Narratives of Youth Homelessness

This book explores the daily lives of 20 young people experiencing homelessness in Paris and New York. Drawing on detailed observations and personal testimonies, it reveals their living conditions, survival strategies, and the rhythms that shape their days and nights. Beyond hardship, this book captures moments of joy, hope, and human connection. It examines their relationships-with family, friends, romantic partners, education, work, and support organizations-highlighting both the resources they rely on and the obstacles they face. Often absent from public debate and media coverage, these youths are given a voice, offering a nuanced and humanizing portrait that challenges stereotypes. By bringing their experiences to the forefront, this book calls for greater awareness and collective action to respond to youth homelessness with empathy and effectiveness. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of social policy, youth work, social work, urban studies, and sociology more broadly.

Julien Billion holds a Doctorate in Sociology from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and a Doctorate in Management Science, as well as a Habilitation to Supervise Research, from the Polytechnic Institute of Paris. He is a Professor at ICN Business School and an affiliated researcher at the University of Lorraine. His work focuses on social innovation and social entrepreneurship, and he has authored several books, articles, and documentaries.

0. Introduction 1. The Family: "Things were tough with my parents" 2. Friends, Lovers, and Acquaintances: "I found my own little family, a second family" 3. Education and Employment: "My school was the streets" 4. Aid Organizations: "I stayed outside. I was like a bum" 5. The Street: "Without a job, without a home, without anything" 6. Dreams: "It's just like everyone else" 7. Conclusion