Youth homelessness is a pressing issue in Canada. Nearly 40% of homeless youth have experienced homelessness before the age of 16. Traditional responses focus on crisis intervention. But what if we could use data to prevent homelessness before it happens?
Policy & Practice Implications
- Homelessness sector organizations and decision-makers can use the recommendations in the Summary Report for building better data and supporting a shift from crisis response to effective prevention.
- Policy makers, funders, and organizational leaders can enhance their data practices by applying the seven guiding principles outlined in the Summary Report: community-centred, collaborative, supported, inclusive, ethical, feasible, and sustainable.
- Community service providers, government and funders, researchers, youth, and sector leaders can use the Interest Holder Briefs to identify practical next steps for improving data infrastructure and advancing youth homelessness prevention.