Housing
Ensuring Every Kid Matters
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
In Canada, youths aged 13 to 24 constitute about 20% of the homeless population, with a yearly average of 35,000 to 40,000 experiencing some form of homelessness. Within York Region, the more recent data suggests, approximately 1 in 7 homeless individuals are young people, constituting 14% of the homeless population (1). However, the true scale of this issue may be underestimated due to pandemic-related challenges. Many youths might have avoided shelters due to reduced capacities. This issue is compounded by the fact that around 80% of homeless people in Canada remain uncounted in official tallies, suggesting that the actual number of homeless youths could be significantly higher than reported (2).
1989
1998
2000
2003
2010
2012
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019
2021
2022
2023
2024
Our Values
360ºkids began over 33 years ago as two separate agencies that were developed to address the needs of the communities of York Region. The Markham
Mission:
To prevent homelessness by helping youth at risk or in crisis transition to a state of safety and stability.
Vision:
Every kid has a safe home.
- Sources of information:
1. The Regional Municipality of York and United Way Greater Toronto, I Count 2021: York Region’s 2021 Homeless Count, May 2022. https://www.unitedwaygt.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/I_Count_2021_A_Profile_of_Homelessness_in_York_Region.pdf
2. The Regional Municipality of York and United Way Greater Toronto, I Count 2018: York Region’s 2018 Homeless Count, April 2019. https://www.homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/Working%2BTogether%2Bto%2BPrevent%2BReduce%2Band%2BEnd%2BHomelessness%2Bin%2BYork%2BRegion.pdf
3. Abramovich, Alex & Shelton, Jama. 2017. “Introduction: Where are we now?” in Where Am I Going to Go? Intersectional Approaches to Ending LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness in Canada & the U.S. by Abramovich, Alex, & Shelton, Jama. (Eds.). Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press, p.2. Available online: http://homelesshub.ca/whereamigoingtogo
4. Homeless Hub, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S), accessed at http://homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-transsexual-queer
5. Government of Ontario, A Place to Call Home: Report of the Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness, 2015. http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=11038
6. Food Banks Canada, Hunger Count Report 2022, 2022. https://hungercount.foodbankscanada.ca/assets/docs/FoodBanks_HungerCount_EN_2022.pdf
7. Gaetz, S., O’Grady, B., Kidd, S. and Schwan, K. (2016). Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press. https://www.homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/WithoutAHome-final.pdf
8. A. Noble, J.Donaldson, S. Gaetz, S. Mirza, I. Coplan, D. Fleischer (2014): Finding Home: Youth Homelessness in York Region. Toronto: The Homeless Hub Press.
How You Can Help
Get Involved360°kids works with individuals, corporate, school and community groups to provide both financial and in-kind donations to help support our work to assist at-risk and homeless youth.
In-kind donations from the community such as non-perishable food, clothing and hygiene items help keep our costs down so that more of your donation dollars can go towards direct programming, equipment needs and support to the youth.
Funds raised by 360°kids are invested back into our organization in improving and expanding the supports offered to vulnerable youth so that they can become stable, well-adjusted adults who contribute to the community.
