Youth Homelessness in the Waterloo Region: Rising Rates, Risks, and the Need for Urgent Solutions

Youth homelessness is reaching alarming levels in Ontario, and the latest data from Waterloo Region underscores just how urgent the situation has become. According to recent reports from CBC News and CTV Kitchener, the number of youth experiencing homelessness is not only rising — it's becoming a defining feature of the housing crisis in the region.

Data from Waterloo Region’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count revealed that 23 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness were under the age of 25, which is nearly one in four (1). This statistic reveals a troubling trend: homelessness is increasingly affecting younger populations, many of whom are navigating these challenges for the first time without sufficient support.

The region counted over 1100 people experiencing homelessness in a single night. Of them, almost 44 percent said they first became homeless as youth, often due to family conflict, poverty, systemic discrimination, or a breakdown in foster care transitions (2).

Youth experiencing homelessness encounter a complex range of challenges that extend beyond housing instability. Many report leaving home because of unstable family dynamics, including abuse, neglect, or rejection. Consequently, mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and trauma are widespread and often worsened by the stress of being unhoused. Without stable housing or adult guidance, young individuals have little access to stable income and may struggle to meet even basic needs like food, hygiene, and transportation.

The instability of their situation often disconnects them from education, making it difficult to attend school or focus on learning. Youth-specific services are also limited, meaning that many end up in adult shelters where they feel unsafe or unwelcome. For LGBTQ2S+ youth in particular, the risks are even greater, as they often face family rejection and discrimination, both of which contribute to their vulnerability.

Being unhoused at a young age dramatically increases the risk of long-term harm. Youth are more likely to become chronically homeless, meaning they remain unhoused for extended periods — sometimes six months or longer. Without safe shelter, they are more exposed to violence and exploitation, including physical or sexual assault.

Substance use can also become a coping mechanism, especially when combined with untreated mental health issues. Homeless youth are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, especially young women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals who lack support networks. Criminalization is another major concern, as young people engaged in survival activities, such as sleeping in prohibited areas or committing petty theft, often come into contact with the justice system, leading to further marginalization.

Youth homelessness is often hidden through couch hopping or staying in unsafe, temporary environments, because of this, many of these individuals are not even counted in official data, making it harder to address the full scale of the issue.

Addressing youth homelessness requires more than emergency shelter. It demands early intervention, long-term planning, and youth-specific services. This includes the creation of safe and accessible shelter spaces designed specifically for young people, particularly those who are LGBTQ2S+ or have experienced trauma. Transitional housing programs must be expanded to support youth leaving foster care or fleeing unsafe home environments.

Additionally, access to mental health support, education, and job training is essential to help these youth rebuild stability and independence. Just as important is a shift in public policy to prevent youth homelessness before it starts — through strengthened child welfare systems, school support services, and affordable housing strategies tailored to young people’s needs.