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The Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness (Canada)

Author/s

Stephen Gaetz Kaitlin Schwan Melanie Redman David French and Erin Dej

Abstract

The Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness

It is time for a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to youth homelessness. The Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness is designed to help service providers, policy makers, communities, advocates, researchers, and all people in Canada better understand the meaning of youth homelessness prevention. It provides a clear definition of youth homelessness prevention, a prevention typology, and a common language for policy and practice, outlining:

  • What is youth homelessness prevention, and what isn’t it?
  • Who is responsible for youth homelessness prevention?
  • What are systems approaches to prevention?
  • What program models and interventions exist?
  • What is the evidence for youth homelessness prevention?

The Roadmap is a useful guide to why and how prevention can contribute to a comprehensive systems response to youth homelessness, detailing evidence-based and informed program models that can help communities and governments implement plans to prevent and end youth homelessness. The Roadmap has been directly informed by consultations with youth across Canada who have experienced homelessness. In order to reform our response to youth homelessness, it is critical that youths’ voices, experiences, and insights are the cornerstone of the work.

Breakout Reports

The Prevention Report Series offers distinct reports on each element of youth homelessness prevention outlined in The Roadmap, including:

Each report outlines targeted policy and practice components, as well as key evidence and examples from around the world. The series provides an easy way to start thinking about each element of prevention and how it might work in your community, organization, or government department/ministry.

Roadmap to ending youth homelessness

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