About Hub Solutions
We’re research, design, and communications experts. We support agencies, communities, and policymakers to improve their capacity to prevent and end homelessness.
Hub Solutions is the social enterprise of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.
Income generated from our fee-for-service work is reinvested into the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness to support research, innovation, policy recommendations, and knowledge mobilization.
Meet our team of researchers and communications experts.
Leadership
Co-founder and Vice-President
Allyson Marsolais
Allyson is the Executive Vice President with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (previously the Canadian Homelessness Research Network) and VP and Co-Founder of Hub Solutions. Allyson has a Master’s degree in Critical Disability Studies from York University and almost 20 years experience working in the social justice field. Currently, Allyson is excited about further developing Hub Solutions, and is working towards a professional designation as a Project Management Professional (PMP). When she’s not working to make research matter and end homelessness, Allyson is probably telling her children: “No, please, don’t do that!” Or “No, please, put that down!” Or “No, please, don’t hit your sibling!” for the millionth time!
Research
Research and Evaluation Coordinator
Angie Tse
Angie received an Honours Bachelor of Degree in Mental Health Studies from the University of Toronto Scarborough, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Research Analysis from Humber College. She brings four years of experience conducting research and evaluation in the Mental Health Care industry and the Non-Profit sector, where her work heavily focused on bettering recovery outcomes and community reintegration processes for individuals who are justice-involved. Angie was the Project Manager for her capstone project, where her team of four successfully conducted a comparative issue analysis to examine differences in forensic mental health practices in Ontario versus British Columbia, and how they impact recovery outcomes for individuals in the forensic mental health systems. She is well-versed in research methodologies, project implementation, data analysis and visualization, and knowledge mobilization.
Research
Research and Evaluation Coordinator
Anika Shama
Anika received a master’s degree in Applied Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland where she received intense theoretical and practical training in research design, statistical analysis, and program evaluation. She utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis in the evaluation of different knowledge transfer programs. In the recent past, she partnered with Eastern Health of Newfoundland and Labrador where she completed an evaluation of a knowledge exchange program that focused on using harm reduction techniques as means to respond to opioid dependency. She brings four years of experience in designing and implementing intervention programs in the fields of education and gender equality.
Personal: In her free time, Anika likes to go shopping for kitchen supplies and she likes to get lost in a new city.
Research
Manager, Research and Evaluation
Babatunde Alabi
Babatunde Alabi is a development practitioner with a decade of experience implementing development programs and humanitarian interventions. He has worked in the international development sector in various capacities, supporting the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks on subjects related to governance and health systems strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, he worked with Indigenous-led organizations, as well as communities in Canada supporting research programs and community planning initiatives. Babatunde holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Parasitology from Nigeria, a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Central Nicaragua, and a Master’s degree in Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg. His research experience cuts across many disciplines, including homelessness, resource development and environmental impact, food security, and criminal justice. Babatunde is a change advocate who is passionate about using program and policy research and evaluation as a tool to promote changes in socioeconomic systems to overcome impediments to sustainable development.
Communication
Sr. Digital Project Coordinator
Chris Durand
Chris is a Digital Project Coordinator for the COH. He holds a BA in Foreign Languages and International Marketing from the University of Aix-Marseille and the University of Bordeaux. He also holds a MBA in Digital Strategy Management from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce et d’Economie Numérique in Bordeaux, France. After graduation, he started a Web and Graphic Design company that mainly works with nonprofits in France. Life brought him in Canada, where he found the opportunity to work in a fascinating and meaningful position, here at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.
Communication
Communications Coordinator
Emma Amon
Emma Amon is a Communications Coordinator at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. She holds a BA in Media Production from Ryerson University and an MA in Public Service from the University of Waterloo. She has experience in graphic design, video production, and writing for diverse audiences. Emma is passionate about storytelling and is thrilled to be working in a role where she is able to tell stories through a variety of mediums.
