The Bridge of Hope Program Model Overview presents REST Centres‘ flagship initiative for preventing homelessness among Black and BIPOC youth aged 16–24 in Peel Region, Ontario. Developed in partnership with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, this program model overview documents a community-rooted, culturally responsive model that addresses the unique barriers Black and racialized youth face in accessing and maintaining stable housing.

Grounded in Housing First for Youth principles and an anti-Black racism framework, the Bridge of Hope program combines landlord engagement, head-lease housing, intensive case management, and wraparound supports across four program pillars: Shelter, Living, Healing, and Growing. The model is designed to address structural, systemic, and individual drivers of youth homelessness, with particular attention to the compounding effects of anti-Black racism, poverty, and housing inequity.

This overview outlines the program’s goals and objectives, core principles, service delivery model, landlord engagement strategy, implementation requirements, and four scaling pathways for replication. It also presents impact data demonstrating significant growth in program reach between 2022 and 2024, including a 140% increase in referrals and a 112% increase in active clients.

This report is helpful for anyone who delivers or develops programs and services for Black and BIPOC youth facing homelessness in Canada.

Although Bridge of Hope is based in Peel Region, the program model is designed to be replicated at organizations and in communities across Canada.

Learn more about companion resources to this report.