Homelessness Partnering Strategy

Community Plan 2014–2019

Community: Sault Ste. Marie Aboriginal

Region: Ontario

The plan has been approved by Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres for

implementation.

As this Aboriginal Homelessness allocation is not over $200,000, the community is not

required to commit any of its HPS allocation towards a Housing First approach.

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Current Situation: Establishing your Baseline Data ................................. 3

Data ..................................................................................................................... 3

Readiness for Implementing Housing First ............................................................... 4

Community Advisory Board Membership .................................................. 6

Planning and Reporting ............................................................................ 8

Your Planning Process ............................................................................................ 8

Reporting ............................................................................................................ 12

Your Priorities ....................................................................................... 13

Description of your Priorities ................................................................................. 18

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Current Situation: Establishing your Baseline Data

Data Please report on your current situation based on the following indicators. All

CABs should review their progress annually against these indicators. This

review will form part of the annual update. Note: Although this data is not

required at this time, data for 2013 will be required as part of the first annual update.

1. Number of unique Aboriginal individuals who used an emergency homeless shelter in the twelve month period between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012

2. Number of Aboriginal shelter users who were chronically homeless in 2012

3. Number of Aboriginal shelter users who were episodically homelessness in 2012

4. Number of Aboriginal homeless individuals identified during the latest point in time count (if available)

5. Date count was undertaken

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Readiness for Implementing Housing First

Please rate your community’s readiness to implement Housing First based on

the following questions. Each component of the scale has a rating of one to four

with four demonstrating full implementation of the HPS HF model. Use this information

to decide where to focus your efforts in implementing your HF program. Because

implementing Housing First may take some adjustments, communities will have the

opportunity to rate progress annually and use the information to update priorities.

Note: Responses will only be used by ESDC to understand the selection of the HF

priorities and activities.

Criterion Community’s Rating

CORE PRINCIPLES Rapid Housing with Supports. Program directly helps participants locate and secure permanent housing as rapidly as possible and assists them with moving-in or re-housing if needed.

-2-: Program supports participants in locating housing within 4-6 months and does not offer participants who have lost housing a new housing unit.

Housing Choice. Program participants choose the location and other features of their housing.

-1-: Participants have no choice in the location or other features of their housing and are assigned a unit without having a say in decorating and furnishing.

Separating housing provision from other services. Extent to which program participants are not required to demonstrate housing readiness.

-1-: Participants have access to housing only if they have successfully completed a period of time in transitional housing and meet all the readiness requirements.

Integrated Housing. Extent to which housing tenure is assumed to be permanent housing with no actual or expected time limits, other than those defined under a standard lease or occupancy agreement.

-1-: There are rigid time limits on the length of stay in housing or the housing is considered emergency.

Tenancy Rights and Responsibilities. Extent to which program participants have legal rights to the unit.

-1-: Participants have no written agreement specifying the rights and responsibilities of tenancy, have no legal recourse if asked to leave their housing and can keep housing only by meeting requirements for continued tenancy.

Reasonable Cost for Housing. Extent to which participants pay a reasonable amount of their income for housing costs and/or program has access to rent supplements or subsidized housing units.

-1-: Participants pay 61% or more of their income for housing costs and program does not have access to rent supplements.

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Criterion Community’s Rating

Housing Support. Extent to which program offers services to help participants maintain housing, such as offering assistance with landlord relations and neighborhood orientation.

-3-: Program offers some ongoing housing support services but does not offer any property management services, assistance with rent payment, and co-signing of leases.

SERVICE PHILOSOPHY Service choice. Extent to which program participants choose the type, sequence, and intensity of services such as recovery, medical and other services.

-3-: Participants may have some say in choosing, modifying, or refusing services and supports, but program staff determinations usually prevail.

Participant-Driven Program & Services. Extent to which the program and services are participant-driven.

-2-: Program offers few opportunities for input on their individual services or more generally on program services.

Contact with Participants. Extent to which program maintains regular contact with participants.

-1-: Program has no contact with participants.

Continuous Services. Extent to which program participants are not discharged from services even if they lose housing.

-4-: Participants continue to receive program services even if they lose housing.1

Directly Offers or Brokers Services. Program directly offers or brokers support services to participants, such as recovery, medical and other services.

