Kris Johnson

Working with all orders of government, communities, services providers and philanthropy to create a policy, investment and service environment that enables a shift away from simply “managing” the problem of youth homelessness through emergency services to a more proactive, rights-based approach that focuses on prevention and helping those who are homeless move into housing with supports as rapidly as possible in a safe and planned way. Advocating to establish a fully funded youth homelessness prevention strategy and advocating for funding for programs, mechanisms, and projects for youth homelessness prevention Discussions with officials with regards to advancing youth homelessness prevention projects with the Government of Canada through funding programs such as Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and Youth Mental Health Fund.

Working with all orders of government, communities, services providers and philanthropy to create a policy, investment and service environment that enables a shift away from simply “managing” the problem of youth homelessness through emergency services to a more proactive, rights-based approach that focuses on prevention and helping those who are homeless move into housing with supports as rapidly as possible in a safe and planned way. Discussions with officials with regards to advancing youth homelessness prevention projects with the Government of Canada through funding programs such as Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and Youth Mental Health Fund. Advocating to establish a fully funded youth homelessness prevention strategy and advocating for funding for programs, mechanisms, and projects for youth homelessness prevention.

The Home Depot Canada Foundation, in partnership with A Way Home Canada, aims to advance federal policy change and increased investment in evidence-based youth homelessness prevention.

Discuss opportunities for funding from the Build Communities Strong Fund to develop community infrastructure for low-income and disadvantaged youth Discuss opportunities for funding from Build Canada Homes to develop transitional and supportive housing for youth.

Covenant House Toronto aims to advance federal policy change and increased investment in evidence-based youth homelessness prevention

Taxation and Finance - policies and programs that will advance the human right to an adequate standard of living, focused on those in greatest need Housing - policies and programs that will advance the human right to adequate housing, focused on those in greatest need

Youth mental health and addictions – community capacity and operating funding 360°kids will communicate with federal decision-makers regarding youth mental health and addictions priorities, with a focus on expanding access and community capacity. Will seek to help identify and shape upcoming federal youth mental health funding mechanisms (including how community-based organizations can access health-specific funding streams). Advocate for operating funding models that enable youth-serving organizations to deliver prevention, early intervention, and wraparound supports. Position 360°kids' integrated prevention and wraparound model as a value-for-money investment that reduces downstream costs in emergency care,policing, and social services. Ensure youth voice and equity perspectives are incorporated into youth mental health and addictions policy and funding approaches. Sector-specific youth pathways, train-the-trainer models, and employer partnerships. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding funding streams and program models that strengthen youth workforce pathways and employer partnerships. Advocate for funding streams that invest in train-the-trainer programs and sector-specific youth pathways (including trades, technology,culinary, PSW/social work, environment). Promote models that link employment and skills development to mental health and housing stability supports for older youth with barriers and those underrepresented in the job market. Encourage stable, outcomes-based funding that supports onboarding and retention, particularly for equity-deserving youth. Modernize and recapitalize YESS into a year-round Youth Hiring Incentive (YHI). 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding modernization and recapitalization of the Youth Employmentand Skills Strategy (YESS), including changes to the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. Advocate to expand short, time-limited placements into a year-round Youth Hiring Incentive for youth aged 18-29 who are not in full-time study. Support longer, more stable placements that reflect current labour-market realities and enable retention and progression. Structure delivery through multi-year contribution agreements with community partners and predictable incentives for employers, with enhanced supports/top-ups for barriered youth (e.g., homelessness, disability, newcomer and Indigenous youth). Integrate funded mental health, mentorship, and early intervention supports into YESS-funded placements. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the redesign and delivery of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), to ensure that funded mental health and wraparound supports are embedded alongside employment placements. Advocate for including dedicated federal funding (through contribution agreements and/or program requirements) for counselling, mentorship, early intervention, literacy and peer supports being delivered. Ensure supports are available for youth facing barriers such as homelessness, disability,newcomer status, and Indigenous identity. Improve outcomes such as training completion, job retention, well-being, and reduced crises or program dropouts. Data and outcomes reporting capacity – support to expand tracking and align reporting with federal priorities. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding resources and supports to expand data tracking capacity and outcomes reporting, including where such capacity can be supported through program funding. Will advocate to increase support to expand data tracking capacity for housing and employment outcomes. Aligning reporting with federal priorities and program reporting templates to demonstrate measurable results foryouth, communities, and the broader economy. Affordable Housing (including within Build Canada Homes) by incorporating youth housing, homelessness prevention, and wraparound supports. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the design and imple

