“Youth homelessness” refers to the situation and experience of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of parents and/or caregivers, but do not have the means or ability to acquire a stable, safe or consistent residence.
Youth homelessness is a complex social issue because as a society we have failed to provide young people and their families with the necessary and adequate supports that will enable them to move forward with their lives in a safe and planned way. In addition to experiencing economic deprivation and a lack of secure housing, many young people who are homeless lack the personal experience of living independently and at the same time may be in the throes of significant developmental (social, physical, emotional and cognitive) changes. As a result, they may not have the resources, resilience, education, social supports or life skills necessary to foster a safe and nurturing transition to adulthood and independence. Few young people choose to be homeless, nor wish to be defined by their homelessness, and the experience is generally negative and stressful.
Youth homelessness is the denial of basic human rights and once identified as such, it must be remedied. All young people have the right to the essentials of life, including adequate housing, food, safety, education and justice.
Endorse the definition
By endorsing the Canadian Definition of Youth Homelessness you are supporting a common definition that provides all levels of government and community groups with a framework for understanding youth homelessness, and a means for identifying goals, strategies and interventions, as well as measuring outcomes and progress. E-mail us at thehub@edu.yorku.ca to add your support.
| Add your support |
The Canadian Definition of Youth Homelessness is endorsed by:
| “Bannock Lady”, Winnepeg, Manitoba |
| Aldeli Albán Reyna, YWCA Canada |
| Alex J. Bell |
| Alfred Goodearle- Director, Housing and Properties- Support and Housing, Halton, ON |
| Allyson Marsolais, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness; Homeless Hub |
| Amanda Buchnea, Public Good Initiative |
| Amanda Wright |
| Amber Aleman, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Andrea Gunraj, Eva’s Initiative for Homeless Youth |
| Anita Palepu, University of British Columbia |
| Ann Decter, YWCA Canada |
| Ann Hayden |
| Anne Smith, United Way Oakville |
| Art Tsang, Youth Without Shelter |
| Audrey Findlay- Individual |
| Ben Omoregie, Youth Without Shelter, Operations Manager |
| Benjamin Roebuck, Youth Now Canada |
| Bernadette (Bernie) Pauly, Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria |
| Betsy Odegaard, Urban League of London |
| Bonnie Hughes |
| Bradley Black, Individual – community leader |
| Bradly Harris, The Salvation Army |
| Brandi Hanterman, Fireweed Collective Society |
| Brenda Halloran, CEO of ComLinked, board member of Supportive Housing of Waterloo |
| Brent Taylor, PurpleRung Foundation |
| Caitlin Boros, Raising the Roof |
| Candice M. Christmas, York University, PhD Candidate, Health Policy & Equity |
| Carolann Barr, Raising the Roof |
| Chad Craig, Five/Fouteen Inc. |
| Cheryl Forchuk, Western University |
| Chris Wrightson, Zero Ceiling Society of Canada |
| Christine Hill-Caballero, United Way, Toronto and York Region |
| Ciara Devlin, Crisis, United Kingdom |
| Clara Juando-Prats, St. Michael’s Hospital |
| Clare Stedman, M.Ed. (counselling Psych.), RCC, CCC, Mental Health Clinician |
| Colleen Kerr, City of Surrey, Crime Reduction Strategy Manager |
| Corinne Sauvé, Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa |
| Dani Mills |
| Darren Graham, Ottawa Salvation Army |
| David McAleer, Rod’s House |
| Davis Z., Community Housing Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| Deni Milton, Individual |
| Denise Beeswax |
| Diane Entwistle, Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, Chief Executive Officer |
| Dianne McCormack, University of New Brunswick |
| Don Schweitzer, Pacific University, Associate Professor, Interim MSW Program Director |
| Doran Wright, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, School Social Worker |
| Doriano Calvano, Manager of Social Policyy & Planning- Simcoe County |
| Duncan Community Advisory Board |
| Dylan Ostetto, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Elisa Traficante, Raising the Roof |
| Eric Tarkington, DeKalb County School System |
| Eric Weissman, Ph.D |
| Erika Morton, Social Planning & Research Council of Hamilton, Social Planner – Street Involved Youth Project |
| Erin Dej, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Eun Ju Lagonia |
| Frank W. Fraser, Individual – retired |
| Gayle Parker, RN |
| Gordon Martin, H❤ART project |
| Greg MacEachern, Ontario Works |
| Gregory Goulin, The Windsor Residence for Youth Men |
| Hirsch Greenberg, University of Regina |
| Ilyana Keohane, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Ingrid Pereira |
| Isolde Daiski, York University |
| Jackie Powell |
| Jeanne Messina, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin, Intake Worker |
| Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff, University of Calgary |
