Jacqueline Kennelly

Jacqueline Kennelly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University, where she also serves as the founding Director of the Centre for Urban Youth Research (CUYR). Her work focuses on youth cultures, homelessness, urban sociology, and participatory research methodologies. She is a core member of the Making the Shift: Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab and leads the Prevention and Early Intervention theme within this initiative.

Her research explores the intersection of neoliberalism, social exclusion, and marginalized youth experiences, particularly in urban settings. Key projects include analyzing the impacts of major events like the Olympics on low-income youth, and evaluating affordable housing outcomes for formerly homeless young people. She has secured significant grants, including SSHRC Partnership Development Grants and partnerships with organizations like the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.

Kennelly employs qualitative and participatory methods, often collaborating with community organizations and involving youth as co-researchers. Her recent work emphasizes policy development in education and housing sectors to prevent youth homelessness. She has supervised numerous graduate students on topics spanning homelessness, activism, and urban inequality, though she is currently not accepting new students.

Her affiliations include leadership roles in national housing research initiatives, international conferences on youth homelessness, and collaborations with local agencies such as the Youth Services Bureau and Ottawa Community Housing. Kennelly’s research bridges academic rigor with community engagement, aiming to advance social justice through evidence-based policy and participatory practices.