I am an urban scholar, researcher, and instructor with a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Public Policy. I am currently the Senior Director of Research at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH), York University. My research examines the intersections of social and health policy, geographic equity, and homelessness, with a focus on housing, economic development, and community-engaged studies.
In my current role, I lead the Making the Shift (MtS) Youth Homelessness Demonstration Projects (DEMs). I oversee all aspects of the MtS DEMs, including methodological approaches and the implementation of long-term research strategies. Additionally, I guide site-specific research plans and lead the academic and public-facing outputs of research studies from the MtS DEMs.
In this website, as a media outlet, I write blogs, discuss my research, and occasionally share my take from urban life through photography.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Black youth experiencing homelessness and criminal justice involvement: findings from the without a home national youth homelessness survey in Canada
Ahmad Bonakdar et al. (2026)
Youth homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system (CJS) are deeply interconnected in Canada, with Black youth disproportionately affected due to systemic and structural inequities. While research on race, gender, and the CJS is growing, the specific experiences of Black youth facing housing precarity remain underexplored. This paper investigates the relationship between Black youth homelessness and CJS involvement … More →
Uncovering the Hidden Crisis: Youth Homelessness in Canada and the Urgent Need for Systemic Change
Ahmad Bonakdar (2025)
Youth homelessness has emerged as a serious and deeply entrenched social problem in Canada, with recent data demonstrating that 40% of youth who experienced homelessness initially encountered it before reaching the age of 16 (Gaetz et al., 2016). This data is important because young people experiencing homelessness often have a history of trauma, such as … More →
Unpacking the Discourse on Youth Pathways into and out of Homelessness: Implications for Research Scholarship and Policy Interventions Youth homelessness in Canada
Ahmad Bonakdar (2024)
Youth homelessness presents a complex and persistent challenge worldwide, particularly affecting young adults between 16 and 24 years of age in the US and Canada. This population faces elevated risks of exploitation, victimization, and various health issues upon detachment from familial support structures. Understanding the multi-faceted nature of youth homelessness requires the consideration of individual… More →
Homelessness and the Manifestation of Social and Geographic Inequities: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ahmad Bonakdar (2024)
The long-standing presence of structural-level factors that contribute to homelessness, such as poverty, unemployment, widening income disparities, colonialism, discrimination, and a shortage of affordable housing, has significantly perpetuated cycles of inequity for individuals experiencing homelessness. Recognizing homelessness as a manifestation of systemic inequi- ties allows scholars and practitioners to explore how the intricate… More →
RECENT BLOGS
Providing Opportunities for Young People to Build a Brighter Future: How Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) Changes Lives – Key Findings of the 24-month Outcomes Evaluation
When young people lose their homes, they face more than just the struggle of finding a place to sleep; they risk falling into cycles of instability that can last a lifetime. Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) is changing that story, with outcomes from our Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab demonstration sites illustrating its success in preventing youth homelessness. … More →
— August 13, 2025
Snapshot: The Family and Natural Supports Program Improves Youth Well-Being and Prevents Homelessness
A snapshot of how the Family and Natural Supports (FNS) program supports youth and their families, including those they consider significant in their lives—such as chosen family, Elders, coaches, and teachers—to foster stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and help prevent youth homelessness … More →