-1-: Program does not offer services to participants, either directly or through brokering.

Selection of Vulnerable Populations. Extent to which program focuses on chronic and/or episodically homeless individuals.

-1-: Program has no method to identify and select participants who are chronic and/or episodically homeless.

TEAM STRUCTURE/HUMAN RESOURCES Low Participant/Staff Ratio. Extent to which program consistently maintains a low participant/staff ratio.

-1-: 50 or more participants per 1 FTE staff.

1 There may be a service hiatus during institutional stays.

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Community Advisory Board Membership

1. Name of the Community Advisory Board: Community Advisory Board

2. Number of members in your CAB: 14

Community Advisory Board Membership

Last

Name

First

Name

TITLE

ORGANIZATION

SECTOR(S) Role

on CAB

Include on

Distribution List?

Pearson Joanne Sault Ste. Marie Housing

Corp Housing and Homelessness

Coordinator

Housing Social Housing Member Yes

Johns Mona Neech Ke When Homes

Manager Tenant Services

Housing Social Housing Member Yes

Hanson Shawna Metis Nation of Ontario

Community Wellness Coordinator

Healthcare Member Yes

Hepburn Carolyn Sault College, Director Native

Education

Education Member Yes

Syrette Cathy Indian Friendship Centre

Executive Director

Social Services Member Yes

Harrington Carolyn Community Elder

Board Member Neech Ke When

Homes

Community Member Member Yes

Kakapshe Tom Neech Ke When Homes Director Housing Social Housing Member Yes

Morin Matthew Indian Friendship Centre Outreach

Coordinator

Social Services Member Yes

King Liz Service Canada Federal Government Member Yes

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3. Given the requirement to allocate funding to the Housing First

approach, which involves both housing and individual supports, are

there any sectors or organizations the CAB needs to include and/or

engage in the future to more fully represent your community? (for

example, Provincial or Territorial representatives responsible for

housing and/or mental health, landlord organizations, people with

lived experience, police, corrections, health and health promotions

(including the Health Authority), income supports, other funders,

addictions treatment)

Private Sector: engaging private landlords to address concerns and

understanding into market rents vs. rents that can accommodate those on social

benefit programs. Share knowledge about resources that are available to

tenants for rental and utility arrears and mediation for landlord/tenant issues that

can affect housing retention or acquisition.

Aboriginal Community Member: to offer grass roots/cultural perspective on

issues and concerns related to housing, the homeless and at risk populations.

Municipal Government city councillor: would help with city planning related to

social services and housing by having a council member that is informed of

Aboriginal issues.

City Police: a liaison that works with the Aboriginal community with the goal of

gaining a better understanding of Aboriginal issues around housing and

community members gaining knowledge about policing and law.

United Way: provide awareness of housing issues that Aboriginal peoples

experience when attempting to secure housing.

All the above could be sought for CAB membership with the goal of providing

awareness of the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness program and the challenges

facing the Aboriginal population with respect to housing.

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Planning and Reporting

Your Planning Process

1. Stakeholder Engagement

a. Who and how did the CAB consult in your community as you prepared this Community Plan? Please include information about the approach you took and the extent of your consultations. Community Consultations were held with clients/participants of the Urban

Aboriginal Homelessness program of the Indian Friendship Center during

meal plan as an additional activity. Approximately 40 questionnaires/surveys

were completed by the group and the Outreach Coordinator was available to

explain and answer questions. Consultations included the following topics;

drop in services and emergency support, outreach services, and knowledge

and communication/public awareness components around the issue of

homelessness. Housing first was also discussed. The current Community

Advisory Board was also convened and a review of the past community plan

and discussions ensued for each of the issues, priorities, and areas of

concern, and the mechanism and strategies employed to assist individuals

that are in need of our services.

The consultation and CAB review revealed the priorities identified in the

previous community plan are still applicable to this community and it was

concluded that these priorities would carry over into the new plan.

b. How is your CAB working with the Designated Community to get access to data and implement Aboriginal homeless priorities? Members of the Aboriginal CAB sit on the Social Development Council, which

is the Sault Ste. Marie City CAB. The Social Development Council gets regular

updates of current and past tenants for each of the shelters. This activity

ensures access to the data, including Aboriginal participation rates and

provides a venue for networking with the shelters and gains access to

identifying Aboriginal clients who are experiencing chronic homelessness.

