Shortly after its launch in 2019, MtS kicked off its research strategy with a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI). Out of 69 initial applications, 21 were invited to submit a full proposal in September 2019. In December 2019, the MtS Board of Directors approved 8 proposals with a total funding envelope of $2,999,616.20. The recommendation for the funded projects came from the Research Management Committee, comprised of Canadian and international researchers, policymakers, people with lived experience of youth homelessness, and service providers. The funded projects include 8 principal investigators from 6 universities as well as two institutions and bring together a diverse selection of community partners. MtS awards were leveraged with more than $2 million in cash and in-kind contributions from academic and community partners.
The awarded projects share a common goal: to transform how we respond to youth homelessness through research and knowledge mobilization specific to youth homelessness prevention and housing stabilization.
Funding decisions were based on the proposal’s scientific excellence, their level of innovation, quality of partnerships and alignment with MtS’ vision and priority themes. As such, the funded projects align with the first four themes of the MtS research theme areas.
The funded projects showcase the power of collaboration between academic and non-academic partners in identifying innovative, impactful and comprehensive solutions. The projects will help position Canada as the world leader in research regarding effective solutions to youth homelessness in order to transform practice, policy, and systems planning that will create better outcomes for young people.
List of Funded Projects in Alphabetical Order
Preventing Discharge to No Fixed Address – Youth (NFA-Y)
Cheryl Forchuk, Lawson Health Research Institute
Project summary
Building upon several successful initiatives, this project will make housing and financial resources more accessible to youth admitted to inpatient wards at London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Parkwood Institute Mental Health. It creates much-needed knowledge regarding ways for preventing youth from being discharged into homelessness.
CA$397,798.00 over 4 years
On the Move: A Mixed Methods Study of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Homelessness and Migration in Northeastern Ontario
Carol Kauppi, Laurentian University
Project summary
The project will leverage data by analyzing a database on 512 youth in urban, rural and remote communities of northeastern Ontario to generate new knowledge about appropriate strategies for detecting risk, intervening early, and supporting sustainable exits from homelessness amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.
CA$285,336.00 over 3 years
A National Study of Tertiary Prevention Models for Youth Exiting Homelessness
Sean Kidd, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Project summary
The project will identify the service models of the most promising housing stabilization approaches while accounting for the diversity of youth experiencing homelessness. It will also use a rigorous knowledge exchange strategy to build capacity in the sector.
CA$254,570.00 over 3 years
Examining the effectiveness of an integrated housing, mental health and addiction service model for youth experiencing homelessness
Maritt Kirst, Wilfrid Laurier University
Project summary
This project tests the effectiveness of an integrated intervention (Housing First for Youth) tailored to better meet the housing, mental health and addiction service needs of youth experiencing homelessness and concurrent disorders (CDs). This project builds on the existing Making the Shift Housing First for Youth demonstration projects.
$545,895.00 over 4 years
The Upstream Project Canada: Lessons from demonstration sites and implications for scaling
Rachel Laforest, Queen’s University
Project summary
This social innovation (originating in Australia) takes on a cross-sector collaboration approach to identifying and supporting students at-risk of homelessness and school disengagement. Lessons from the demonstration sites will inform model development to bring it to scale in Canada as part of the Making the Shift Demonstration Lab.
CA$107,468.00 over 2 years
Youth Transition from Child Welfare to Precarious Living Conditions: A Mixed Methods Longitudinal Study of Risk and Protective Factors in Nova Scotia
Michael Ungar, Dalhousie University
Project summary
The project follows a large cohort of young people through the transition from Child Welfare Services to identify the psychological, institutional, social, educational and political/policy aspects of young people’s lives that put them at risk of homelessness and those that enhance their resilience.
CA$792,290.00 over 5 years
Ai’aoskiikowaata (providing guidance to youth): Supporting healthy transitions from government care to independent living
Janice Victor, University of Lethbridge
Project summary
Through investigating youths’ experiences of transitioning out of government care in three southern Alberta locations, this project will inform legislators and knowledge users about the protective factors associated with culturally-appropriate resources as well as prevention and support strategies for Indigenous youth.
CA$85,579.20 over 3 years
One House Many Nations: A community first approach to address homelessness amongst First Nation youth
Alex Wilson, University of Saskatchewan
Project summary
This project brings together Indigenous youth living on-reserve with lived experiences or those at risk of homelessness with a team of researchers and practitioners to design and build new homes in their community, thereby gaining new skills, experiences and relationships in the process.
CA$525,580 over 5 years