Stop youth homelessness before it starts
Tonight, too many young people in Ottawa don’t know where they’ll sleep.
Your support can change that.
Match the moment this June! Thanks to the Turnbull Family Foundation, donations made before June 30 will be TRIPLED to help prevent youth homelessness.
Stop youth homelessness before it starts
Tonight, too many young people in Ottawa don’t know where they’ll sleep.
Your support can change that.
Match the moment this June! Thanks to the Turnbull Family Foundation, donations made before June 30 will be TRIPLED* to help prevent youth homelessness.
Nobody chooses to be homeless
Youth homelessness doesn’t begin on the streets.
It begins with circumstances beyond a young person’s control—family dispute, neglect, abuse, or unsafe living environments.
Hidden homelessness looks like:
- A conflict at home that escalates and leaves them without a safe place to stay
- Nights spent moving from couch to couch
- Uncertainty about food, health, safety, and stability
- Increased risk of trauma, exploitation, and human trafficking
1,200+
youth in Ottawa experience homelessness every year.
1 in 3
homeless young people in Canada identify as 2SLGBTQIA.
44%
of Indigenous Peoples who have faced homelessness first experienced it before the age of 18.
~60%
of youth who experience homelessness have been involved in the child welfare system.
School is ending, and many young people are excited for the future. Others are facing uncertainty instead.
For youth at risk, school is often a lifeline. It provides caring adults, routine, and connection—critical supports when home feels uncertain.
When those supports disappear, young people are pushed closer to homelessness.
You can help stop temporary crises from becoming lifelong challenges.
Prevention is the answer
Homelessness is more than losing a place to live. Couch surfing and emergency shelters are short-term, unstable, and often unsafe—especially for young people.
That’s why we focus on prevention-first solutions that create long-term stability.
Grounded in the latest research, we support programs that strengthen the social, emotional, and relational foundations young people need to avoid homelessness.
By preventing youth from entering the shelter system, we can end youth homelessness. Early intervention changes lives.
We’re changing young lives by helping provide:
Counselling for young people when they struggle with their mental health
Support to reconnect with family or stabilize strained relationships
Communication and conflict management skills programs to navigate challenging circumstances
Practical learning opportunities, such as managing money, finding housing, and staying in school
Your support prevents youth homelessness and builds stable futures.
Give by June 30 and your gift will be matched, tripling your impact.
Choose your gift amount:
Your impact in action
Meet young people whose lives changed because someone stepped in early—supporters like you.
“It gave me a place to sleep, it was a roof over my head and that gave me the opportunity to care about myself.”
As a teen, Cassandra faced homelessness just eight months after brain surgery. Cassandra now lives independently and is dedicated to helping others.
“A cheering squad that I’ve never experienced before in my entire life. They empowered, motivated, and welcomed me.”
Brandan faced struggles early in life, which led to homelessness. A little support has gone a long way in helping him get his life back on track.
“They helped me get subsidized housing, I started [a job], and it really helped to get my life back on track.”
While facing homelessness and encountering significant barriers to steady employment, Nikki found a supportive environment, training, and work experience.
A collective, community-wide response
For more than a decade, United Way East Ontario has been working with partners across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County to tackle youth homelessness at its root.
Our team brings the sector together and works hand-in-hand to draw on the latest research to invest and build programs and initiatives that address the greatest needs and have the greatest impact.
Our bold commitment
United Way East Ontario will raise $1 million in new funds over the next five years to help prevent and end youth homelessness in Ottawa.
Let’s end youth homelessness—for good
For many young people, homelessness begins when they run out of safe options. When we act early, we can change the trajectory of their lives.
We take accountability seriously
You should feel confident when supporting a charity, and we’re committed to full transparency, accountability, and cost-efficiency. We invest your gift in smart, strategic ways, to ultimately move the needle.
100% LOCAL IMPACT
Every donation is put to work in the community where it is raised.
TOP-RATED CANADIAN CHARITY
An “A” for results reporting and a “✓+” for financial transparency by Charity Intelligence.
Learn more about United Way’s charity ratings and how your gift is managed.
Need help?
If you or someone you know is seeking mental health help, here are some immediate resources you can use:
CALL 9-1-1
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
DISTRESS CENTRE OF OTTAWA AND REGION
24/7 access to a mental health support hub.
Visit dcottawa.on.ca
Call the Distress Line at 613-238-3311
Text 343-306-5550
211 EASTERN ONTARIO
Find community, social, government, and health services closest to you.
Visit 211ontario.ca or call 2-1-1