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2. Other Related Strategies and Programs

a. In this section, you will identify and describe the federal, provincial, territorial, or local strategies, programs (other than HPS) which fund activities in your community that you will access to support your Housing First and other homelessness effort. How many have you identified? 31

Name of federal, provincial or territorial or local strategies and programs

Focus of strategy or program

Canadian Mental Health Mental Health Counselling

PACT Housing Support

OW Ontario Works Income Support

ODSP Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support

Service Canada Program Supports

NHIB Non Insured Health Benefits Non Insured Health Benefits

Assets Employment and Training

Urban Aboriginal High School Literacy Basic Skills, GED

Sault College Upgrading, post-secondary education

John Howard Society Housing Supports

Salvation Army Food Security

United Way Housing Supports, Community Liaison Coordinator

Neech Ke When Housing Affordable Housing

Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation Affordable Housing

Vincent Place Men’s Shelter Temp Housing Shelter Services

Women In Crisis Temp Emergency Housing

Sault Area Hospital Emergency Assistance and Release Planning

Habitat for Humanity Housing supports Furniture

Pauline’s Place Temp Emergency Housing for Youth

Canadian Red Cross Housing Support

Aboriginal Combined Courtwork Program Social integration

Aboriginal Criminal Courtwork Program Social integration

Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Healthcare, Social integration

Addictions and Mental Health Program Mental health, addictions, social integration

Akwe:go: Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program Education, mental health, social integration

Alternative Secondary School Program Education, employment, social integration

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Name of federal, provincial or territorial or local strategies and programs

Focus of strategy or program

Apatisiwin Education, employment, social integration

Healing and Wellness Program Mental health, addictions, healthcare, social integration

Life Long Care Program Mental health, healthcare, social integration

Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program Social integration

Wasa-Nabin: Urban Aboriginal Youth Program Education, mental health, social integration

b. Does your Province or Territory have a plan or strategic direction to address homelessness, poverty, housing, or another related issue? Yes

How does your HPS Community Plan complement Provincial or

Territorial direction in this area?

Partially aligns

Fills in gaps

Please explain.

Services provided by the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness program include:

Discretionary Funds accessed when other sources of funding (OW, ODSP,

CHPI) have been depleted for clients that are in urgent need of one or more

of the following supports; transportation, food, clothing,

furniture/appliances, special needs not covered other agencies or program,

personal identification.

The Indian Friendship Centre Community Health Access Centre N’Mninoeyaa

is located on site and is often used for referrals to general health concerns

and for mental health referrals. Health Centre has nurse practitioners

available regularly and a doctor is available weekly.

To fill gaps in access to nutritious food, a hot lunch is provided on Tuesday

and Thursdays. Lunch and learns examples life skills, healthy living, and

related activities are presented to clients in this group setting.

The provincial strategies and programs have limited priorities for Aboriginal

populations, the Aboriginal Community Plan addresses this gap and when

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clients are referred to services, priority is given to Aboriginal specific service

providers.

c. The Housing First approach requires access to a range of client supports. How will you engage (or how are you engaging) provincial or territorial programs to facilitate access to provincial/territorial services for Housing First clients? Income Security Advocacy is provided to clients experiencing difficulty maintaining an ongoing benefit unit, assistance is offered for understanding the needs of social benefit programs by working (upon consent) directly with case worker and identifying reason for ineligibility or suspension, also helping with setting appointments for intakes and requests for ODSP application process initiation. Also referrals to emergency travel and discretionary funds administered by the benefit program. Health Referrals – brief discussions around medical issues or concerns (upon client willing to disclose or requests for assistance) to Community Health Access Centre nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, doctor, Also referrals are made to other programs of the IFC (Indian Friendship Centre) drug and alcohol program, family support, healing and wellness, healthy babies, prenatal nutrition, employment and training, family and criminal court workers, children’s programs and any other community or government agency as required on a case by case basis. Prevention – clients requiring assistance to maintain current housing are assisted with finding resources that are able to help with rent and utility arears. Connection to additional health services if require for in home care. Referral to landlord and tenant review agencies, referrals to legal aid, court or family crisis supports in order for clients to meet demands maintain current household. Emergency housing referrals to crisis shelters and temporary shelters, leading to return to permanent or longer term residency. Social integration though drop in services, light lunch and volunteerism. Pre-employment supports bridging to labour market. Employment Supports and Life Skills

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Reporting The Community Advisory Board is expected to report to its funder (Employment and

Social Development Canada), its stakeholders and the broader community on what it is

doing and the progress the community is making in reducing homelessness.

