Alberta gets 4 new recommendations to end youth homelessness in special report

The Alberta legislature in downtown Edmonton is seen in this aerial photo taken in early June 2026. (Sean McClune / CTV News Edmonton)

An organization’s research detailing the lived experiences of young Albertans who have faced or are facing homelessness is calling for greater support from the provincial government.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) released its special report, which called for urgent and co-ordinated steps from provincial ministries on Wednesday.

The report interviewed 156 people from 12-24 who were or had recently been unhoused, specifically defined in the survey as “without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.”

In 2025, the OCYA investigated 68 cases of children and young adults who were seriously injured or who died in the province. Of those reviews, 42 had been unhoused in some capacity, 32 of them having stayed in sheltered or slept outside.

“Many young people became homeless with their families, or had to leave due to family breakdown, often involving conflict, neglect, abuse or parents being unable to address their children’s complex needs,” the report found.

The group called for collaboration between the children and family services and mental health ministries to develop a youth-specific homelessness strategy.

It also called on the above ministries to join the arts and culture ministry to publicly report on tangible prevention, intervention and support progress.

The Ministry of Children and Family Services is being asked to align housing supports under the province’s Transition to Adulthood Program with the OCYA standards for transitional housing.

The ministry is also being asked to increase youth shelter capacity, although it did not give a concrete number.

The Child and Youth Advocate Act allows the OCYA to give advice to the Government of Alberta on rights, interests and well-being of young people.

On Wednesday, the Alberta NDP children and family services shadow minister called for the UCP government to immediately implement the recommendations.

The Alberta government says it plans to review the report and respond in more detail to the recommendations later on but pointed out its $4.4-million investments in youth emergency shelters as well as work in the transition program, family resource networks and foster parent supports.

“Alberta’s government remains committed to supporting children and youth who are at risk of neglect, abuse or homelessness as well as those transitioning out of government care,” Child and Family Services press secretary, Chinenye Anokwuru, said in a statement to CTV News.

The ministry said it already collaborates on initiatives with the mental health ministry in ventures like the Virtual Opioids Dependency Program and joint investments into the Wood’s Homes’ Bowness Campus, a youth mental health facility, expansion in Calgary.