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recently, there was no shared language about what

homelessness prevention is, what it is not, and

why this distinction is so important. In 2017, the
COH released A New Direction: A Framework for

Homelessness Prevention, which seeks to uncover
what it will take to stop homelessness before it

starts, to avoid its often-traumatizing effects. The

document provides a definition and typology of
homelessness prevention, and a review of the

evidence base. The aim of the framework was to
begin a nationwide conversation on what prevention

looks like and what it will take to shift toward

homelessness prevention. Using international
examples, the framework operationalizes the

policies and practices necessary to successfully

prevent homelessness and highlights who is
responsible. Above all, it situates prevention within

a human rights approach.

Building on this important work, the COH and

AWHC released the Roadmap for the Prevention
of Youth Homelessness just one year later. The

Roadmap integrates our learning from a pan-

Canadian consultation with people with lived
experience of youth homelessness (What Would

it Take) and an international scan of evidence of
youth homelessness prevention COH and AWHC

conducted for the Wales Centre for Public Policy.

prevention and Housing First for Youth in
So we now have both a language for youth
communities across Canada through our Making
homelessness prevention, but also practical
the Shift Youth Homelessness
examples of prevention in action in policy, planning
Demonstration Lab and collaborating with partners
and practice. In addition, AWHC and
internationally who are engaged in similar efforts.
the COH are refining and testing models of
Most recently, the Government of Canada’s

10 JUNE 2020 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA