stephanie's blog

Landlords are essential partners in Housing First programs, providing safe, stable housing for people experiencing homelessness, which is vital for their journey toward independence and well-being. Conflict with landlords can quickly undermine the success of even established Housing First programs, leading to community backlash and a loss of housing units.

I’m excited to share that we are launching the fourth round of the Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Prevention Awards Program. Presented by Canada Life, the Awards are part of a broader suite of activities co-led by A Way Home Canada (AWHC) and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) to transform our response to youth homelessness. 

Evictions are rising across Ontario impacting both rural and urban communities alike. With our current affordable housing crisis, it is no surprise that we are continuing to see this rise of people experiencing displacement throughout the province. The Social Planning Network of Ontario embarked on a project funded by CMHC’s Community Based Initiative Fund to elevate tenant voices and build leadership and organizational capacity in four communities.

Youth homelessness is a serious issue that is often neglected in the Canadian school system. Every year, at least 35,000 youth experience homelessness in Canada, and with the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the housing crisis, and the weakening of the economy, more and more youth are at risk of experiencing poverty and housing insecurity.

It is Sexual Health Week – a chance to reflect on the services, resources, and organizations working to improve sexual health outcomes in Canada – including access to reproductive care. 

At YWCA Hamilton, we have been working to promote and provide reproductive care to those who face barriers to access. Women, trans and non-binary peoples’ experiences of homelessness cannot be separated from their reproductive health and rights.

Explore tools that contribute to successful research with youth experiencing homelessness in a 90-minute workshop webinar!

Join leading research experts as they share strategies and lessons learned from impactful programs in North America.

Prevention is the key to ending youth homelessness, but what do the people on the front lines think of it? And what do they know about the proven interventions designed to do this work? If they know about the interventions, are they interested in putting them into practice? What kind of support would they need to do it?

Have you heard about Housing First for Youth? What about Youth Reconnect or Duty to Assist? These are just some of the youth homelessness prevention programs that can be implemented in communities of any size across Canada.
 
Take our survey to help us understand your knowledge of and interest in these youth homelessness prevention interventions and others, and what it would take to implement them in your community.
 

Today, August 1st, is Emancipation Day. It’s a day to recognize Canada’s history of slavery and discrimination. This date was chosen because August 1, 1834, marks the abolishment of slavery across the British Empire. In 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to designate August 1st as Emancipation Day. 

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) continues to evaluate the design and use of assessment tools within the homelessness sector, to ensure that communities have access to the best, most evidence-based resources. This blog shares our recent reflections on assessment tools and processes. It also highlights key findings from a national survey on assessment tools launched by the COH in the fall of 2021.