The HPS was renewed with a commitment to using a Housing First approach and demonstrate reductions in homelessness. The collection of data and results will be critical to this change. As part of your community planning process, you will set priorities and select activities. Projects should lead to results that contribute to reductions in homelessness. The HPS has identified specific results that it will be collecting through Results Reporting, but the CAB and CE should also be working together to identify other results they would like to gather.

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Your Priorities

Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness

(AH) allocation that will be invested in this

priority in:

Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:

(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.

(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.

2014 -

2015

2015 -

2016

2016 -

2017

2017 -

2018

2018 -

2019

To reduce homelessness through a Housing First (HF) approach*

0% 0%

To improve the self-sufficiency of homeless individuals and families and those at imminent risk of homelessness through individualized services †

85% 85% Housing Placement (outside of Housing First)

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

Connecting clients to income supports

15 people will increase their income or income stability.

Pre-employment suport and bridging to the labour market

7 people will increase their employment stability or will start part-time or full-time employment.

0 people will start a job training program.

Life skills development (e.g. budgeting, cooking)

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

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Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness

(AH) allocation that will be invested in this

priority in:

Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:

(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.

(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.

2014 -

2015

2015 -

2016

2016 -

2017

2017 -

2018

2018 -

2019

Supports to improve clients’ social integration

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

Culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

Connecting clients to education and supporting success

15 people who will start part-time or full-time education

Housing loss prevention (only for individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness)

14 people will remain housed at three months after receiving a housing loss prevention intervention.

Liaise and refer to appropriate resources

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

Basic or urgent needs services

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

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Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness

(AH) allocation that will be invested in this

priority in:

Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:

(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.

(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.

2014 -

2015

2015 -

2016

2016 -

2017

2017 -

2018

2018 -

2019

To preserve or increase the capacity of facilities used to address the needs of people who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.

0% 0%

To ensure coordination of resources and leveraging

15% 15% Partnership and development in support of a systems approach to homelessness

The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.

To improve data collection and use

0% 0%

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Notes:

* The Housing First model includes both housing and access to supports

primarily for chronically and episodically homeless individuals. The

services provided are offered through an integrated approach and are

interdependent. Generally, the approach will be to ensure that Housing

First clients have access to all the existing services required.

‡ Housing First readiness activities include:

• Determining the Housing First model (e.g. consultation, coordination,

planning, and assessment)

• Identifying, integrating and improving services (including staff training

on Housing First activities and functions)

• Partnership development in support of a Housing First approach

• Working with the housing sector to identify opportunities for and

barriers to permanent housing (e.g. establishing landlord relationships,

mapping of current available assets)

§ Client intake and assessment activities include:

• Coordinated intake management (where feasible)

• Client identification, intake and assessment, focusing on the

chronically and episodically homeless populations.

** Connecting to and maintaining permanent housing require communities

to establish housing teams that implement the following activities:

• Facilitate access to housing, which could include providing emergency

housing funding to bridge clients to provincial/territorial system

• Set-up apartments (insurance, damage deposit, first and last months’

rent, basic groceries and supplies at move-in, etc.)

• Furnish apartments for HF clients (furniture, dishes, etc.)

• Repair damages caused by HF clients

• Provide Landlord-tenant services

• Re-housing (if required)

†† Accessing services through case management include the following

activities:

• Coordination of a case management team

• Peer Support

• Working with clients to set goals

• Identifying a strategy for reaching the goals

• Connecting clients to services needed to reach the client’s goal

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• Monitoring progress

• Support services to improve the self-sufficiency of chronically and

episodically homeless individuals and families in the Housing First

program through individualized services, including: connecting clients to

income supports; pre-employment support, and bridging to the labour

market; life skills development (e.g. budgeting, cooking); supports to

improve clients’ social integration; and culturally relevant responses to

help Aboriginal clients; and connecting clients to education and

supporting success

† These services are offered primarily to individuals who are homeless or

imminently at risk that are not part of the Housing First program.

