The issue of homeless Canadian youth is, unfortunately, a complicated one; lacking any clear solution. In the recent decades, the number of teens lacking a safe and secure home or shelter has risen significantly, coming to represent a significant portion of the homeless population in Canada. Although each Canadian province has taken numerous steps in order to achieve justice for their homeless youth, a countless number of youth still remain to experience some degree of homelessness at any given time; "eight to eleven thousand males and females between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, to be specific" (Pictou County Roots for Youth Society). Notably, this is only a small portion of the estimated homeless children around the world (Pictou). Evidently, this is a significant issue, one that all Canadians should be concerned with. Concern is only the first step towards solving this issue, though. Beyond concern, it is necessary to analyze and consider several factors surrounding the matter, including the root causes of youth homelessness, the societal impacts, and both present and possible compassionate solutions to this devastating social injustice. Due to the heterogeneity of the homeless youth population, there exists countless pathways to homelessness. Simply put; root causes of youth homelessness are complex as well as varying. On an uplifting note, they are also far from incurable. These root causes of youth homelessness can be broken down into two major categories: economic and social factors, which impact either a family or an individual at a personal level (Homelessness Resource Centre). An example of an economic cause could include a youth who has unemployed parents, or parents who are underemployed, or who have experienced recent job changes, but remain committed to existing financial commitments. Any of these situations may result in a family of origin that does not provide what a teen perceives as a basic need, prompting the teen to choose homelessness over living in desolation. Another reality is the shortage of affordable housing in Canada. "1/3 of Canadians are renters...in the last decade just 10% of new housing has been rental" (Tanya Gulliver). In addition to this reality, "1 in 4 Canadians pay more for housing than they can afford...more than 30% of income on rent," (Gulliver) and in some instance this can be as high as 50% of a family's or individual's income. "Being poor can mean a person is one illness, one accident, or one paycheck away from living on the streets" (Homelessness Resource Centre). Simplified, poverty is an incredibly significant root cause of homelessness. The social causes of youth homelessness are more numerous, and generally more complicated than the economic ones. In some cases, youths are forced to choose between homelessness or abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse in their families of origin (Homelessness Resource Centre). This could be due to a new parental relationship or due to a relationship breakdown or a catastrophic event, but the reality for the youth is the same, home is no longer safe. "Between 40-50% of street youth report prior involvement with child welfare services and approximately 70% of homeless youth experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse as children. Discrimination is also a factor. Young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered are over-represented amongst the street youth population" (Homelessness Resource Centre). Being kicked out of the family home due to sexual orientation or pregnancy is another social cause of youth homelessness. LGBTQ youth are a significantly higher percentage of homeless youth. Youth who "age out  of foster care, are suffering from mental illness or are simply discriminated against due to race or appearance (piercings, dress) may also have difficulty finding employment and housing. These classify as both social factors, as well as economic factors contributing to youth homelessness. Interestingly, youth who have been involved in the child welfare system are, statistically, a significant number of Canada's homeless youth population. One of the sole reversible causes of youth homelessness, is when a youth leave home due to the breakdown in family relationships and communication. When family relationships c