Apply an equity and housing-stability lens across YESS and align it with federal housing investments. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the objectives, eligibility criteria, and reporting requirements for YESS-funded programming, to better integrate equity and housing stability outcomes. Recognize housing stability, homelessness prevention, and equitable access to opportunity as core objectives within YESS frameworks, calls for proposals, and reporting templates. Advocate for the inclusion of outcome measures and equity benchmarks for rural/remote, Indigenous, newcomer, racialized, and disabled youth. Align youth employment programming with federal housing and health investments so that youth-focused prevention, housing, and wraparound supports are eligible and/or prioritized where appropriate. Affordable Housing (including within Build Canada Homes) by incorporating youth housing, homelessness prevention, and wraparound supports. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the design and implementation of Build Canada Homes alongside the important goals of federal departments (including Finance, PSPC, and Health) and agencies, and related federal housing measures. Advocate to ensure youth supportive/transitional housing and homelessness prevention are incorporated into program objectives, eligible activities, and funding criteria. Recognize the role of wraparound supports (mental health, employment, family/natural supports) in stabilizing youth housing outcomes. Advance pilot opportunities with community partners such as 360°kids to demonstrate scalable approaches and measurable outcomes. Integrate funded mental health, mentorship, and early intervention supports into YESS-funded placements. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the redesign and delivery of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), to ensure that funded mental health and wraparound supports are embedded alongside employment placements. Advocate for including dedicated federal funding (through contribution agreements and/or program requirements) for counselling, mentorship, early intervention, literacy and peer supports delivered by community partners. Ensure supports are available for youth facing barriers such as homelessness, disability, newcomer status, and Indigenous identity. Improve outcomes such as training completion, job retention, well-being, and reduced crises or program dropouts. Sector-specific youth pathways, train-the-trainer models, and employer partnerships. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding funding streams and program models that strengthen youth workforce pathways and employer partnerships. Advocate for funding streams that invest in train-the-trainer programs and sector-specific youth pathways (including trades, technology, culinary, PSW/social work, environment). Promote models that link employment and skills development to mental health and housing stability supports for older youth with barriers and those underrepresented in the job market. Encourage stable, outcomes-based funding that supports onboarding and retention, particularly for equity-deserving youth. Modernize and recapitalize YESS into a year-round Youth Hiring Incentive (YHI). 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding modernization and recapitalization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), including changes to the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. Advocate to expand short, time-limited placements into a year-round Youth Hiring Incentive for youth aged 18-29 who are not in full-time study. Support longer, more stable placements that reflect current labour-market realities and enable retention and progression. Structure delivery through multi-year contribution agreements with community partners and predictable incentives for employers, with enhanced supports/top-ups for barriered youth (e.g., homelessness, disability, newcomer and Indigenous youth). Data

Youth Homelessness Prevention: Alongside our research partner the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness at York University, we have built an evidence base that preventing youth from becoming homeless not only gets better outcomes for youth and families, but it is cheaper than waiting until they become homeless where costs to public systems, including emergency services, skyrocket. We are asking parts of the government of Canada to better coordinate and make a prevention strategy. We are also asking them to invest in evidence-based prevention interventions.

Federal policies that unlock public land for affordable housing by providing incentives for land trusts and private developers to acquire it at below-market rates, ensuring its dedicated use for affordable housing. That the government make Blue Door a key partner in establishing a Skilled Trades Talent Hub in the 905 area, in the style of the Workforce Hubs created by the Biden administration across the United States. Pursue federal investment in Blue Door's enterprise training model to facilitate housing creation, skills development, and homelessness reduction. Engage government on skills training for newcomers to Canada and the country's existing workforce. That the government develop a National Workforce Strategy that features support to expand pre-apprenticeship programs to support the creation of a complete pipeline of talent into the construction workforce.

Lobbying for the preservation of affordable rental housing Lobbying for the development of new affordable housing, including co-operative housing. Lobbying to ensure that low-income households can continue to live affordably in federally-administered housing co-operatives after their operating agreements end with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Lobbying for renewed low-income subsidies for federal indigenous co-operatives. Lobbying for new low-income subsidies for federal co-ops (including Section 95 program co-op housing). Lobbying for government to examine the consequences of the steady erosion of rent-geared-to-income (RGI) capacity for low-income households in existing federally administered housing providers, including co-operatives. Lobbying for energy retrofit programs for co-op housing. Lobbying around the elimination of homelessness in Canada.

Taxation and Finance - discussing changes to charity tax laws and how these affect registered charities Support for the Charitable sector in Canada, through granting programs for the charitable sector in Canada