Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe pledges to end youth homelessness by 2030, with new city budget investments planned for 2026.
A Pledge from City Hall
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced Tuesday that the city will aim to end youth homelessness by 2030. Speaking at a press conference, he committed to ensuring young people who enter shelters receive immediate help to secure safe and stable housing.
The Goal Behind the Promise
Sutcliffe argued that addressing youth homelessness is a necessary step toward eliminating homelessness more broadly. He pointed to research showing half of chronically homeless adults first experienced homelessness before the age of 16. Between 50 and 100 youth are currently homeless in Ottawa, according to city estimates.
Key Timeline for Change
The city’s 2026 budget, now in planning, will include new investments aimed at preventing and reducing youth homelessness. Sutcliffe said the five-year horizon is realistic and allows the city to establish systems that keep young people from becoming trapped in long-term homelessness.
Community Voices on the Plan
Local advocates and service providers welcomed the pledge. Kaite Burkholder Harris, executive director of the Alliance to End Homelessness, called it a “doable goal,” explaining that ending homelessness means it becomes rare, brief, and non-recurring. Ali Campbell of Shepherds of Good Hope highlighted that youth who face homelessness are more likely to experience it again later in life. Councillor Stéphanie Plante stressed the importance of prevention and urged that no one should remain in a shelter for more than two weeks.
Steps Underway to Find Solutions
Although details remain limited, Sutcliffe confirmed that no additional funding will be sought from other levels of government. He will also participate in a University of Ottawa “hackathon,” where students and community partners will design strategies to prevent youth homelessness. These efforts are expected to complement future city-funded programs.
The Road Ahead for Ottawa
The mayor emphasized that success will be measured by whether homelessness among young people is rare and short-lived. The coming budget will determine how much funding is directed to prevention, rapid rehousing, and youth-specific supports. If achieved, the initiative could serve as a model for addressing homelessness across Canada.
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