Sylvie Guibert and Catherine Mass é Human Resources Development Canada
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Transcript of Sylvie Guibert and Catherine Mass é Human Resources Development Canada
Canadian Evaluation Society Vancouver - June 2003
National Homelessness Initiative:
Evaluation Findings and Policy Renewal
Sylvie Guibert and Catherine MasséHuman Resources Development Canada
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Presentation Overview
• The National Homelessness Initiative
• The NHI Evaluation: Methodology and Findings
• Impact of Findings and Policy Renewal
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The National Homelessness Initiative (NHI)
• With the NHI’s launch in December 1999, the Government recognized that a concerted federal response was needed to address this growing, visible social problem
• A unique community-focused approach was adopted to facilitate community action and ownership
• Addressing locally identified needs
Homelessness Initiative - $753 M Key Federal Players
Other (Planning, Research, etc.)$9 M
Supporting CommunitiesPartnership
Initiative (SCPI)$305 M
Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative
$10 M
ResidentialRehabilitation
AssistanceProgram$268 M
Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS)$59 M
Shelter Enhancement Program$43 M
Youth Homelessness Component
$59 M
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FederalDepartments &
Agencies
Working Together at the Local Level
Non - Profit Groups
Municipalities
PrivateSector
Provinces & Territories
Communities
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Evaluation Approach
Timelines• Evaluation conducted between Fall 2001 and Fall 2002
Scope• HRDC components (SCPI, Youth, Aboriginal Homelessness,
Research) + overall NHI coordination• Implementation issues• Early outcomes
Main method• Case study approach (20 out of 61 SCPI communities)
Case selection• Communities reflect variation among all SCPI communities
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Evaluation Approach (cont’d)
Sources of evidence for case studies• Review of documents (community and project-level)• Review of project-level data • Key informant interviews
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Findings
Results on implementation• HRDC components were coordinated, but more inter-
departmental coordination is required• SCPI provided an appropriate balance between
flexibility and accountability• Community planning is a valuable exercise• Limited initial terms and conditions resulted in delays in
allocating funds to Aboriginal and Youth projects• Research results are still pending
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Findings (cont’d)
Results on early outcomes• SCPI enhanced existing capacity in most communities• HRDC funding built upon existing funding• Funds were allocated to a wide variety of projects but work
remains to address transitional needs
Success factors• Community control over funding allocation• Flexible terms and conditions• Requirement for community planning• HRDC regional and local staff
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Impact of Findings
The use of evaluation results• Benchmark government and community progress• Report back to stakeholders on local progress• Identify “lessons learned” on community-based
program delivery• Inform policy and program renewal
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Renewed Program Policy
The findings of the evaluation were critical in• Guiding the development of renewed program
policy
• Determining roles and responsibilities of other federal departments in the NHI
• Contributing to the recently announced federal Budget allocation of $405 million for a three-year extension of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI)
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Extended NHI
The extended NHI, responding to evaluation findings, includes• A stronger focus on transitional and supportive interventions, as well
as prevention• A requirement for demonstrated Youth and Aboriginal representation
in community planning and decision-making• The provision of strategic direction, clear guidelines and a
streamlined template to help communities to update their community plans
• An extension of the Research and the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) components for an additional three years
• Clearer roles and responsibilities for senior management in federal departments and in the regions, ensuring a cohesive and coherent federal approach to addressing homelessness.
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The evaluation report will soon be available on the Internet at: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/hrdc.main
For further information, contact:
Catherine Massé, Evaluation Manager
Evaluation & Data Development
Human Resources Development Canada
Section 3D, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau (Hull), QC K1A 0J9
Tel : 819-953-8094 Fax : 819-953-7887
Sylvie Guibert, Manager, Business Planning and Evaluation
National Secretariat on Homelessness
Human Resources Development Canada
165 Hotel-de-Ville Street
Gatineau (Hull), QC K1A 0J9
Tel: 819-997-9917 Fax: 819-994-4211