The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee of partners was mobilized to oversee and guide the development of The Strategy. Steering Committee members are invited to represent their organizations, based on their experience working with youth who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. The Steering Committee consists of community members that provide representation from various sectors in the community such as, education, justice, child protection, healthcare/mental health, emergency services, community champions, public spaces, funders and evaluators, equity seeking groups, community agencies, local businesses, local government as well as housing and shelters.
Housing Stabilization Sub-Committee
The Housing Stabilization Committee aims to:
Expand affordable housing options for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Implement measures to prevent young people from being evicted through awareness, education, and advocacy and
Reduce waitlists for affordable housing options.
Transform Systems Sub-Committee
The Transform Systems Committee aims to:
Build capacity in system navigation.
Increase awareness and access across the sector of services and supports for young people.
Implement mandatory discharge planning for youth leaving the system.
Advocate to change policies and practices that put young people at risk of negative outcomes and/or traumatic events.
Leadership and Collaboration Sub-Committee
The Leadership and Collaboration Committee aims to:
Develop a centralized data collection process across the sector.
Co-create opportunities for youth to be leaders at all phases of the process.
Build community capacity to ensure grassroots organizations can maximize their contributions and access to funding opportunities.
Implement sector-wide planning, protocols and policies to enhance community integration.
Explore and implement avenues for data collection and longitudinal research to enhance research and decision-making and examine outcomes.
Early Intervention and Prevention Sub-Committee
The Early Intervention and Prevention Committee aims to:
Provide young people and their families with community/peer-based supports, education, resources and other wrap-around supports.
Ensure young people have a caring adult or peer mentor who can help them be resilient and enhance their sense of well-being.
Implement collaborative training programs for staff and individuals to
ensure they are able to identify early signs of homelessness upstream.
Provide education and support to young people related to their legal and human rights.
Identify, triage and meet the needs of young people at risk of homelessness.
Eliminating Structural Barriers Sub-Committee
The Eliminating Structural Barriers Committee aims to:
Advocate for basic income for young people and their families.
Every young person can access and continue learning at all levels of education/training.
Advocate for and implement anti-oppressive practices, policies, and
systems across sectors.
Mobilize awareness, understanding and a call to action in communities on the issues, impacts and responses to youth homelessness.
