A safe and decent place to live : Endroit sûr et décent où vivre : vers un cadre logement d'abord pour les jeunes : synthèse du rapport

It is important to note that the development of this framework was the result of a collaboration between the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and two bodies that work with young people who are home- less: The Street Youth Planning Collaborative (Hamilton) and the National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness (details about these organizations are in the appendix of this report). [...] A Safe and Decent Place to Live: Towards a Housing First Framework for Youth 1 The framework presented here is intended to provide communities and funders with a clear under- standing of what Housing First is, and how it can work to support young people who experience, or are at risk of homelessness. [...] Accommodation and supports must first be designed and implemented in recognition of the developmental needs and challenges of youth and second, foster and enable a transition to adulthood and wellness based on a positive strengths-based approach. [...] Case management is as important as the housing itself and must be age appropriate (that is, the needs of a 16 year old are generally different from those of a 23 year old), focused on the needs of the developing adolescent or young adult, be flexible and built around the needs of the specific individual. [...] It should not be a requirement that the young person meet the needs of the program; rather, the program should be fitted to the needs of the young individual.