pei report on homelessness
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PEI Report on Homelessness
*CMHA– Canadian Mental Health Association
** JHS– John Howard Society
The Fifth Report on Homelessness in Prince Edward Island November 2017
Collaborative Leadership is built on the premise that by bringing
the appropriate people together in a constructive way, with good
information, they will create authentic visions and strategies for
addressing shared concerns of their organization and of the
community. By bringing good people together in constructive ways,
we are better able to make conscious, inclusive decisions. We often
choose to focus on a solution rather than a process that brings us to
a solution. When collaboration works, it produces and builds strong
and engaged civic communities that facilitate constructive
solutions. Collaboration builds social capital. Community
Engagement increases community cohesion and allows for the
community to have ownership over outcomes that better reflect
their needs. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy and its partners
are working in collaboration to end homelessness.
Source: http://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/collaborativeleadership
Housing Programs in PEI *current to August 2017
CMHA* Housing First
Clients through the program
Clients housed 55
39
CMHA West Prince
Clients through the program
Clients housed 21
77
JHS** Wrap Around Housing
Clients through the program
Clients housed 61
Collaborative Leadership
PEI Report on Homelessness November 2017
Statistics on Homelessness in PEI, 2013-2016
Homelessness Indicators (calendar year) 2013 2014 2015 2016
Population of PEI (1 July 2017) 145,237 146,283 146,791 149,472
# of shelter beds in PEI 39 39 39 45*
# of individuals who stayed in shelter 244 200 254 355
# of women 67 80 85 88
# of men 115 83 122 228
# of youth (16-19) 16 8 8 4
# of families 29 25 22 27
# of children accompanying a parent (age 0-18) 49 34 47 39
# of times shelter beds were used 4279 2974 2852 4691
Average stay in emergency shelter (days) 22 14.2 13.2 10.1
# of individuals ‘turned away’ from shelters 17 27 27 25
# of food banks 6 5 6 5
# of soup kitchens 2 2 2 2
Housing Indicators (fiscal year ending) 2013 2014 2015 2016
# of family housing units 463 463 459 463
# on the family housing wait list 383 308 290 340
Approx. annual turnover for family housing 19.4% 16.9% 15.6% 15.0%
# of senior housing units 1118 1118 1117 1117
# on the senior housing wait list 725 801 895 1055
Approx. annual turnover for senior housing 17.8% 16.1% 15.2% 15.0%
# of rent supplements 162 182 182 182
Units in Canada-PEI affordable housing program 277 279 238 212
Social housing units (residential and special 2644 2530
Vacancy Rates—Average Rents (Oct.) 2013 2014 2015 2016
PEI overall rental vacancy - urban 7.1% 5.4% 4.8% 2.1%
Average rent for bachelor apt. in Charlottetown $531 $523 $533 $560
Average rent for bachelor apt. in Summerside $582 $548 $550 $535
Average rent for 1 bedroom apt. in Ch’town $649 $671 $685 $703
Average rent for 1 bedroom apt. in S’side $555 $581 $614 $620
Average rent for 2 bedroom apt. in Ch’town $804 $836 $830 $872
Average rent for 2 bedroom apt. in S’side $722 $737 $734 $744
Good news:
Federal and Provincial
governments have
committed to creating
housing strategies.
Through the Homelessness
Partnering Strategy (HPS)
support, community
leadership, engagement, and
activities more is known
about the complex need and
issues locally. HPS activities
include: the PEI Connects
events, partnering on the
National Point in Time
Counts, provincial Point In
Time Caseload Reviews, and
funded projects.
Things that worry us:
Increased shelter use: in
2016, 111 more individuals
stayed in a shelter compared
with 2013; disproportionate
increase to the rate of
population growth.
Availability of safe shelter for
all genders: more men than
women access shelter beds
consistent with the
disproportionate allocation
of gender specific bed
availability. Only 12 of the
shelter beds are for women.
Availability of housing stock:
urban vacancy rates continue
to decline, from 7.1% in 2013
to 2.1% in 2016, limiting the
availability of housing stock.
2
Income Indicators 2013 2014 2015 2016
Basic monthly income support for single person $575 $593 $619 $619
Basic monthly income support for single person
who is disabled and/or unable to work $762 $788 $812 $812
Caseload numbers in receipt of social assistance
benefits in PEI 3800 3700 3755 3600
Distinct number of individuals who have 5629 5452 5556 5302
Average monthly benefit for Old Age Security $551.54 $563.74 $574.62 $585.491
Average monthly Guaranteed Income Supple- $495.89 $506.86 $516.64 $526.422
Minimum wage in PEI $10.00
(Apr ‘13)
$10.35
(Oct ‘14)
$11.00
(Oct ‘16)
$11.25
(Apr ‘17)
Increase in Consumer Price Index PEI (calendar 2% 1.6% -0.6% 1.2%
PEI Report on Homelessness November 2017
Statistics on Homelessness in PEI, 2013-2016 (continued)
Things that worry us (cont.):
HPS projects indicated that
the 2.1% urban vacancy rate
includes a range of rent rates,
unit size, and unit quality that
are mismatched to need.
