The Black Youth Housing Equity Summit (BYHES) took place on November 20th, and 21st, 2025, at Algoma University. REST Centres, a leading organization addressing Black youth homelessness, partnered with the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) to host the event. This gathering marked a historic first. Youth, service providers, funders, policymakers, and community leaders from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond came together to confront a crisis that has gone ignored for far too long.
The summit opened with a screening of “The Call,” a short film inspired by true stories of REST youth. Produced by Mohammed Anwerzada, the film follows a Black youth aging out of foster care whose search for housing turns into a fight against systemic bias, discrimination, and survival. It’s described as a gripping portrayal of one youth’s struggle for dignity, and it set the tone for the work ahead.
Day One: Setting a shared agenda
Day One established the collective focus of the summit. Organizers framed the day as a space to strengthen alignment toward housing justice by building shared understanding, amplifying lived experience, and presenting data that clarifies the scale of the crisis. This alignment shaped a unified agenda for more equitable housing systems for Black youth.
Dr. Jean Augustine delivered the keynote address, “Youth in Action for Equity.” She underscored the urgency of securing safe, affordable housing for Black youth across Canada. Dr. Augustine made it clear; this summit was part of a national movement to transform systems that consistently fail Black youth.
A featured presentation by Dr. Marie-Cecile Kotyk introduced the Black Housing Equity Framework, a strategic guide for practitioners who want to develop policies and programs that break down systemic housing barriers. Artist Sammie followed with a powerful spoken word performance that brought the emotional weight of the issue to the forefront.
Two panels rounded out the day. The first, “Innovations to Address the Overrepresentation of Black Youth Among Homeless At-Risk Youth,” was moderated by Danavan Samuels and featured practitioners working at the frontline of youth homelessness. The second panel, “Equity in Action: Transforming How We Fund Change” was moderated by Rosemary Powell and brought together funders and community leaders who are reshaping how resources reach Black youth.
Day Two: Moving from insight to action
Day Two opened with a screening of “The Card,” another film produced by Anwerzada in collaboration with REST youth. It follows three siblings navigating homelessness after losing their mother. The film reveals the emotional and structural weight young people carry when systems refuse to catch them.
Dogma delivered the opening remarks. She explained that Day Two shifted the summit from insight to action. Participants translated research, community models, and youth-led recommendations into practical strategies for system reform. This day pushed attendees to co-develop solutions rooted in lived experience rather than abstract theory.
The morning included two concurrent sessions. The first, “Policy: The Head Leading Model” was facilitated by Bright Okenwa and Efia Takyi-Annan and featured speakers Lara, Kizito Musabimata, Margaret Fkynn, and Michael Hackl. The second session, Building Resilience: Trauma-Informed Practice for Black Youth, was led by Nene Kwasi Kafele. He emphasized the importance of addressing the sources of trauma that keep youth from reaching their full potential.
A unified statement for change
One of the summit’s most important outcomes was a joint statement in support of Black Youth Housing Equity. REST Centres’ Youth Council worked with educators, service providers, movement builders, and community leaders to create it. The statement’s vision stretches far beyond shelter. It calls for: housing justice, dignity, and system-wide transformation at every level of government.
Anyone interested in learning more about REST Centres can visit their website at restcentres.org.
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