Ontario Funds Innovative Program to Tackle Youth Homelessness at Rebound Child and Youth Services

In Local

Rebound has announced $100,000 through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to develop a new exciting program that supports you at risk in Northumberland County.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025 as the Nightstop Information Night began, MPP David Piccini formally congratulated the team at Rebound Child and Youth Services Northumberland (Rebound) on the work that it’s done since receiving a $100,000 Seed grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) last fall to create an innovative program to support youth at risk of homelessness.

“We will never tackle our community’s challenges leaving community members on the sideline,” said MPP Piccini.

“We need to always ensure that children and youth in our community are given all the support they need when they are in vulnerable situations. Rebound are offering an innovative, community driven program that will provide help for young people that need it most that Premier Ford and our Government are proud to support.”

Ontario has enabled Rebound to pilot Nightstop, an innovative youth homelessness prevention program in Northumberland County that enlists community members to volunteer their spare bedrooms as temporary places to rest one’s head and a warm place to call home for youth in need.

Funds from the grant are being used to help with staffing and program administration costs, purchasing two laptops, as well as for providing training and education materials.

Through this pilot, Northumberland County is the third community to offer Nightstop in Canada, joining 360 Kids in York Region (2018) and Durham Youth Services (2024) and joins the success of over 30 years of Nightstop in the United Kingdom.

The Ontario Government continues to support community first approaches that enable community groups and leaders to provide innovative solutions that specifically suit the region in which they are implemented.

“In 2024, Rebound supported eight unsheltered youth under the age of 18. In 2025, we have supported seven so far, ” said Sam Rockbrune, Executive Director, Rebound.

“With the launch of Nightstop, we are now able to provide a vital resource for addressing the critical gap for youth in our community. By offering a community-based, safe space for young people in crisis, Nightstop not only helps address immediate housing needs but creates a sense of community support. It provides young people with a welcoming and nurturing environment where they can feel safe.”

Rebound Child and Youth Services Northumberland (Rebound) is a not-for-profit, incorporated, charitable organization, providing high-quality, community-based programs and services to children, youth, and their families in Northumberland County since 1997. For more information, visit www.rcys.ca.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province.

Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships.

Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Pete Fisher
Author: Pete Fisher

Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love

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