Decrease in affordable
housing units arising from the
expiration of housing
agreements. Though the
housing may still exist we
don’t know the extent to
which they remain
affordable.
Family and Seniors housing
turn over rates continue to
decline, reducing access;
Seniors housing unit wait lists
continue to increase.
*2016 shelter bed numbers now include Deacon House beds
1: Monthly OAS regardless of marital status (October 2017)
2: Monthly GIS if your spouse/ common-law partner receives the full OAS pension (October 2017)
The Housing Partnering Strategy,
through the Community Advisory
Board and the Rural Advisory Board,
funded a range of projects for 2017-
18. There were diverse projects,
meeting a range of needs for people
experiencing homelessness, at risk,
and imminently homeless. Projects
demonstrated leadership with
common themes emerging. Some
projects focused more on
interpersonal activities aimed at
supporting persons’ recovery goals,
such as the Aspire Project of Family
Violence Prevention Services, Queens
County Residential Service Day
Program, CMHA My Place Housing
First, CMHA West Prince Housing and
the John Howard Society Rural Wrap
Around Project. Other projects
focused on ensuring access to
supportive shelter and living
environments like the work of Bedford
MacDonald House- Salvation Army,
Community Connections, Community
Inclusions, and Inclusions East. Others
seek to better understand the unique
needs of groups of people to support
more effective interventions like the
work of the Native Council of PEI, the
Community of St. Peters, and the
Reach Foundation. The leadership
themes and project examples
represent only some of the activity
carried out by these organizations.
Enabling sustainability and
continued improvement was
evident in the Aspire project
through the inclusion of an evaluation
to inform project learning; Community
Inclusions undertook facility
improvements to space and
accessibility; the NCPEI project
focused in rural PEI, helped to identify
resources and resource gaps available
for rural homelessness; Reach
Foundation and St. Peters both
explored the housing needs of youth.
exploring the role in recovery and best
practices.
Homelessness Partnering Strategy Projects
It was a leap of faith to get Aspire
going, but staff knew it was a vital
and necessary piece of work that
would greatly assist women.
- Family Violence Prevention
Services
3
PEI Report on Homelessness November 2017
Homelessness Partnering Strategy Projects (continued)
Several projects contributed to
increased accessibility, independence
and individual success: Queens County
Residential Services (QCRS) is increasing
day program capacity to enable adults
with intellectual disabilities to live and
thrive in their communities; CMHA My
Place Housing First program provides
intensive case management to support
clients to maintain housing; CMHA
West Prince Housing continue to have
successful exits from the project and
sustained housing for others;
Community Connections are improving
building accessibility for clients who
attend the Employment Outreach
Program and are creating a lift system to
the upper living area.
Keeping the client at the center, by
providing trauma informed and client
centered case management, was
evident in several projects. The Aspire
Project, recognizing the impact of
violence, poverty, mental health and
addiction conditions and incarceration
seeks to reduce barriers and make their
goals attainable; CMHA My Place
Housing First , CMHA West Prince
Housing and JHS Wrap Around provide
client centered case management with a
focus on keeping participants housed
and assist them to achieve their
personal goals.
Fostering linkage and connection is a
role of several funded organizations:
Bedford MacDonald House, an
emergency homeless shelter for men,
coach and refer clients to community
services to meet their needs; CMHA My
Place-Housing First assists clients to
settle into housing within the
community and connects clients
with relevant community resources;
NCPEI have developed a resource
guide and will build capacity
amongst community members to
use the resource guide.
Strengthening relationships with sectors
and service providers was important to
all projects. For example CMHA West
Prince Housing CMHA My Place Housing
First, JHS Wrap Around, all form
relationships with landlords and services
to advocate and
facilitate access
for clients.
In some cases,
projects directly
reduce
homelessness
through the
creation or
stability of
housing units,
such as
Community
Inclusions, Inclusions East and
Community Connections all of whom
sustained or created housing units.
Mutual exchange of information and
advocacy are key enablers: QCRS
advocate for the rights and needs of
adults with intellectual disability to be
part of the community; Community
Inclusions’ mandate is to support adults
with intellectual disabilities in their
chosen endeavors, and supporting them
to exercise their right to housing in their
community, CMHA My Place Housing
First advocate and inform the
community about the Housing First
philosophy and program.
HPS projects demonstrate leadership
and collaboration, needed to end
homelessness.
The Salvation Army has
implemented strong policies and
procedures to ensure a safe
environment for guests and staff
alike.
- The Salvation Army Our program has successfully,
independently housed individuals,
who, throughout their past, lived
for extended periods of time
within the health care, mental
health and addictions, or
correctional systems.
