"JP Salerno","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychological trauma: Theory, research, practice, and policy"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref044","article-title":"Why do some employers prefer to interview Matthew, but not Samir? New Evidence from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver","author":"P Oreopoulos","year":"2012","journal-title":"SSRN"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0273502.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1353\/ces.2016.0023","article-title":"Understanding job status decline among newcomers to Canada.","volume":"48","author":"L Wilkinson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Canadian Ethnic Studies"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref046","first-page":"c2014","volume-title":"Coming of Age: Reimagining the Response to Youth Homelessness in Canada","author":"S. Gaetz"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0273502.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"358","DOI":"10.1002\/jcop.21773","article-title":"Understanding the attainment of stable housing: A seven-year longitudinal analysis of homeless adolescents","volume":"44","author":"JM Braciszewski","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Community Psychology"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0273502.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1007\/s11469-011-9328-3","article-title":"Concurrent mental health and substance use problems among street-involved youth","volume":"9","author":"M Kirst","year":"2011","journal-title":"International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref049","first-page":"c2013","volume-title":"Youth homelessness in Canada: Implications for policy and practice","author":"S Gaetz"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0273502.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.17269\/s41997-018-0029-6","article-title":"The elusive goal of social integration: A critical examination of the socio-economic and psychosocial consequences experienced by homeless young people who obtain housing","volume":"109","author":"NS Thulien","year":"2018","journal-title":"Canadian Journal of Public Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0273502.ref051","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1007\/s10560-015-0424-2","article-title":"A mixed methods study of recently homeless youth efforts to sustain housing and stability","volume":"33","author":"SA Kidd","year":"2016","journal-title":"Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref052","first-page":"c2017","volume-title":"A new direction: A framework for homelessness prevention","author":"S Gaetz"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref053","first-page":"c2018","volume-title":"The roadmap for the prevention of youth homelessness","author":"S Gaetz"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref054","first-page":"c2021","volume-title":"This is Housing First for Youth: A program model","author":"S Gaetz"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref055","first-page":"c2020","volume-title":"Youth reconnect program guide: An early intervention approach to preventing youth homelessness","author":"S Gaetz"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref056","first-page":"c2020","volume-title":"Family and supports: A framework in enhancing people\u2019s network of support","author":"M Borato"},{"key":"pone.0273502.ref057","first-page":"c2017","volume-title":"Child welfare and youth homelessness in Canada: A proposal for action","author":"N Nichols"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0273502","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]],"date-time":"2022-08-22T17:35:42Z","timestamp":1661189742000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0273502"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Baltica","family":"Cabieses","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0273502","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,22]]}}}