{"id":21759,"date":"2025-02-20T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/?p=21759"},"modified":"2025-02-20T15:46:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:46:18","slug":"york-u-prof-available-to-speak-to-media-on-how-to-stop-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/2025\/02\/20\/york-u-prof-available-to-speak-to-media-on-how-to-stop-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"York U prof available to speak to media on how to stop homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Co-host of world\u2019s largest conference on youth homelessness prevention says number one reason for homelessness is a lack of affordable housing; addressing family conflict key for adolescents<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2025 <\/strong>\u2013 <\/strong>York University Faculty of Education professor Stephen Gaetz<\/a>, also president of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness<\/a>, says after decades of research and advocacy work, homelessness prevention is no longer being treated as a \u201cdirty word\u201d by the policy makers, government agencies and not-for-profits he talks to.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The concept of prevention \u2013 basic on the surface, but previously met with so much resistance \u2013 seems to finally be having its moment, says Gaetz, perhaps in part because the problem has become impossible to ignore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHomelessness is on people's minds. The growth in the numbers in Toronto and across Canada and the rise in encampments make homelessness highly visible, and while what we are advocating for hasn\u2019t changed, the resistance to these ideas certainly has,\u201d says Gaetz, who along with Melanie Redman of A Way Home Canada<\/a> is co-hosting the world\u2019s largest conference on youth homelessness prevention<\/a> next week in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe main reason for homelessness in general is a lack of affordable housing, but for youth in particular, family conflict plays a huge role. Half of homeless people will have their first experience of homelessness under the age of 25, so preventing youth homelessness is a crucial part of tackling the larger crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acknowledging that the housing \u2018crisis\u2019 is actually a chronic condition that continues to grow worse, Gaetz advocates for a public-health model of prevention. This includes broad strategies that benefit society as a whole, such as widely available affordable childcare and housing, to targeting those most at risk of homelessness, with specific strategies dealing with Indigenous homelessness, interventions for those facing imminent eviction, and for those who do find themselves homeless, swift interventions to house them immediately and make sure they don\u2019t become homeless again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key intervention for youth is to enhance their family connections and other natural supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we focused our efforts on preventing youth homelessness, not only would we have better outcomes for young people, but also for their families and communities, and in the long run we would have an impact on chronic homelessness,\u201d says Gaetz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurrently, youth who age out of foster care, hospital patients and those being released from prison are all being discharged into homelessness in this country. This should never happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held Monday, February 24 to Wednesday, February 26 at the Westin Harbour Castle, the conference will feature researchers, service providers, experts with lived experience and thought leaders from Canada and around the world, highlighting research that showcases evidence-based solutions to youth homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With more than 500 people registered for the event, Gaetz says to his knowledge it is the largest conference hosted on the topic of youth homelessness prevention to date. Gaetz is available at the conference and beyond to speak to the media on concrete strategies communities can adopt to prevent homelessness, and youth homelessness in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n