ekaplan's blog

One third of youth experiencing homelessness in Canada are Indigenous. Among these Indigenous youth, almost half feel disconnected from their culture or community and over two thirds feel they are not connected to a specific area of Indigenous land.

Over the past decade, several plans to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Canada have been implemented by governments at all levels. Although initiatives like the National Housing Strategy, Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy and the Rapid Housing Initiative are steps in the right direction, it’s clear there is still work to be done.

It’s been two years since the onset of COVID-19. At this point, the virus has left few of us unaffected. So, you likely won’t be surprised to hear that our research found that many young people experiencing homelessness were deeply impacted by the pandemic. With funding from Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, we conducted a mixed-method study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth experiencing homelessness.

People who experience criminalization have the highest rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Canada. Even though HCV can now be cured within 8-12 weeks using tablets with almost no side-effects, and tes

National Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated on June 21, is a day for all Canadians to celebrate and honour the legacies, cultures, and exceptional achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

How do the rights of children and youth and housing rights intersect? What are the implications for young people and families at-risk of or experiencing homelessness? To date, these questions have not been satisfactorily addressed in conversations about Canadian human rights. 

It’s been two years since the onset of COVID-19. At this point, the virus has left few of us unaffected. So, you likely won’t be surprised to hear that our research found that many young people experiencing homelessness were deeply impacted by the pandemic. With funding from Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, we conducted a mixed-method study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth experiencing homelessness.

“Naatamooskakowin” is a Cree word meaning “a place to come to for help, shelter, or resources.”  Earlier this month, Elder Belinda Vandenbroeck gifted the name to Winnipeg’s new Indigenous-led Coordinated Access System, which provides a new way for people to connect quickly with the housing and supports they need. Naatamooskakowin offers:

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are significantly impacted during public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Health emergencies of this kind often have health, social and economic impacts on this population. Although PEH or people experiencing housing instability may receive social, housing and health supports through programs like Housing First, they continue to face barriers which make them more vulnerable to the negative effects of health emergencies. 

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the second round of the Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Prevention Awards Program. Sponsored by Canada Life, the program is part of a broader suite of activities co-led by A Way Home Canada and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness to transform our response to youth homelessness. We were so pleased with the results of last year’s program. We gave two awards, and one honorary mention.