RECENT BLOGS
The Relationship Between Youth Homelessness and Child Protection Services
Until recently, there were few Canadian research studies that examined the relationship between child protection services (CPS) and youth homelessness. However, available studies show a link between CPS and youth homelessness in Canada. Those in government care are more prone to substance-related behaviours. Additionally, some marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoplesand 2SLGBTQA+ and non-binary youth, are more likely to have previous involvement with CPS and experience homelessness. These groups … More →
— September 21, 2023
The gap between research and practice has persisted for too long. Evidence-based research should be accessible, practically relevant, and inform policies. This is particularly important in the COVID-19 pandemic era, as there is not much research that can guide practice. In the homelessness sector, the pandemic has created many barriers, challenges, and uncertainties for service providers… … More →
— March 03, 2023
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
A Roof Over Your Head Is Not a Home: Youth homelessness in Canada
Cora MacDonald, Jacqueline Sohn, Ahmad Bonakdar, & Carrie Traher (2023)
This chapter explores youth homelessness in Canada, shedding light on the often-overlooked experiences of grief and loss young people live through. While homelessness among youth has become a pressing social issue, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 young people experiencing homelessness each year, the emotional toll it exacts remains poorly understood. This chapter… More →
Stephen Gaetz, Ahmad Bonakdar, John Ecker, Cora MacDonald, Sophia Ilyniak, Ashley Ward, Lauren Kimura, Aranie Vijayaratnam, & Emmanuel Banchani (2023)
Emerging evidence at the international level suggests that the Housing First approach could improve the housing stability of young people experiencing homelessness. However, there is a dearth of literature in Canada on whether the Housing First intervention for young people experiencing homelessness can improve outcomes including housing stability, health and well-being, and access to complementary supports. Adapted from… More →
Ahmad Bonakdar, Stephen Gaetz, Emmanuel Banchani, Kaitlin Schwan, Sean A. Kidd, & Bill O’Grady (2023)
Youth leaving or being discharged from child protection services (CPS) are a particularly vulnerable population in Canada that could be at an increased risk of homelessness, which has many adverse consequences including declining physical and mental health, school disengagement, involvement with the justice system, and substance use disorders. In this paper, we examine the extent to which youth accessing homelessness services … More →
I am an urban scholar, researcher, and instructor residing in Toronto, Canada. I hold a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Public Policy and am currently the Senior Director of Research, Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH), York University. My research interests focus on social equity, environmental justice, urban imaginary, and community-engaged studies. In this website, as a media outlet, I write blogs, discuss my research, and occasionally share my take from urban life through photography.