| Jeff Karananow, Dalhousie University |
| Jesse Donaldson, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Jesse Thistle, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Jo Snyder, Wellesley Institute |
| Jo-Ann Coleman Pidskalny, Saskatoon Housing Coalition |
| Jocelyn Helland, Executive Director of Federation, BC Youth Resource Centre |
| Joe and Marie Roberts, The Push For Change |
| John Ecker, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| John Smith, Support and Housing, Halton, ON |
| Joyce Klassen, Dementia Care Educator, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba |
| Joyce Ward, Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness |
| Judy Leroux, Youth Without Shelter |
| Jules Nelson |
| Julia Lucas, Niagara Injured Worker Centre |
| Kaitlin Schwan, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Kathrina Kovacs Burns, University of Alberta |
| Kathryn Kot, McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association, Lethbridge, ABSupervisor- The Youth HUB and Transition to Independence |
| Kathy Kovacs Bum, ATCO, Edmonton Alberta |
| Katie Manikas, Brain Injury Association of Durham Region |
| Katty Gallant, Community Advisory Board on Homelessness, Gander, NL |
| Kelly Cardinal, John Howard Society in Ottawa |
| Kelly Masecar-Hall, Canadian Mental Health Association, Housing Outreach Worker |
| Kevin Koroscil, Siloam Mission Exit Up! Program |
| Kimberly Uryszvalade |
| Krista Pozaic |
| Kristy Townshend, Teacher, Peer Supporter, Youth Advocate, MSW Candidate |
| Krystle Fountotos, YMCA-YWCA, Second Stage Housing Program for Youth |
| Lareina Smith |
| Leanne Boutwell, Raising the Roof |
| Lena Phillips |
| Lesley McMillan, A Way Home |
| Lisa Pinto |
| Lisa Vizniowski |
| Lori Buchnea, MSW, RSW |
| Lory Scott, City of St. Albert Housing Liaison |
| Marie & Joe Roberts, The Push for Change Foundation |
| Marie Ida Ross |
| Matt Dewar and Sydney Blum, WoodGreen Community Services |
| Melanie Redman, A Way Home |
| Melissa and Arif, CMHA Middlesex |
| Michelle Malette, Adsum for Women and Children |
| Mike Burnett, Youth Without Shelter- Peel Region |
| Mirella Bryant, Youth Opportunities Unlimited |
| MJ Canario, Canadian Mental Health Association, London and Middlesex |
| Naomi Nichols, McGill University |
| National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness |
| Nicole Latour, Alpha Court Non-Profit Housing Inc. |
| Nicole Lee Kruger, Individual – student |
| Nila Fisher |
| O. Doroszko-Saage,Youth Worker, Roy McMurtry Youth Centre |
| Oxana Roudenko, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Pamela Lahey, McMaster University |
| Paula Patryluk, Raising the Roof |
| Paulette Minard, The Home Depot Canada Foundation |
| Phyllis Goertz, Retired Health Care Manager |
| Priscilla Michell, Wet’su’wet’en Territory |
| Priya Anaokar |
| Rachel Ehly, Managing Director, t3 |
| Rachel Nicol-Smith |
| Raymond Landry |
| Rebecca Hays, Youth and Family Support worker, Youth Resource Centre/Abbotsford Community Services |
| Regina Oppon, Rehoboth Alliance, Fort McMurray |
| Rita Thompson, Unifor Local 707 |
| Rob Morris, Phoenix Youth Programs |
| Roberta Journeay Outreach Worker for Tri County Women’s Centre, Digby, Nova Scotia |
| Roger Keil, York University |
| Ryan Murdoch, United Way, London amd Middlesex |
| Sarah Benbow, Western University |
| Shane Rempel, Calgary Homeless Foundation |
| Shannon Littke, Canadian Mental Health Association, Homelinks |
| Sheldon Pollett, Choices for Youth |
| Shireen Suleman, York University |
| Sheri Lecker, Executive Director, Adsum for Women and Children |
| Sophia Taylor, Executive Director, Peel/Halton Co-operative Housing Federation |
| Stephanie Matches, Zero Ceiling Society of Canada |
| Stephanie Vasko, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Stephen Gaetz, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness |
| Steve Arnett, Nanaimo Youth Services Association |
| Susan McGee, Homeward Trust, Edmonton |
| Susan Spring, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation |
| Suzie H, Women’s Community House |
| Tanya Hebron- Individual |
| Tara Everitt, National Learning Community |
| Tashauna Knutson, Okanagan Boys and Girls Club |
| Ted Hildbrandt, Community Development, Halton, ON |
| Ter Kin, The New Bullying Prevention |
| Terri Gillis |
| Terri Whitford, Salvation Army |
| The Nanaimo Homeless Coalition |
| Threshold Housing Society of Victoria, BC |
| Tim Aubry, University of Ottawa |
| Tim Richter, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness |
| Trudie Duckworth |
| Uzo Anucha, York University |
| Victoria Szakall, Ontario Works, Municipality of Chatham-Kent |
| Vivian Adine Guglietti, Steps Recovery |
| Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society |
| Wendy McHenry, John Howard Society in Ottawa |
| William O’Grady, University of Guelph |
| Willy Noiles, Country Lane Co-operative Home & Injured Worker Centre St. Catharines |
| Yale D. Belanger, University of Lethbridge |
| Yan Hebert |
| Pearl Kealing, Abbotsford British Columbia |
Last updated: February 13, 2019
