COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

2. In renewing the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Government of Canada should ensure
that youth homelessness and prevention are prioritized and supported by:
• Targeted investments
• Directives that support community implementation of youth-focused interventions,
including Housing First for Youth
• A requirement that community systems plans include a targeted youth strategy
3. Embed youth homelessness prevention within the Federal Poverty Reduction Strategy,
ensuring that the Strategy provides the social and material supports needed to effectively
reduce poverty, housing need, and food insecurity among families with youth.
4. Ensure the housing needs of all youth and their families are adequately addressed and
resourced through the National Housing Strategy.
• The NHS should provide additional investments to support communities to implement
youth-focused models of housing, such as Housing First for Youth, grounded in principles
of youth choice, youth voice, and self-determination.
This should include:
a) Dramatically increasing the availability, affordability, and adequacy of housing in
Indigenous communities and on reserves across Canada, enabling youth and their families
to remain in their home communities (if they so desire).
b) Working with provinces, territories, and communities to increase the availability and
portability of the Canada Housing Benefit to best meet the needs of youth and families at
risk of homelessness.
c) Addressing affordability challenges for youth and their families using multiple policy tools,
including rent subsidies, the building of social housing, increased regulation of development
and speculation, and the protection of existing affordable rental housing units.
d) Encouraging the creation of youth-focused social housing stock.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 124