A stark new national report has uncovered a hidden crisis unfolding for young people across Canada, revealing how the country's affordability crisis is disproportionately impacting youth in the lowest-income communities and putting their futures in serious jeopardy.
A Deepening Divide for Vulnerable Youth
Released on November 27, 2025, by Pathways to Education Canada, the report draws from the most extensive program review in the organization's 25-year history. Conducted in partnership with the Students Commission of Canada (SCC), the findings are built on community insights and the lived experiences of youth, families, and support workers across 31 low-income communities nationwide.
Subagini Sivapatham, Chief Impact Officer of Pathways to Education, stated the message from communities was unequivocal. "Young people in low-income communities are facing increasingly complex barriers that are limiting their chances of success," Sivapatham said. "Many of them are still working to overcome the lasting effects of the pandemic. The world has moved on, but they're still behind."
Key Findings: A System Under Strain
The report identifies three critical areas where the pressure on young people is intensifying, creating a significant equity gap.
First, academic needs are intensifying as educational systems struggle to keep pace. Students are falling dangerously behind in core subjects like math and science, and a widespread struggle to stay motivated is compounding the problem.
Second, growing financial strain is impacting every facet of student life. Soaring costs are limiting access to basic essentials, leading many young people to question whether they can afford to pursue any form of higher education or training for their future.
Third, the report highlights that social and emotional well-being needs are escalating. Youth reported feeling increasingly anxious, disconnected from their peers, and are finding it difficult to adjust to life in the post-pandemic world.
Community Support as a Vital Lifeline
Despite these overwhelming pressures, the report's findings also point to a powerful solution. The data confirms that early, community-driven supports can dramatically change outcomes for vulnerable youth.
Sharif Mahdy, CEO of the Students Commission of Canada, emphasized the importance of collaboration. "While this report describes a Canada in which youth, particularly those living in marginalized communities, are falling further behind, it also provides a solution: partnership," Mahdy said. "After all, it takes a village."
For nearly a quarter-century, the Pathways Program has worked with community partners to provide a crucial safety net. The program offers tutoring, financial support, and one-on-one mentoring to help youth graduate from high school and build a foundation for long-term success. During the review, students described the program as essential for their emotional well-being, viewing staff as some of the few trusted adults they can rely on.
However, the report issues a clear warning: these community-based supports are stretched dangerously thin. Demand for these vital programs is now growing faster than the resources required to sustain them.
The report concludes with an urgent, collective call to action directed at governments, corporate partners, and other youth-serving organizations. It advocates for sustained investment and coordinated action across all sectors to close the equity gap for Canada's most vulnerable young people.
"We have proof that early support works to change the narrative for students," Sivapatham asserted. "We are calling on partners across sectors to stand with us to ensure no young person is left behind."
