new housing homeless youth in vancouver bc... · 2016. 1. 27. · s. basi, t. clelland, n. khind,...
TRANSCRIPT
Housing Homeless Youth
in Vancouver: Key Barriers and
Strategic Responses
S. Basi, T. Clelland, N. Khind, A. Morris, and P. Severinson
Introduction - The Problem The 2011 Vancouver homeless count found 349 homeless youth, a 29% increase from the year before.
The City of Vancouver has committed to ending street homelessness by the year 2015.
Introduction - The Topic Youth homelessness is... A recognized problem in cities across
Canada A major national policy issue in countries
around the world The focus of significant research
Introduction - Purpose of Study BC Housing has requested for us to determine: What is the best youth homelessness strategy for Vancouver?
Approach Prepare an inventory of current services
to address youth homelessness in Vancouver
Summarize available information on youth homelessness in Canada and Vancouver
Review 3 case studies on unique strategies or programs addressing youth homelessness
Recommend programs to address and prevent youth homelessness
Outline 1. Methodology
2. Overview of gaps in services and opportunities for improvement in Vancouver
3. Strategy 1. Collaboration of Services 2. Prevention / Early Intervention 3. Prioritize Youth
4. Next Steps
Methodology Review of the literature
Interviews with stakeholders International, Canada-wide, and Vancouver
Who are the stakeholders? Government and non-profit policy makers and
service providers
Vancouver Overview of Gaps in Services Relevant perspectives of service providers Service fragmentation Inadequate provisions for transition General lack of services + housing Inflexibility Inconsistency in services due to unreliable funding Treating youth as a homogenous population with a
one-fits-all policy Lack of services citywide dedicated to dealing
with unique aspects of overrepresented demographics
Opportunities for Improvement There are many best practices at the
micro level within individual organizations
Impact of these practices on decreasing the number of homeless youth is limited
If these practices were implemented broadly across Vancouver, the entire system would be more effective
Strategy An integrated city-wide system approach with three overarching principles designed to address the identified barriers preventing youth from becoming stably housed in Vancouver Collaboration of services
Prevention / early intervention Prioritization of youth
Collaboration of Services Recommended practices: A collaboration of services would entail four steps: 1: A community continuum of care 2: Implementation of a central intake system 3: Development of a database system 4: A referral/case management system
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Collaboration of Services 1: A community continuum of care The U.S. Continuum of Care strategy The goal is that each community develop the capacity to meet a variety of needs. Benefits to this include: 1. Simplified funding responsibilities of government 2. Better planning in a community to ensure a
balance of services that meet the community's need
3. Provision of a platform where community collaboration can happen
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Collaboration of Services 2: Implementation of a central intake system The U.S. central-intake strategy A central intake is a single office that manages intake
for several services Using central intakes:
Reduces the time clients spend finding services Reduces the amount of time practitioners spend
answering calls Helps people with specific needs reach the right service Allows for systematic data gathering
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Collaboration of Services 3: Development of a database system Calgary Homeless Foundation HMIS - Homeless Management Information System
Electronic data collection system Developed and implemented through bottom-up
community collaboration Led to desire to participate by outside agencies
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Collaboration of Services 4: Referral / case management system Calgary Homeless Foundation Relies on case management in their 10-year
plan to end youth homelessness Developed a model of standard accepted
practices All case managers must be accredited
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prevention / Early Intervention Recommended practices: Identifying at-risk youth before they become
homeless, through the foster-care, youth-justice or education systems
Helping to stabilize their existing home
situation through family mediation, counselling and person-centered case management
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prevention / Early Intervention Background of Vancouver homeless youth:
44% to 52% had been in some form of government care
61% to 70% had been kicked out of home 71% had experienced physical abuse (Various Vancouver-area service providers)
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prevention / Early Intervention Australia - The Reconnect program A national youth homelessness prevention
program It uses a broad mix of services, relying heavily
on family mediation Depends on system-wide cooperation Unique Australian asset: network of school-
based social workers
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth Recommended practices: Prioritize youth homelessness separately from
the general category of homelessness Provide targeted services to specific
subgroups of youth
1. Acuity scale risk assessment 2. Subgroup specific programs 3. Education and employment skills training 4. Housing first approach for youth
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth 1. Acuity scale risk assessment Tool available from Calgary for use with case managers
Homelessness is predictable Cases can be ranked and prioritized for housing
and services
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth 2. Sub-group specific programs Homeless youth in Vancouver are: 15% to 38% Aboriginal 36% to 51% LGBT 44% to 47% have addictions problems 27% to 31% have serious mental illness (Various Vancouver-area service providers)
Gear shelters and services towards these demographics
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth 3. Education and employment skills training
Prioritizes youth at high risk of homelessness Several Canadian cities (St. John’s, Halifax,
Toronto, Winnipeg) Tutoring for GED or high school completion Trains youth in energy retrofits, printing industry,
building construction or computer trades High success levels – Training for Trades - 80%
go on to post-secondary education or are employed
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth 4. Housing First Focuses on finding stable housing before offering
other supports Improves chances of developing employment
skills and seeking medical treatment
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Prioritize Youth 4. Housing First Toronto - Streets to Home Outreach – workers approach youth on the
street and attempt help them find housing Collaboration – program funds 29 partner
agencies to help them deliver services Follow-up Supports – once a lease is signed
clients are assigned a follow up support worker for 12 months
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Next Steps While we believe all of these policies and programs would be beneficial for Vancouver, the number one concern for service providers is service fragmentation. Therefore, we recommend implementing an HMIS data and central intake system using a collaborative community approach to bring the whole breadth of services in Vancouver together. Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps
Next Steps Collaborate with government and non-government institutions and services to continue improving prevention and prioritization efforts. These steps:
Address all three principles Increase effectiveness and efficiency of the
system-wide strategy
Collaboration Prevention Prioritization Next Steps