Research
Systems Planning Coordinator
Chris Durand
Erika Morton attended McMaster University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and her Bachelor of Social Work which sparked her interest in community development and prevention-based approaches to social issues. Her work in child and youth programming inspired her to follow a career pathway that would result in building the capacity of young people to achieve their optimal wellbeing. She worked at the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton where she provided collaboration support with community partners and youth with lived experience of homelessness who are working together to end youth homelessness. In her role as a Systems Planning Coordinator, she is keen to transfer the skills and knowledge that she has developed towards ending homelessness in Canada. In her downtime, Erika is likely to be found being amused by her cats.
Research
Director of Research and Evaluation
John Ecker
John Ecker, PhD is the Director of Research and Evaluation at the COH. In this role, he has been fortunate to collaborate with with a number of community partners on their research and evaluation activities. He attained his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Ottawa where he received advanced training in qualitative and quantitative analyses, as well as program evaluation theory and practice. His research interests are varied and include homelessness, housing, Housing First, community integration, and LGBTQ2S studies. In his spare time, John is an avid tennis player/fan and has a love of pop culture.
Communication
Instructional Design Specialist
Karen Bosworth
Karen is an Instructional Design & Content Developer with the COH Homelessness Learning Hub. She has been actively involved with workplace learning & development since 2005, primarily in the employment and social service sectors. Karen is passionate about increasing access to quality training for frontline service providers. She aims to create engaging and effective learning experiences that people actually enjoy. When she’s not developing training, you’ll find Karen “offline” exploring local trails with her cocker spaniel, Riley.
Communication
Communications Coordinator
Promise Busulwa
Promise Busulwa holds a BSc Honors in Psychology from York University. She has experience in both communications and research for social services and channels her passion for social equity and knowledge translation into her role as a Communications Coordinator. In her downtime, Promise can be found exploring artistic attractions in Toronto.
Communication
Graphic Designer
Sarah Anne Charlebois
Sarah Anne holds a BA from the York/Sheridan Program in Design (BDes honours). Working in both traditional and digital media, Sarah Anne is passionate about knowledge mobilization through the breakdown of data and research to easily digestible content in order to build connections and foster comprehension. Sarah Anne’s personal philosophy that education is the key to empathy integrates neatly into her everyday role as a graphic designer for the COH. She would like you to know that the Greenland shark is her favorite shark.
Communication
Sr. Director of Communications
Stephanie Vasko
Steph Vasko (she/her) is the Senior Director of Communications at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH). She leads the team responsible for designing the COH’s publications and communications materials, which range from reports and books to infographics and videos, that help advance our mandate to enhance the impact of research on policy and practice. Since 2009, Steph has been working with the COH’s Homeless Hub website, a key vehicle of knowledge mobilization and the world’s largest library of homelessness research. She also manages communications and design-driven projects for clients of COH’s social enterprise, Hub Solutions.
With a background in communications, web and graphic design, Steph designed several of COH’s seminal reports and led the redesign of the current Homeless Hub website. She’s skilled in both the aesthetic (interface design, user-experience design) and technical (programming, content management systems) aspects of website development.
Steph graduated from McMaster University’s multimedia and communications program in 2007. In this time, she has been involved in website development and communications management at a variety of organizations in Canada and Switzerland, from non-profits to non-governmental organizations in consultation with the United Nations.
When not thinking about all things design, Steph can be found exploring Toronto with her kids.
Meet some of our clients and partners
“Working with Hub Solutions was an absolute JOY! The team are skilled innovators who are collaborative (and patient) beyond words.”
“Hub Solutions has provided us with critical information to better meet the needs of men experiencing homelessness. Having good information is so impactful in making real change happen as we work to prevent and end homelessness in York Region.”
“The evaluation conducted by Hub Solutions has helped The Home Depot Canada Foundation ensure we are able to make a meaningful impact in our work to prevent and end youth homelessness.”
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