Ending Homelessness in New Brunswick:

The Evolution toward Housing First

NBNPHA Conference, May 8 2015

Greg Bishop, Community Entity Coordinator, Saint John Human Development CouncilJenny O’Connell, Community Development Coordinator, Saint John Human Development Council

Karolyn Martin, Coordinator, Community Action Group on Homelessness

What do we mean when we say we are working to end homelessness?

- Emergency shelter use - Prevention - Systems response - Community planning

A Look at the Numbers...● 235,000 (or more) Canadians experienced homelessness in 2014 ● 1,407 New Brunswickers stayed at an emergency shelter (2013)● 5,502 New Brunswickers on NB Housing waitlist (2013)● 9.9% of NB Households in Core Housing Need (2011) ● 13.8% of New Brunswickers are living in poverty (2006)● 7.9% Provincial Rental Vacancy Rate (2014)

13,000 - 30,000 Canadians have sustained experiences of homelessnessContributing factors:

● History of trauma● Mental health challenges● Addictions

● Brain injury● Disability ● Institutionalization

● Discrimination● Low literacy● Etc.

Who is Homeless?The majority of people who experience homelessness are Transitionally Homeless.

According to the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness:

● Less than 15% of the homeless population in Canada can be considered Chronically or Episodically homeless.

● Chronically Homeless refers to individuals who have been on the streets for a long time, potentially years.

● People who are chronically homeless represent between 2-4% of the homeless population in Canada (compared to 10% in the US).

● Episodically Homeless refers to those who move in and out of homelessness.

● Although episodically and chronically homeless individuals and families account for less than 15% of the homeless population, their personal struggles – mental and physical health issues, addictions, legal and justice issues, discrimination – tend to be much more severe.

Housing= Key to Ending Homelessness!

There are emerging opportunities for landlords to fill their rental units with clients who have formal supports in place to maintain tenancy and the opportunity to get involved with enhancing the quality of life for their community members.

What is Housing First?

Housing First has 5 Core Principles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwdq2VWavtc

Housing First has 3 key components 1) HOUSING 2) HOUSING SUPPORTS3) CLINICAL SUPPORTS

Housing First represents a radical shift in approach to service provision & how we address homelessness.

The Spread of Housing First

How is Housing First rolling out in New Brunswick?

Federally funded Housing First programs in: - Fredericton

- Capital Region Mental Health and Addictions + John Howard Society- Moncton

- YWCA Moncton - Saint John

- Housing Alternatives

Program composition and supporting partners: - Health Care- Public Safety- Housing providers- Sun Network

Existing housing programs in our communities

- Organized Departure - Peer supported housing - Emergency Shelter’s second stage programming- Housing programs for youth

Systems Planning & Coordinated Approaches

Coordinated Service Delivery to facilitate access and flow-through for best

client and system-level outcomes.

Integrated Information Management aligns data collection, reporting,

intake, assessment, referrals to enable coordinated service delivery.

Performance Management & Quality Assurance at the program and

system levels are aligned and monitored along common standards to achieve

best outcomes.

Why do we need a systems plan and/or coordinated efforts to end homelessness?

Because it’s all connected!

Taking the lead in a city near(ish) you!Fredericton’s Community Action Group on Homelessness (CAGH)

www.cagh.ca

Saint John’s Community Council on Homelessness (CCH) www.sjhomelessness.ca

The Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee (GMHSC) www.monctonhomelessness.org

Bathurst’s Community Homeless Network

http://www.atlanticpocket.com/Community-Homeless-Network-Inc.html

Housing First and Landlords

Housing Agent Jim Kennedy:

“I go out to see the landlords all the time [...] landlords like that because in most other programs there’s no communication at all.”

athome.nfb.ca

What can Housing First offer to Landlords?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGx3f1PiutI (this video talks a lot about the radical shift in approach to service delivery with Housing First)

- Is anyone currently working in support of a housing program? - What do landlords need to participate in a housing program?