ekaplan's blog

Research shows that youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness have better outcomes when their family and natural supports are engaged in their lives. In this blog, we will highlight the early learnings and outcomes from an evaluation of the Family and Natural Support program in selected sites.  

During longitudinal studies, it is common for researchers to worry about losing participants. The longer a trial goes on, the more that risk increases and it becomes difficult to retain participants. Regarding participant retention in Canada, there is a lot of research available on clinical and health interventions, however, there is less focus on retention in community-based housing work. 

Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) is a program, systems approach and philosophy that can be used to guide local system planning decisions, as well as service delivery.

In this blog, we explore the distinctions between HF4Y as a philosophy, systems approach, and program to bring forward a clearer understanding of what HF4Y is and is not.

The Duty to Assist is perhaps one of the most significant paradigm-shifting developments in our efforts to prevent and end homelessness since Housing First arrived on the scene more than 25 years ago.  

The gap between research and practice has persisted for too long. Evidence-based research should be accessible, practically relevant, and inform policies. This is particularly important in the COVID-19 pandemic era, as there is not much research that can guide practice. In the homelessness sector, the pandemic has created many barriers, challenges, and uncertainties for service providers. 

In 2022, the Research for Social Change Lab’s (RSCL) Building from Experience research team began a project with the goal of increasing local understanding of the systems that house and shelter people experiencing homelessness in the city of Peterborough, Ontario.

This work is ongoing, but we shared our initial findings with our community in the form of a zine called “Get In Line” in the summer of 2022. 

Many young people become homeless because of challenges they have experienced with their families. According to the Without a Home study, approximately 63% of youth experiencing homelessness reported being abused as a child/teenager and 57.8% had involvement with the child welfare system. 

Canada’s rental housing affordability crisis is at an all-time high, with rents rising at an unprecedented pace. In many communities across the country, the current housing stock is not matching the needs of rental applicants. 

This blog explores the house-sharing model and how it could be a solution to providing affordable rental housing for low-income individuals and individuals who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Canada. 

This blog captures the story of Maria, who is a peer support worker with lived experience of homelessness. Her story highlights both the unique vulnerabilities and strengths of older women who have been frequently overlooked by housing service providers and policymakers.

Maria’s Experience of Homelessness:

Maria uses the analogy of a baseball game to share her story of exiting homelessness against all odds.

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