TORONTO, November 24, 2014 – A study of homeless youth in York Region will be released in Aurora on Thursday, detailing how young people become homeless and where earlier intervention could have made a difference.
The report, “Leaving Home: Youth Homelessness in York Region”, draws on research conducted with 60 young people who have experienced being homeless in York Region, and will include a framework for action and recommendations for next steps.
A joint project of United Way York Region, the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, and the Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Unit at York University, it is part of a two-year process to re-imagine the response to youth homelessness in York Region.
The research was conducted by York University researchers and graduate students during the summer of 2013, led by Professor Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. It was funded by a Public Outreach Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Gaetz’s Coming of Age report, published earlier this year, outlined innovative ways of responding to youth homelessness that recognize the diverse needs of homeless youth. The report being released on Thursday will focus on how and why communities such as those in York Region should respond quickly.
Speakers will include:
York University Professor Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (Homeless Hub)
York University Faculty of Education PhD Candidate Amanda Noble, Manager of Research for Raising the Roof
United Way York Region CEO Daniele Zanotti
WHAT: Research Report Launch − “Leaving Home: Youth Homelessness in York Region”
WHERE: Aurora Cultural Centre, Brevik Room, 22 Church St., Aurora, MAP
WHEN: Thursday, November 27, 2014 from 10am to Noon.
United Way York Region serves nine municipalities: Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. In addition to its traditional role of supporting agencies to meet urgent needs, United Way is working to tackle the root causes of social issues. To help strengthen York Region’s quality of life, United Way is uniting people and resources on three priorities: moving people from poverty to possibility, helping kids be all they can be, and building strong neighbourhoods.
York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 25 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 280 leading universities worldwide. York U’s community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 270,000 alumni.
Media Contacts:
Janice Walls, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101, wallsj@yorku.ca
