Nightstop is a community response to a local need.
What is Nightstop?
Nightstop is a program that combats youth homelessness by providing emergency shelter through compassionate volunteer hosts, offering a safe, short-term haven for young people at risk of sleeping on the streets, “couch surfing”, or staying in unsafe accommodations where they would be at risk of abuse.
Nightstop has been successfully operating in the United Kingdom since 1987, helping young people in over 33 towns and cities. In 2018, 360 Kids became the first accredited organization to offer Nightstop in Canada. Rebound is proudly the third organization in Canada to offer this innovative shelter diversion program, joining 360 Kids and Durham Youth Services.
In Northumberland County, Nightstop provides a vital resource for youth, as no youth shelter exists. Youth can participate in Nightstop anywhere from 1 night up to 6 weeks. Our staff connect with both the youth and hosts after each night to check in on the placement and provide supports to the youth.
Who can participate in Nightstop?
Nightstop is for youth aged 16-24 who are considered low-to-medium risk. Hosts are community members with a spare room and a desire to make a difference. By enlisting local volunteers from all different walks of life to open their homes and provide safe, temporary shelter to youth in need, we are able to respond as a community. Both hosts and youth go through a detailed application and vetting process to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the program. Once a youth is placed in a Host home, Nightstop staff continue to provide support as the youth works towards either reintegration with their family (if safe) or longer-term housing solutions.
Host Homes
Nightstop can’t operate without Volunteer Hosts!
All Nightstop Volunteer Hosts are properly vetted including reference checks, police and vulnerable sector checks, and a home visit. Hosts will also receive extensive training and have access to support from our staff the entire time they are participating in the program.
Program staff provides ongoing support, contacting the host to determine whether the youth is a good match for the family.
Hosts may pause their participation or withdraw from the program at any time.
Youth Referrals
Referrals to Nightstop are received 3 ways:
Internal
External
Self-referral
Nighstop staff will meet with the youth for an intake meeting, where they will review the young person’s situation and assess their eligibility for the program.
Youth must successfully pass the risk assessment before being placed with a host.
Host Matching
As a host with Nightstop, you can step in and bring a young person in from the dangers of sleeping rough or staying in unsafe, unsuitable accommodation. Hosts offer emergency, overnight accommodation for 16–24-year-olds facing homelessness in Northumberland County.
Each host and youth are carefully matched to ensure suitability for the stay. As youth and hosts proceed through our intake and vetting processes, we gain valuable information that assist us in making appropriate matches.
By putting a roof over a young person’s head, hosts provide a safety net at a pivotal moment in their lives. When someone has nowhere else to turn, the first 24 hours are crucial to steer them away from sliding into longer-term homelessness and can be critical in protecting them from negative effects on their health, education and employment. Once a young person accesses Nightstop, our staff can work with them to connect them to other services and agencies which will support them out of homelessness
Other Nightstops in Canada
360°kids
360°kids supports at-risk youth across York Region through a variety of innovative programs and services. The name 360ºkids references the comprehensive approach that the organization takes to assisting at-risk youth, recognizing that these kids need a wide range of supports to help them rebuild their lives. Ranging from afterschool programs and drop-in centers to employment, housing, counselling and academic programs, the organization is a one-stop-shop for youth support. The organization strives to surround kids in crisis with care by creating communities where every kid matters, and feels safe, supported and loved.
Durham Youth Services
Since 2008, Durham Youth Services has operated Joanne’s House to provide safe shelter for youth experiencing homelessness. While we remain Durham’s only youth-focused emergency shelter, today, we offer so much more! We are a registered charity with programs and wrap-around supports focused on youth homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and housing stabilization.
Other Way to Get Involved
Purchase Items for Youth
Nightstop ensures that youth experiencing homelessness have a safe place to stay, and part of that support includes providing essential items to help them feel secure and comfortable. You can help by purchasing much-needed items using the link below. These items make a meaningful difference in a young person's journey toward stability.
Donate to the Program
Nightstop ensures that youth experiencing homelessness have a safe place to stay, and part of that support includes providing essential items to help them feel secure and comfortable. Thanks to generous donations, we can purchase necessities such as hygiene products, clothing, transit passes, and grocery gift cards. These items make a meaningful difference in a young person's journey toward stability.