- CMHA My Place
We sometimes under-appreciate,
sometimes, the leadership value of
‘good advocacy’ and the relationship
of good advocacy to education and
awareness.
- Community Connection
HPS housing sub-project teams from CMHA, CMHA West, John Howard Society,
with guest speaker Diane Young of the Lennon Recovery House
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Historically, we have seen these
individuals living in institutions apart
from community. Although there has
been progress made, we continue to see
trends that result in clients being
housed in inappropriate situations.
- Queens County Residential Service
Safe, affordable housing plays a pivotal role
in helping youth in recovery transition from
the Reach Foundation’s employment
training and workplace skills development
into future education of employment
opportunities. In the absence of such
housing, the progress that youth in recovery
have made can be tenuous as they find
themselves at risk and subject to relapse.
On April 27, 2017, the Community Advisory
Board on Homelessness hosted PEI Connects.
The event, replicated last year’s conducted as
part of the biennial National Point in Time
Count. The event offered access to community
services and supports such as blood pressure
and blood sugar checks, income tax information,
local community services, housing services, hot
meals, haircuts and clothing. Thirty-five people
attended the event. Participants who agreed,
were interviewed to better understand the
needs of people who may experience
homelessness.
PEI Report on Homelessness
PEI Connects: 2nd Annual Magnet Event
November 2017
Homelessness Partnering Strategy Funded Projects 2017
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John Howard Society Wrap-Around Program
CMHA, My Place Housing First Program
CMHA West Prince Housing Program
Community of St. Peters Bay
Community Connections
Queens County Residential Services, Day Program
Salvation Army, Bedford MacDonald House
PEI Family Violence Prevention Services, Aspire Program
Community Inclusions
Inclusions East
REACH Foundation
John Howard Society Pre-Employment Project
Native Council of PEI
PEI Community Advisory Board on Homelessness
FRANK COSTA, Community Connections Inc - Chair SHERRI BARRETT – Mi’Kmaq Confederacy - Member MAJOR DANIEL ROODE, Salvation Army Charlottetown - Member JANIS MacLELLAN-PETERS, University of Prince Edward Island - Member CHRIS REEVES, PEI Housing, Family & Human Services - Member SUE ADAMS, Veteran Affairs Canada - Member JASON MacDonald, PEI Income Support, Family & Human Services - Member BEV THOMPSON, Canadian Mental Health Association – Member BOBBI JO FLYNN, PEI Department of Justice & Public Safety – Member ALEX FORBES, City of Charlottetown – Member ELLEN RIDGEWAY, PEI Family Violence Prevention Services SEAN MORRISON, PEI Mental Health and Addiction Services WALLENA HIGGINS, Service Canada – Ex-officio DONNA HARTLEY, John Howard Society of PEI / Community Entity– Ex-officio WENDI JAMES POIRIER, HPS Coordinator - Ex-Officio
PEI Rural & remote advisory Board on Homelessness
CARL DOUCETTE, Community Member – Chair ROMA ARSENAULT, Community Member - - Member CHRIS REEVES, PEI Department of Housing - Member WALLENA HIGGINS, Service Canada – Ex-officio DONNA HARTLEY, John Howard Society of PEI / Community Entity– Ex-officio WENDI JAMES POIRIER, HPS Coordinator - Ex-Officio
What people shared:
1/3 do not have a family doctor
69% of the people surveyed had housing, 57% of respondents
had been homeless at least one time
Many of that indicated they had never had an episode of
homelessness included some who stated they do not have
permanent housing - personal definitions of homelessness
vary
Most frequently reported contributing factors to housing loss
included: addiction or substance use, job loss, and eviction
due to inability to pay
63% of respondents were receiving provincial financial
assistance; 14% were receiving disability benefits
PEI’s Housing Programs
West Prince (North Cape to Summerside)
West Prince Housing Project Coordinator: Michelle Arsenault West Prince Housing First Project Canadian
Mental Health Association 33 Dufferin St. Alberton PEI Phone (902)853-
4180 Email [email protected]
Summerside and Charlottetown
My Place-Housing First Coordinator: Shannon McCready My Place – Housing First Program
Canadian Mental Health Association, PEI Division Box 785 – 178 Fitzroy Street Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 7L9
Office: (902) 628-3663 Fax: (902) 566-4643
Email: [email protected]
Rural PEI (Summerside to East Point (except City of Charlottetown)
WrapAround Rural Housing Program Program Manager: Lisa MacLean
John Howard Society of PEI PO Box 2000-Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8
Office: (902) 569-7682 fax: (902) 569-7711
Email: [email protected]
For questions on the PEI Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS please contact:
PEI Homeless Partnering Strategy c/o The John Howard Society of PEI
Wendi James Poirier, Homeless Partnering Strategy Coordinator PEI
Sherwood Business Centre, Suite 48
902-367-3356 [email protected]
Funding of this initiative has been provided through the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Partnering Strategy
