On June 18, 2025, Aunt Leah’s Executive Director, Sarah Stewart addressed the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the 2026 Budget Consultation. Speaking both on behalf of Aunt Leah’s and as Co-Chair of the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, Sarah shared key recommendations to prevent homelessness for youth from care in B.C.
Her full remarks are shared below.
Good afternoon, and thank you to the Committee for the opportunity to present.
My name is Sarah Stewart, and I am the Executive Director of Aunt Leah’s Society, an organization that has supported youth from government care in British Columbia for 35 years. I also serve as Co-Chair of the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness.
I’m here today to speak about the urgent need for targeted investment in youth housing in Budget 2026.
In B.C., when youth age out of care at 19, they are expected to live independently—often without family, financial stability, or a safe place to live. As a result, they are 19 times more likely to experience homelessness. According to the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, 50% of homeless youth in B.C. have experience with government care.
Current Reality
In recent years, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has made meaningful progress. Through the SAJE program, youth from care now receive:
- $1,250/month in unconditional income support at ages 19 and 20
- A $600/month rent supplement up to age 27, if enrolled in education, training, or life skills
These are important investments. But income support alone doesn’t create housing.
The average rent for a one-bedroom in B.C. is over $2,180—and nearly $2,900 in Metro Vancouver. Young people from care may now have more money in their pockets, but there’s still nowhere for them to live.
This is because B.C. still lacks a youth housing strategy. While youth from care are recognized as a priority population by BC Housing, there is no dedicated youth housing portfolio, no tailored housing supports, and no coordinated plan across ministries. That’s the gap we need to close.
Recommendations and Final Remarks
For Budget 2026, we recommend the following three actions:
- Create a Dedicated Youth Housing Strategy and Portfolio
Youth from care are not simply “young adults” in a general housing system. They are a distinct population requiring a tailored response. We need BC Housing to lead a dedicated youth housing strategy in partnership with MCFD and the Ministry of Housing. This strategy should include:
- A youth-focused housing portfolio
- Coordinated policy and service delivery between ministries
- Long-term alignment with the financial supports provided through SAJE
- Fund Transitional Housing with Wraparound Supports
Youth need 3-5 year transitional housing programs that provide a stable bridge into adulthood. These programs must include wraparound supports: including mental health care, life skills development, education, and employment support—so that youth can succeed and thrive, not just survive.
This model is working. Aunt Leah’s is currently building a 90-unit mixed-income development that includes deeply subsidized housing for former youth in care. But non-profits like ours cannot meet the demand alone. This model must be scaled.
- Expand Access to Rent Subsidies and Youth Housing Navigation
Even with current SAJE supports, many youth still fall short. B.C. needs to expand access to:
- Rent-geared-to-income units or deep subsidies for youth not in education or facing mental health and substance use barriers, and
Youth housing navigators and case managers to help youth find, secure, and maintain housing, and build long-term stability
These are not just housing solutions—they are smart, upstream investments in health, education, and justice.
Research from the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth shows that every $1 spent on youth housing with supports, saves $2 to $4 in public system costs.
This government has already shown leadership by investing in financial supports through SAJE. Now it’s time to take the next step: turn that financial support into real homes.
Budget 2026 is an opportunity to close a critical gap, prevent youth homelessness, and offer young people a path to independence and belonging.
Thank you for your time. I welcome any questions.
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