For the second year in a row, York MPPAL students competed virtually in the CAPPA/IPAC National Public Administration Case Competition. Carleton University officially hosted, although the competition took place via Zoom due to COVID-19. Five outstanding students (Gillian Wasmandsdorf, Lauren Dranitsaris, Gurkamal Dhahan, Arman Hamidan and Maggie de Barra) proudly represented York, finishing tied-fourth among 14 others from across Canada. This year's team was coached by SPPA's newest colleague, Associate Professor Zac Spicer.

The case this year focused on rough sleeping and homeless encampments. York’s team was praised for their forward-thinking approach to the policy problem and the way in which they humanized the complex challenges that encampment residents confront on a daily basis. The judges were particularly struck by the team’s focus on data collection, stabilizing the health, safety and sanitary conditions of encampments and building supportive pathways for encampment residents to move to permanent housing.