TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- As voters prepare to head to the polls in Toronto's upcoming municipal election, a new Ipsos survey commissioned by Covenant House and a coalition of youth service providers across the city finds strong, broad public support for a coordinated approach to preventing and reducing youth homelessness.
The survey of 1,000 Toronto residents of voting age found that Torontonians see youth homelessness as an important issue for the city's future and want the next Mayor and City Council to prioritize both addressing the root causes (84%) and help young people secure housing with the supports they need to remain housed (85%).
Residents are concerned about the issue of youth homelessness in their communities (88%) and 66% are willing to vote for candidates who prioritize addressing the issue. They also expressed strong confidence that progress is possible: Eighty-four per cent said they believe youth homelessness can be prevented through targeted policies and supports, while 88% agreed that youth homelessness requires dedicated attention and solutions tailored to the unique needs of young people.
Support extended beyond broad concern to specific actions that understand young people experiencing homelessness need different interventions than adults. More than nine in 10 residents said they support a youth homelessness strategy for Toronto, alongside investments in supportive housing, employment and job training opportunities, mental health services, family supports, and school-based prevention initiatives.
Torontonians also strongly support balancing immediate responses with prevention efforts. Nearly eight in 10 (79%) believe initiatives should include an equal mix of helping young people currently experiencing homelessness and preventing others from entering homelessness in the first place.
The findings suggest a significant opportunity for the next municipal government to advance solutions that align with public priorities. Torontonians are looking for real coordinated solutions that help prevent youth homelessness and supports young people in building stable futures.
Quotes
"These findings show that Torontonians believe youth homelessness is both preventable and solvable. Residents are looking for a chance to build on existing efforts through a coordinated youth strategy that helps young people avoid homelessness in the first place while supporting those who are already experiencing it. The message is hopeful: when governments, communities, and service providers work together, we can help more young people reach their full potential." - Mark Aston, CEO of Covenant House Toronto and Chair of the Toronto Youth Homelessness Sector Strategy Group, the organization which commissioned the survey.
"Young people need more than a safe place to stay, they need a pathway to a secure future. Shelter is essential, but our work cannot end at responding to crisis. We must connect young people with stable housing, support for their well-being, and opportunities for education and meaningful employment. This research shows strong public support for that investment, helping young people move beyond homelessness and build the futures they envision for themselves." - Aisha Francis, Executive Director of Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth.
"These survey results say loud and clear that Torontonians want a City Council that supports young people in this city who are experiencing or facing homelessness. The people of Toronto are clearly saying they need strong policy decisions being made at City Hall which impact youth homelessness. As youth service providers, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and put in the work to make positive change happen." - Steve Doherty, Executive Director, Youth Without Shelter.
"We are excited to see the support Torontonians have expressed here for young people, particularly at a time when they are making decisions about the future of our city. A youth strategy at the City would make a real difference for young people and help them grow into adults who do not face permanent homelessness but rather a future that is stable, productive and bright." – Shannon Jackson, Executive Director, YouthLink.
About the Study
A representative sample of n=1000 Toronto residents 18 years of age and older were interviewed online between August 27 and September 1, 2026. Quotas and weighting were used to ensure the sample was representative of the Toronto population by age, gender, and region based on the latest Statistics Canada census data (2021). Results among the sample are accurate to within ±3.8 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
SOURCE Covenant House Toronto
For Further Information: Sarah Boesveld, Manager, Public Relations & Advocacy, Covenant House Toronto, 647-678-4372, [email protected]
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