The upcoming Black Youth Housing Project, associated with the Homeless Hub at 91亚色鈥檚 Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, will explore what housing models best support Black youth who are experiencing homelessness in 91亚色 region.

The project is led by 360掳kids, a non-profit organization that works to prevent homelessness by helping youth at risk, or in crisis, transition to a state of safety and stability. Among those working on the project are Nathan Okonta, a 91亚色 alum and a research associate at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, as well as Promise Busulwa, a communications co-ordinator at the observatory.

While research on homelessness in Black communities is limited, the available data shows that Black youth are overrepresented in populations experiencing homelessness. The Black Youth Housing Project looks to address, through research and action, a means to deliver a transitional housing model that could transform the lives of Black youth. It aims to provide five key benefits for communities working to address this particular crisis:

1. understanding the needs and challenges of youth who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced homelessness;
2. identifying pathways or conditions associated with homelessness;
3. informing the development of a youth housing model with cultural and age-appropriate services;
4. informing the development of preventative measures to support youth at risk of homelessness; and
5. promoting high-quality research to fill in gaps in the current literature around Black youth homelessness in Canada. 

Its goals are to better understand how to provide culturally relevant services to Black youth experiencing homelessness. It also seeks to inform the development of a long-term transitional home, for which 360掳kids has already secured a site, expected to be operational in 2024. 

The upcoming Black Youth Housing Project, associated with the Homeless Hub at 91亚色鈥檚 Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, will explore what housing models best support Black youth who are experiencing homelessness in 91亚色 region.

The project is led by 360掳kids, a non-profit organization that works to prevent homelessness by helping youth at risk, or in crisis, transition to a state of safety and stability. Among those working on the project are Nathan Okonta, a 91亚色 alum and a research associate at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, as well as Promise Busulwa, a communications co-ordinator at the observatory.

While research on homelessness in Black communities is limited, the available data shows that Black youth are overrepresented in populations experiencing homelessness. The Black Youth Housing Project looks to address, through research and action, a means to deliver a transitional housing model that could transform the lives of Black youth. It aims to provide five key benefits for communities working to address this particular crisis:

1. understanding the needs and challenges of youth who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced homelessness;
2. identifying pathways or conditions associated with homelessness;
3. informing the development of a youth housing model with cultural and age-appropriate services;
4. informing the development of preventative measures to support youth at risk of homelessness; and
5. promoting high-quality research to fill in gaps in the current literature around Black youth homelessness in Canada. 

Its goals are to better understand how to provide culturally relevant services to Black youth experiencing homelessness. It also seeks to inform the development of a long-term transitional home, for which 360掳kids has already secured a site, expected to be operational in 2024. 

The project is currently recruiting African, Caribbean and/or Black youth aged 16 to 34 who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity in the Greater Toronto Area within the past five years. Participants will be invited to an online or in-person interview or focus group. All participants will be compensated for their time, and participation in research is entirely voluntary.聽Those interested can reach out to the project鈥檚 principal investigator, Neil Price, at聽.

Article published in the December 20, 2023 issue of

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This donation will create and build on James鈥� education initiatives for Black youth in priority areas including student success, pathways to education, and support for Black scholars.

Established in 2008, the Jean Augustine Chair is an endowed Chair established by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada, and champion of the unanimous vote in 1995 that saw February designated as Black History Month. The Chair is one of only two endowed university chairs in Canada dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black and African-descended communities.

鈥淢y research, academic and community work has long been guided by the urgent need to support Black youth as they strive for success in the face of longstanding systemic barriers in education, and in society,鈥� said James. 鈥淩BC Future Launch, designed to support a variety of community-centred initiatives for young people, is a deeply appreciated contribution; and I鈥檓 pleased that the work of the Chair 鈥� particularly its programs that seek to support Black youth across Canada 鈥� will benefit significantly from this generous donation.鈥�

RBC Foundation鈥檚 $1.2-million donation will provide direct support to the Chair鈥檚 programs in four key areas, including:

1. Hosting the first ever National Conference for Black youth in Canada.
2. Supporting student pipeline initiatives at 91亚色 and up to four other universities across Canada that will bring high school students unto university campuses, thereby enabling them to imagine themselves participating in post-secondary education.
3. Establishing a new Canadian data hub that will strengthen research and information capacity and inform better public policy.
4. Creating new opportunities, supports and training for young Black scholars who as graduate students and post-doctoral fellows will engage in research, teaching and mentorship activities that will serve as resources to local Black communities.

It is anticipated that up to 900 high school and university students, and postdoctoral scholars could be served through the various initiatives and serve as a pipeline for many of these youth鈥檚 post-high school ambitions. The accompanying research will serve to inform feasibility and productivity.

RBC Future Launch is a 10-year, $500-million commitment to empower Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow. With a focus on networking, skills development, practical work experience and mental wellbeing supports and services, the initiative aims to help break down the barriers facing young people. In 2020, RBC a series of actions against systemic racism 鈥� including a commitment to invest $50 million by 2025 through RBC Future Launch to create meaningful and transformative pathways to prosperity for up to 25,000 BIPOC youth with investments in areas such as skills development and mentoring.

Building on previous work, and working with all university community partners, 91亚色 has re-doubled efforts to advance specific initiatives and strategies to support Black scholars, and directly address anti-Black racism. Through innovative programs, including the research and scholarly work of James, the Jean Augustine Chair, 91亚色's unique Black Canadian Studies Certificate, and the new , 91亚色 is putting this responsibility at the center of its teaching and research.

鈥�91亚色 is committed to offering a diverse student population access to a high-quality, research-intensive university committed to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of society,鈥� said Rhonda L. Lenton, 91亚色 president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淭his generous donation, made possible by the RBC Foundation, will support Professor James鈥� trailblazing work to build pathways for Black youth to pursue their educational goals, and provide new opportunities for current and future Black scholars to drive positive change at 91亚色, across Canada, and beyond.鈥�

Article from the March 3, 2021 issue of

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