Regional Homelessness Conceptual Framework

A MENTAL MODEL

Elisa CampbellDIRECTOR, REGIONAL PLANNING & ELECTORAL

AREA SERVICES

Regional Homelessness Task Force– January 13, 2017

5.1

RHO - 1

RHO - 2

RHO - 3

RHO - 4

Best Practices in Addressing Homelessness

AN INVENTORY OF PRINCIPLES AND EXAMPLES

Alice SundbergHOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

Regional Homelessness Task Force, January 13, 2017

5.2

RHO - 5

An Inventory

• Pathways into homelessness

• Serving people who are homeless

• Pathways out of homelessness

• Youth homelessness

• Aboriginal homelessness

• Seniors

RHO - 6

What are Best Practices?

CANADIAN HOMELESSNESS RESEARCH NETWORK:

• Best practices

• Promising practices

• Emerging practices

RHO - 7

Systems Approach

• Homelessness policies alone are not enough

• Integration with other mainstream programs will:

• Prevent homelessness in the first place

• Provide better coordination among services

• Improve knowledge sharing and increase capacity

• Improve access to services

• Reduce cost

• Reduce service duplication

RHO - 8

Prevention

THREE LEVELS OF INTERVENTION

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Targeting

• Outreach

• Retaining current housing

• Enhance discharge planning

RHO - 9

Prevention

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• BC Housing’s Homelessness Prevention Program

• Rent Banks

• Discharge Planning in London, Ontario

• Mid-America Assistance Coalition, Kansas City

• Office of Behavioral Health, Philadelphia

RHO - 10

Serving People Who Are Homeless

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Safe and dignified experience in shelters

• Tailor services to individual needs

• Clear and consistent communication

• Reduce waitlists

• Reduce Catch-22s in policies

• Collaboration among service providers

RHO - 11

Serving People Who Are Homeless

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• Victoria Cool Aid’s Health and Dental Services and

Employment Programs

• BC Housing’s Homeless Outreach Programs

• Sanctioned Homeless Camps, such as those in Seattle and

Portland

RHO - 12

Pathways Out of Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Affordable housing

• Supports as needed and client-centered

MODELS

• Housing First

• Supports to Ensure Housing Stability

• Coordinated Access or Coordinated Entry

RHO - 13

Pathways Out of Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• Vancouver At Home (Part of At Home/Chez Soi)

• Mainstay Housing’s Beyond the Key to the Front Door

• Centralized Intake in Victoria

• Calgary Homeless Foundation’s Centralized Access and

Assessment

• 100,000 Homes Campaign in US and 20,000 Homes

Campaign in Canada

RHO - 14

Youth Homelessness

PATHWAYS INTO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

• Complex, involving intersections of individual, relational,

institutional and structural factors

• Childhood abuse

• Parental homelessness, mental illness or substance

misuse

• Involvement with child protection services

• High dropout rates and challenges at school

RHO - 15

Youth Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Systems integration

• Community planning

• Addressing educational challenges

• Fostering resilience and mental health supports

• Fortifying natural supports

RHO - 16

Preventing Youth Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Family First

• Early intervention

• School-community partnerships

• Transitional supports for young people leaving care

RHO - 17

Preventing Youth Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• PCRS Reconnect Program

• Safe Place Outreach Program (US)

• Alone in London – School Works Program (UK)

• The Geelong Project (Australia)

RHO - 18

Family Intervention Strategies

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Think carefully about how to engage parents

• Involve both youth and family in decisions

• Multiple services in various settings

• Multiple and frequent sessions over time

• Continue engagement after reunification

RHO - 19

Family Intervention Strategies

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• Project STRIVE – Support to Reunite, Involve and Value

Each Other (US)

• Homebuilders (US)

• Cocoon House (US)

• DePaul Trust (UK)

RHO - 20

Serving Youth Who Are Homeless

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• All Nations Youth Safe Housing, Surrey

• Directions Youth Services, Vancouver

• Urban Peak, Denver (US)

• Reconnect Australia

RHO - 21

Pathways Out of Youth Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• Rights of Passage, Covenant House, Vancouver

• Eva’s, Toronto

• Foyer Model, including Haven’s Way in Calgary

• Train for Trades, St. John’s, NL

RHO - 22

Housing First for Youth

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Adapt HF to reflect the developmental, social and legal

needs of young people

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• Infinity Project, Calgary

• Direction’s Youth Services, Vancouver

RHO - 23

Aboriginal Homelessness

Is not simply a lack of accommodation or structural habitation,

but rather is a web of relationships that involves

connections to human kinship networks; relations to

animals, plants, spirits, and elements; relationship to the

Earth, lands, waters, and territories; and connection to

traditional stories, songs, teachings, names, and ancestors.

RHO - 24

Aboriginal Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES

• Governance, Policy, Resources to bring about a change in

mind set

• Shelter, Housing, Homes to provide a continuum

• Community Relations for inclusion and cooperation

• Support Services that are holistic and culturally appropriate

RHO - 25

Aboriginal Homelessness

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

• ACCESS BladeRunners, Metro Vancouver

• Aboriginal Mothers Centre, Vancouver

• BC Housing’s Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program

• Kootenay Lodge, Calgary

• Ni’Apin Program, Winnipeg

RHO - 26

Seniors’ Homelessness

• GVSS and Community of Practice

• Housing Framework for Seniors

1. Non-institutional, welcoming, community-linked housing

2. Natural supports and resident involvement

3. Build in food security

4. Recognize and celebrate residents’ cultural heritage

5. Promote wellness and active living

6. Care and supports as needed

7. Rent geared to income

RHO - 27

What’s Next?

• Creating a framework for Metro Vancouver

• Collective Impact approach

• Collaborating with Home Front

RHO - 28