Dr Ellen Nicholson and Jenni Mace: How to keep our youth safe and in homes

There are myriad factors that result in young people becoming homeless, however the extent of the problem is clear. Young people (up to 24 years of age) make up 46 per cent of the homeless population in Auckland, and the number of youth sleeping rough is on the increase.

Adolescence is often a time of turmoil as young people seek to discover themselves and their physical, psychological and emotional capacities. Consequently, young people can experience significant physical, mental and developmental consequences as a result of homelessness. Access to and engagement in meaningful occupation can mitigate the risk of youth homelessness. Research has shown that participation in everyday occupations, roles and routines is vital to the development of capability, positive self-perception, quality of life and positive futures for all young people.

New Zealand needs to take active steps towards improving occupational opportunities for our youth. These six factors, if embraced by employers and communities, can help keep our young people off the streets:

1. Self-perceptions of athletic and academic competence help young people deal with adversity -- find ways to identify and positively reinforce their strengths.

2. Give young Kiwis the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities, by helping them to get involved in new activities, re-engage with a past interest, build resilience and develop awareness of their strengths and personality traits.

3. Contribute to life skills programmes for youth -- these programmes enrich cognitive and physical capabilities and enable engagement in meaningful occupations.

4. Help provide young people with welcoming spaces where they can work alongside others, providing opportunities to form friendships, extend support networks and build communication skills.

5. Encourage involvement in volunteer work, which develops a sense of ownership among young people.

6. Engage young people in relevant, purposeful activities to encourage participation, strengthen life skills and provide a greater sense of life satisfaction.

Dr Ellen Nicholson and Jenni Mace are part of AUT University's School of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies. They both took part in last night's Lifewise Big Sleepout.