Results

With renewal, the HPS is increasing the focus on achieving results. All

projects are expected to contribute to reducing or preventing homelessness

and CABs and CEs should be working together to determine how they will

measure project success. The HPS has identified a number of indicators it

will be using to measure the success of the HPS at reducing and preventing

homelessness.

Annual Activity Report and Tools

OFIFC (Community Entity) collects data on a quarterly basis

Ensure Intakes and activities are accurately compiled into quarterly and annual reports

as required

Financial reporting through financial department and auditors report.

Periodically the CAB request some data extrapolations to assist in identifying trends or

comparing actual data to local regional or national trends.

Statistical information and trends reported from other independent community agencies

is also shared with the CAB and funders.

The Outreach Coordinator will participate in HIFIS training with other community

agencies in October 2014. This will enhance the skills and ability to identify what data is

relevant and the method of collecting.

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Description of your Priorities

Housing First (HF) Priority

Rationale

Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified

in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.

What other resources can you leverage to contribute to your HF efforts?

• HF Readiness

• Client Intake & Assessment

• Connecting to and Maintaining Permanent Housing

• Accessing Services

• Data, Tracking & Monitoring

Description of the Housing First (HF) Approach

Please describe your Housing First approach, identify what percentage

of your allocation will be used towards furnishing and repairing

housing for HF purposes and provide a timeline for HF implementation.

Target Group(s)

Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.

• Chronically homeless individuals

• Episodically homeless individuals

Individualized Services priorities

Rationale

Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified

in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.

The priorities of the Aboriginal Community Plan target an estimated three

hundred plus Aboriginal homeless people in the Sault Ste. Marie area who access

shelters. An exact number of this population is difficult to express, to obtain this

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estimate the CAB conducted a survey of 6 shelters in the community. an

additional 150 Aboriginal people experience some sort of housing crisis whether

it be eviction, unplanned homelessness (social experience/relationship changes),

or are at risk of becoming homeless and require services to maintain or seek out

new housing. Most of priorities were originally identified in the 2007 Aboriginal

Community Plan and have been carried into this plan.

The current HPS program in SSM delivers the following services: housing

placement, connecting clients to income supports, pre-employment support,

referrals to employment services, life skills development, supports to improve

clients’ social integration, culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients,

connecting clients to education and supporting success, housing loss prevention

for individuals and families at imminent risk of becoming homelessness.

The HPS program Coordinator participates as a sitting member of the Social

Development Council (United Way), Housing Support Committee (John Howard

Society) Shelter Guideline Review Group (Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation) and

attends other agency meetings as topics around homelessness arise. The objective

of participating in these meetings is to give awareness to the issues and concerns of

the Aboriginal homeless and at risk populations, to network and build/enhance

working relationships with other agencies and service providers in the community.

Target Group(s)within the homeless and at imminent risk of homelessness populations

Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.

General population, Aboriginal

Facilities Priority

Rationale

Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified

in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.

Target Group(s)within the homeless and at imminent risk of homelessness populations

Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.

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Coordination of Resources and Leveraging Priority

Rationale

Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified

in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.

The current HPS program in SSM delivers the following services: housing

placement, connecting clients to income supports, pre-employment support,

referrals to employment services, life skills development, supports to improve

clients’ social integration, culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients,

connecting clients to education and supporting success, housing loss prevention

for individuals and families at imminent risk of becoming homelessness.

The HPS program Coordinator participates as a sitting member of the Social

Development Council (United Way), Housing Support Committee (John Howard

Society) Shelter Guideline Review Group (Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation)

and attends other agency meetings as topics around homelessness arise. The

objective of participating in these meetings is to give awareness to the issues

and concerns of the Aboriginal homeless and at risk populations, to network and

build/enhance working relationships with other agencies and service providers in

the community.

Data Collection and Use Priority

Rationale

Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified

in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.