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Black communities consistently endure a disproportionate burden in securing safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing in Canada and are therefore at higher risk of experiencing homelessness. This blog post highlights systemic and interpersonal barriers to affordable housing and offers innovative solutions to securing housing of this nature for Black communities in Metro Vancouver and across Canada.
Loneliness is such a devastating issue of our time that in 2018 Britain appointed a Minister of Loneliness in recognition of the enormous physical and emotional toll that being lonely has on individuals and society as a whole. Specific populations bear the brunt of loneliness. Generation Z is the loneliest generation and young women identify as being the most lonely across demographics.
In July of 2023, the BC Minister for Housing, Ravi Kahlon, pointed out that the province has 17 communities with populations of 80,000-plus, and that all 17 will be asked “to play a bigger role” in accommodating British Columbia’s population growth. It can be assumed that this means that these communities will be responsible for building more homes and that due to their growth, these cities will also need to play a bigger role in preventing and ending homelessness.
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, A Way Home Canada, and The Housing First Europe Hub are conducting an international study to better understand how Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) programs are adopted and come to function effectively and sustainably. To do this, we are examining the experiences of established HF4Y programs in Canada and Europe.
It is common to hear organizations or governments talk about gathering feedback from the community. In addressing issues such as homelessness, we expect to see consultation from a wide variety of stakeholders including people with lived or living experience (PWLLE). Gaining input in a way that is respectful, appropriate, and beneficial to everyone involved is complex.
Until recently, there were few Canadian research studies that examined the relationship between child protection services (CPS) and youth homelessness. However, available studies show a link between CPS and youth homelessness in Canada. Those in government care are more prone to substance-related behaviours.
Evictions in Canada have a long history, beginning with the forced displacement of Indigenous Peoples due to colonization and European settlement. In this three-part blog series focusing on shelter diversion and eviction prevention (SD-EP), we will explore past policies and governing documents that continue to contribute to homelessness and impact SD-EP efforts in Canada today.
Recently, the mayors of 14 municipalities across Quebec called for the establishment of a rent register. This call for a coordinated housing rights strategy across the province was supported by different groups and experts, including the Collectif de recherche et d’action sur l’habitat (CRACH), and the public i
Shelters are a key component of many homeless service systems. However, the risk of victimization and overdose are serious issues that can lead people experiencing homelessness to feel unsafe in shelters and avoid them altogether. A team of researchers conducted a systematic review to better understand the factors that contribute to safety, victimization, and overdose in shelters.
In this blog, we will explore how Upstream Canada accomplishes its mission to address barriers to resiliency for youth, with the underpinning goals of preventing homelessness and school disengagement.
Through the collaborative design of the program model and support of cross-sector partners, students are identified as at risk through a universal assessment and validation process.