360°Experience returns to spotlight youth homelessness in York Region
As housing affordability continues to tighten across Canada, some youth in York Region are feeling the impact in very devastating ways. Rising rents, limited housing supply, and mounting financial pressure are pushing at-risk young people into unstable living situations. Many are trying to stay in school, hold down jobs, and manage personal challenges while searching for a safe place to sleep.
Behind policy debates and statistics are real young people in our community.
This year, 360°kids has supported 3,672 youth across York Region, providing critical support across housing, employment, education, and health and well-being. The organization provided 20,181 bed nights to youth in need of safe shelter and supported 1,780 youth through its Home Base Drop-In Centre, where young people access mentorship, guidance, and connections to needed services. In addition, 13,483 food supports and meals were provided, helping ensure youth can focus on stability and long-term goals rather than daily survival.
To raise awareness and mobilize community action, 360°kids hosted the 360°Experience 2026 on March 5.
The 360°Experience is an immersive awareness and fundraising initiative designed to help participants better understand the challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness. Through interactive simulations inspired by real youth journeys, participants experience how housing instability intersects with barriers to employment, disruptions in education, and impacts on mental health and overall well-being. The experience highlights how quickly circumstances can change—and how critical timely support can be.
Participants also had opportunities to engage with youth and frontline staff from 360°kids, offering firsthand insight into the realities young people face and the programs helping them move forward. The event aims to turn awareness into understanding, and understanding into action.
Community members had the opportunity to take part in three ways: the Overnight Experience invites participants to spend the night in GTA locations to build empathy for housing instability while raising funds for youth supports; the Teams Challenge is a six-hour immersive event at the Community Safety Village of York Region, where participants move through realistic activity stations and simulations; or the Virtual Experience allows participants to take part from home while raising awareness and funds within their own networks.
“360°Experience brings our community together to better understand youth homelessness right here in York Region and to be part of real solutions,” said Clovis Grant, CEO of 360°kids.
Funds raised will support housing programs, food security initiatives, employment services, educational supports, and mental health programs—helping youth move from crisis to stability and independence.
Visit 360kids.ca for more information.