After much preparation and outreach to the Northumberland County community, Rebound Child and Youth Services is now accepting referrals for youth to participate in the Nightstop program. Nightstop offers an alternative housing solution for youth ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness by enlisting carefully-vetted community members to volunteer their spare bedrooms as temporary shelters for youth in need. Northumberland County does not currently have a youth homelessness shelter and Nightstop provides a community response to a local need.
“We are excited to be able to start accepting youth referrals for same day placements with the Nightstop program. Our Youth Homelessness Prevention Team has been hard at work since the start of 2025 to make this happen – connecting with the community, recruiting, vetting and training hosts and meeting with youth who are experiencing precarious housing,” said Sam Rockbrune, Rebound’s Executive Director. “The amazing thing about Nightstop is the community engagement. From volunteering to be a host to community agencies who can make a direct referral to us to our many partners, Nightstop is an excellent demonstration of our community showing up for young people when they need it most.”
Referrals can be made directly by youth, a trusted adult in their life, or by community agencies including schools, police services, hospitals, or youth-serving organizations. To get a youth’s referral started, please visit our website and complete the Nightstop Referral form. Our team reviews referrals for same day placements Monday-Thursday before 3pm and Friday before 11am.
“Once a referral comes in, our team aims to complete the referral process, including a risk assessment and reference check, within a 3-4-hour period. This allows us to place youth in a host home the same day and prevents them from having to worry where they will be sleeping that night,” explained Makeda Irving, Rebound’s Clinical Manager. “By streamlining the process and still focusing on the safety and wellbeing of all involved, we are demonstrating what Rebound does best – responding to what the community needs.”
Nightstop is generously funded by an Ontario Trillium Fund Seed grant and supported by 360 Kids. For more information, please visit: rcys.ca/nightstop
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.
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
