Values

Principles

1. Understand youth as whole people who are part of families and communities.
   • We need to be holistic in our approaches
   • Services and supports should respond to the uniqueness of neighbourhoods, communities, and youth
2. Youth have a right to lead the development of their own plans, and be supported during and after transitions.
   • Transitions should not lead to homelessness
   • There needs to be shared accountability during transitions
   • Ending youth homelessness requires a planned transition into healthy adulthood and interdependence
3. Build on what is working.
   • All youth have strengths
   • Evidence and research should inform our approaches
   • Local service providers have existing capacity, profound understanding of the issues, and trusting relationships with youth; build on them
4. Youth self-identify what they want and need.
   • Start with youth at the centre
   • We need to expand choices for youth and listen to them
   • Culture is central to who people are; we must be culturally competent
5. Youth homelessness is not acceptable, and we all have a role in preventing and ending it.
   • Reconciliation is about all of us and necessitates transforming how we work together
   • All stakeholders, including families, communities, Indigenous peoples, community-based organizations, governments, and funders need to be included and have a responsibility to collaborate and align in the best interests of youth
   • Decision-making processes must recognize power dynamics and promote self-determination of youth
   • Equitable practices support fair outcomes for oppressed individuals and groups