COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

The Youth Homelessness Sector
1. Work with cross-systems stakeholders, municipalities, youth with lived experience, and
“unusual suspects” (such as landlords) to develop and implement regional and communitybased
plans to prevent and end youth homelessness. These plans should align with existing
poverty reduction plans, as well as plans to end homelessness writ large, utilizing knowledge
in the sector to ensure that the diverse needs of youth are met.
2. Prioritize prevention and early intervention efforts that provide assistance well before a
young person experiences homelessness, as well as immediate access to housing when a
young person does become homeless. Ensure all staff are appropriately trained to do this
work.
3. Ground all interventions, supports, and services for youth experiencing homelessness in a
human rights approach and the principles of Housing First for Youth, as outlined in THIS is
Housing First for Youth: A Program Model Guide.
4. Systemically identify and remove policies and practices that create barriers to youth
accessing services and supports within the youth homelessness sector. This should include
altering or abolishing policies that require youth to:
a) Be homeless for a specified period of time before receiving help,
b) Meet a particular acuity standard in order to access services and supports,
c) Obtain parental permission in order to access services and supports,
d) Possess identity documents,
e) Engage in programming, education, or employment in order to receive supports, services,
or benefits, or
f) Be 16 years of age or older in order to access services and supports.
5. Systematically identify and abolish any policies, protocols, or practices within homelessserving
agencies or organizations that discriminate against youth on the basis of their
identity or life experiences.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 138