Home Depot Foundation's Fortnite Map Shines Light on Youth Homelessness
The Home Depot Canada Foundation has launched an innovative campaign to raise awareness about youth homelessness in Canada. To do this, they created 'The Safe House,' a custom Fortnite map that simulates the challenges faced by homeless youth.
Players navigate a world filled with locked buildings and limited supplies before discovering THDCF's Safe House, which serves as a beacon of hope and support. The experience is designed to help young audiences understand the barriers and challenges faced by over 35,000 youth experiencing homelessness in Canada each day.
The Home Depot Canada Foundation has committed to investing $125 million by 2030 to prevent and end youth homelessness through housing, life-skills development, employment support, and other critical services. Last month, a two-hour live Twitch stream featured the unboxing of a custom mailer with branded items, campaign materials, and mystery envelopes that revealed key elements of the experience.
The Safe House project helped introduce conversations about youth homelessness to audiences that traditional awareness campaigns may not always reach. According to Amy Bilodeau, Senior Manager, Community Affairs at THDCF, 'Youth homelessness isn't always visible, and that can make it difficult for young people to understand or even know that it exists.'
The campaign generated significant engagement, with over 98K+ views, 85K+ unique viewers, and 258K+ minutes watched during the live stream. The Home Depot Canada Foundation has invested more than $94 million since 2013 to support youth experiencing homelessness across Canada.