University Researchers Launch Homelessness Lesson Plans

New curriculum resources help Canadian high school students explore the complex realities of homelessness.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a solitary wooden chair and lamp in a bright space, symbolizing educational inquiry. — Researchers from three Ontario universities have released a new curriculum designed to provide Canadian high school students with factual lessons on homelessness. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should high schools include explicit curriculum on local social issues like homelessness?

Researchers have released a series of teaching materials to help Canadian high schoolers learn about homelessness. The program aims to replace common misinformation with factual data through structured lesson plans.

Why it matters

Providing students with evidence-based curricula helps foster critical dialogue regarding homelessness. This initiative seeks to equip youth with accurate information to better understand this growing social challenge.

The suite includes 6 distinct lesson plans designed for Grades 9 to 12. These materials follow a 2025 Point-in-Time count in Brantford that estimated 379 people were experiencing homelessness.

The players

Wilfrid Laurier University

This public university operates campuses in Waterloo and Brantford and leads research into social issues.

York University

Located in Toronto, this research university collaborated on the development of the homelessness resources.

University of Guelph

This institution partnered with other Ontario universities to create and pilot the new educational curriculum.

The details

The program, titled Creating Dialogue: Secondary School Teaching Resources on Homelessness in Canada, was developed by experts from Wilfrid Laurier University, York University, and the University of Guelph. These resources integrate into existing courses like civics and economics to provide hands-on activities that address the increase in the national nightly homeless population from 40,000 to 60,000.

The resources were publicly launched in early October 2026.
A 2025 Point-in-Time count estimated 379 homeless people in Brantford.

Culture Shift

The program aligns with the Ontario Curriculum to ensure teachers can easily integrate these lessons into existing academic requirements. This reflects a broader societal move toward incorporating complex social issues into the secondary education classroom.

Educators can access the new materials through the Ontario Curriculum Finder website to incorporate them into their classrooms. Students will engage in critical dialogue and hands-on activities that replace misinformation with factual, real-world perspectives.

The takeaway

These resources provide a structured way for schools to address the rise in homelessness across the country. Educators and students are encouraged to utilize these tools to foster informed discussions and counter common myths.