Strong Roots: YSB’s 2025–26 Annual Report and our path forward
For more than 65 years, YSB has worked alongside young people and families, adapting our services as their needs and our community have evolved.
Our
2025–26 Annual Report reflects another important year in that work, and the strong foundation that will guide what comes next.
Earlier this year, YSB launched Strong Roots, our new five-year strategic plan. Shaped through thoughtful collaboration and intentional planning, Strong Roots reflects the voices and experiences of youth, families, staff, and partners throughout our community.
Like the roots of a strong tree, our foundation is built on relationships: the young people who trust us, the staff who bring care and expertise to their work every day, and the community partners, donors and funders who make this work possible.
Strong Roots sets out five directions that will guide YSB over the next five years: centring authentic youth leadership, strengthening organizational health, demonstrating bold leadership in advocacy and systems change, strengthening and innovating across our continuum of services, and cultivating a culture of learning and evaluation.
Our Annual Report shows what that foundation looks like in action. Across housing, mental health, employment, education, youth justice and community supports, YSB continued to respond to the interconnected realities young people face. This included expanding prevention and diversion approaches to youth homelessness, strengthening mental health supports and partnerships, creating pathways to employment and education, and providing young people with opportunities to build skills, connections, and confidence.
The report also reflects the strength of collaboration. Ending youth homelessness, improving access to mental health care and creating better opportunities for young people cannot be accomplished by one organization alone. Our partnerships across Ottawa and beyond continue to strengthen the support network available to youth and families.
As we look ahead, Strong Roots gives us a clear direction while keeping young people at the centre of how we grow, learn and respond.
We invite you to explore YSB’s 2025–26 Annual Report to learn more about the past year, the people and partnerships behind our work, and where we’re headed next.
