| Transforming the Canadian Policy Agenda for School-Based Prevention of Youth Homelessness: Research as ActivismAbstract:
Youth homelessness (YH) demands transformative changes in research, education, and public policy. Distinct from adult homelessness (AH), poorly addressed YH may lead to AH. Prevailing media narratives and policy communications perpetuate stigma and are unrepresentative of youth’s lived experiences, hindering the educational sector’s capacity to implement supportive measures in youth homelessness prevention. Schools are situated to provide preventative and mitigative supports to address YH, yet work intensification of educators receive has reached a point of fatigue, thus threatening support efficacy. We situate our research as activism and propose that policy can be engaged as a matter of social justice and a means to transform society. Our Canadian environmental scan informs several studies in progress, which share goals to: prevent YH; reduce harms from intersectional issues to YH; and ameliorate suffering for youth in or at risk of homelessness. We call for a multi-pronged approach to engage stakeholders, including educators, in addressing this high-stakes issue disproportionately affecting underserved youth, comprising an issue of critical importance to considering research as activism. Our findings chart the next steps to engage the voices of policymakers, academics, and practitioners, and the voices of youth with lived experiences. Carleton University, York University | Publication | 2024-04-30 | Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Sohn , Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Preventing Youth Homelessness in Canada: The Role of Education PoliciesIn this blog, we will explore the role of education policies in preventing youth homelessness in Canada. We will examine the state of youth homelessness, the impact of equity, diversity, and inclusion, the gaps in Canadian education policies, the importance of schools in preventing youth homelessness, and the need for comprehensive and up-to-date policies. Carleton University, York University | Publication | 2024-03-05 | "Melina Poulin", Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Sohn , Jacqueline Kennelly, "Stephanie Vasko " |
| Preventing youth homelessness in the educational landscape: towards youth-informed solutionsYouth with lived experience of homelessness across Canada have advised that schools could play an integral role in providing solutions and preventing homelessness from happening in the first place (Malenfant et al., 2020; Schwan et al., 2018). However, there are virtually no policies or established initiatives in the Canadian educational landscape that address the problem of youth homelessness (Poulin et al., 2024). This could be attributed to issues such as: lack of awareness and misconceptions about the problem; an overburdened education sector that does not consider youth homelessness to be within their scope of responsibilities; and systemic barriers to collaboration between sectors (e.g., Sohn & Gaetz, 2020). Despite common challenges, countries such as Australia, the United States and Wales have established school-based approaches to addressing youth homelessness through educational policies and interventions. Our research team is undertaking a study that explores how youth homelessness is addressed in the educational landscapes in these countries through in-depth interviews with policy decision makers, sector leaders, practitioners, academics, and importantly, youth with lived experience. For this presentation, we are proposing to discuss our findings from interviews with eight youth participants from our case study countries: Australia, the United States and Wales. A consistent and troubling theme is the disconnect between policy and lived experience, with knowledge and access being significant barriers to supports – despite legislated and established initiatives. Lessons from these international youth participants’ insights and perspectives will be brought forth to contribute important advice on how we can better serve youth at risk of and experiencing homelessness in Canada, particularly through the education sector. We aim to engage in discussions with the audience on strategies for meaningful dialogue with policy decision makers across Canada, based on the valuable insights shared by our youth participants. York University, Carleton University | Presentation | 2024-10-31 | Jacqueline Sohn , Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Dancing around the elephant in the room: Exploring Canadian policies affecting youth in precarity in or at risk of homelessness from lenses of whiteness and class privilegeThis paper presentation shares findings from a review of existing education policies across Canada at national, provincial and territorial, and school district levels that function to prevent or mitigate youth homelessness and intersectional issues that create conditions leading to youth homelessness, including invisible homelessness. Carleton University | Presentation | 2023-05-30 | Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Enhancing school staff knowledge to better support homeless studentsSchools in Canada could become active players in helping to end and prevent youth homelessness, following examples being set in Australia, Wales, and the U.S. Drawing from qualitative interviews with homeless or formerly homeless young people from two Ontario cities, the paper presents findings regarding how school staff might have recognized that they were homeless or at-risk –what we have called the ‘symptoms of homelessness’ and suggestions made by young people about how schools could have better supported them. Findings such as these have been converted into a youth-led workshop that has been presented to two Teacher Education programs in Ontario. The workshop is in the process of being converted to an online and interactive workshop that will be delivered to all Teacher Education programs in Ontario. The paper will also incorporate reflections on that process and the progress being made to date. Carleton University | Presentation | 2023-05-31 | Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Towards a policy agenda for school-based youth homelessness prevention programs in Canada The purpose of this paper presentation is to unpack a policy agenda forpreventing or mitigating youth homelessness via initiatives within school systemsin Canada andoffer policy recommendations that have implications for teacher education, both in K-12 schools and with institutions that provide pre-service teacher education. Carleton University | Presentation | 2024-05-28 | Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Towards educational equity for youth experiencing homelessness in Canada: lessons from Australia, the United States and WalesPaper presentation on the conceptual framework, setting the stage for our international comparative study on YHP policies and initiatives in the educational landscape York University, Carleton University | Presentation | 2023-05-31 | Jacqueline Sohn , Jacqueline Kennelly |
| Youth Homelessness in Canada: A Policy Analysis of National, Provincial, Territorial and School Board Education PoliciesPaper presentation based on environmental scan; implications for educators | Presentation | 2024-03-20 | "Melina Poulin" |
| Prevention of Youth Homelessness in Canada: Revealing and Closing the Gaps in Education PoliciesThe purpose of this policy brief is to highlight the gaps in Canadian education policies concerning youth homelessness prevention and intervention. We urge school boards, community partners, education policymakers and provincial/territorial governments to work together to create comprehensive, up-to-date policies to address youth homelessness in schools. Carleton University, York University | Publication | 2024-03-30 | "Melina Poulin", Rebecca Stroud, Jacqueline Sohn , Jacqueline Kennelly |
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