Cornerstone Landing to tackle youth homelessness with fundraising walk in Carleton Place

In rural communities throughout Canada, there exists a growing issue known as hidden youth homelessness.

Many youths in cities and rural communities endure this crisis by ‘couch surfing’ with friends or acquaintances and, when they exhaust all available support, find themselves sleeping outdoors. 

Cornerstone Landing Youth Services, a charitable non-profit organization based in Lanark County, is dedicated to assisting homeless youth or those at risk of homelessness in the local community. They also prioritize helping local youths re-enter or graduate secondary school, find employment, access physical and mental healthcare resources and so much more. 

In 2018, the organization participated in a fundraising campaign known as The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), spearheaded by Blue Sea Foundation. CNOY is a family-friendly winter walk which raises funds for local charities, including Cornerstone Landing. While previously held in Smith Falls and Perth, this year’s fundraiser will be taking place in Carleton Place on Feb. 22.

The funds raised by the CNOY initiative in the past led to Cornerstone Landing purchasing their first house in December 2020. The organization currently offers three transitional beds for short-term housing and Lanark County’s first one-bedroom secondary housing unit for affordable living. The next step is the development of a Tiny Home, which will serve as a detached secondary bachelor unit for youths in need. 

Elle Halladay, manager with Cornerstone Landing, told Lanarkist, “Addressing youth homelessness isn’t just about housing—it’s about human rights, health, and empowering our youth to become active and engaged members of society. By investing in housing first initiatives and supporting youth development, we are not only improving individual lives, but strengthening the entire community.”

According to Halladay, youth homelessness in Lanark County is significantly impacted by rural challenges such as limited transportation, zoning bylaws & building sizes and a lack of services. Rural areas suffer from fewer social services, meaning youth often have limited access to mental health support, education, and employment opportunities.

Cornerstone Landing was able to support over 80 youth and facilitate 75 moves into stable permanent housing in 2024. Their sights are set even higher in 2025 as the need for action is greater than ever. 

Halladay shared, “With many youth facing precarious housing situations in our community, it’s clear that systemic changes are needed. The youth experiencing homelessness are not abstract statistics—they are our neighbors, and their struggles are real.”

You can register for the fundraiser or donate financially today here.