April 19, 2023

Aboriginal Housing First Readiness Pilot Project

Overview

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Project Description/Partnerships

In partnership with the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee (AHSC) for Metro Vancouver, Service Canada, Lu’ma Native BCH Housing Society (CE) and Infocus Management Consulting

Project Description/Goals

The Aboriginal Housing First Readiness Pilot Project has a goal of assisting partner Aboriginal Organizations in meeting the unique needs of the Aboriginal community under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) with a focus on Housing First (HF)

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History

Released in April 2014, the National At Home/Chez Soi Final Report demonstrates that Housing First works to rapidly end homelessness for people experiencing mental illness, and can be effectively implemented in cities of different size and different cultural contexts. 62 per cent of people provided with immediate access to permanent housing stayed housed by the end of the two-year program, compared with 31 per cent of people not housed.

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History

Another 22 per cent of participants that received housing first were reported to retain stable housing “some of the time” even if they didn’t stay in permanent housing throughout the entire duration of the study.

The commission also found that every $10 invested in housing first services resulted in an average savings of $21.72 in health care, policing, judicial, social services and other societal costs.

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History

The Housing First model has long been touted in Vancouver, with the city officially partnering on the project by providing space for supportive housing for 100 participants.

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History

“The results of the project provide one of the strongest confirmations to date that a ‘Housing First’ approach is fundamental to ending homelessness and confronting the challenges of mental illness and addiction,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement. “We’ve made important progress on Vancouver’s homelessness action plan, and I want to ensure we see it though. The success of the Housing First model shows that we’re on the right track.”

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Definitions

Chronically homeless

This term refers to individuals, often with disabling conditions (e.g. chronic physical or mental illness, substance abuse problems), who are currently homeless and have been homeless for six months or more in the past year (i.e. have spent more than 180 nights in a shelter or place not fit for human habitation).

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Definitions

Episodically homelessThis term refers to individuals, often with disabling conditions, who are currently homeless and have experienced three or more episodes of homelessness in the past year (of note, episodes are defined as periods when a person would be in a shelter or place not fit for human habitation for a certain period, and after at least 30 days, would be back in the shelter or place).

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Stats

According to the Canadian Homelessness Research Network , at least 200,000 Canadians access homeless emergency services or sleep outside in a given year. The actual number is probably higher, given that many people who become homeless live with friends or relatives, and do not come into contact with shelters.

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6 Principles

There are 6 mandatory principles under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) Housing First (HF) approach

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Principle 1

Rapid housing with supports: 

This involves directly helping clients locate and secure permanent housing as rapidly as possible and assisting them with moving in or re-housing if needed. Housing readiness is not a requirement.

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Principle 2

Offering clients choice in housing: 

Clients must be given choice in terms of housing options as well as the services they wish to access.

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Principle 3

Separating housing provision from other services: Acceptance of any services, including treatment, or sobriety, is not a requirement for accessing or maintaining housing, but clients must be willing to accept regular visits, often weekly. There is also a commitment to rehousing clients as needed.

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Principle 4

Providing tenancy rights and responsibilities: Clients are required to contribute a portion of their income towards rent. The preference is for clients to contribute 30 percent of their income. Developing strong relationships with landlords in both the private and public sector is key to the HF approach

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Principle 5

Integrating housing into the community: 

In order to respond to client choice, minimize stigma and encourage client social integration, more attention should be given to scattered-site housing in the public or private rental markets. Other housing options such as social housing and supportive housing in congregate setting could be offered where such housing stock exists and may be chosen by some clients

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Principle 6

Strength-based and promoting self-sufficiency: 

The goal is to ensure clients are ready and able to access regular supports within a reasonable timeframe, allowing for a successful exit from the HF program. The focus is on strengthening and building on the skills and abilities of the client, based on self-determined goals that will help to stabilize the client's situation and lead to self-sufficiency.

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Implementation

The Aboriginal Housing First Readiness Pilot Project will:Contact Aboriginal AHSC funded and non-funded agencies to collect information on the services they currently deliver and to introduce the concept of Housing FirstAssist in providing “Aboriginal Housing First” Train the Trainer to partner agenciesAssist to develop and implement Aboriginal Housing First Toolkits

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Tools/Resources

The AHFRPP Team which will be working up to March 31, 2015 are a resource to the community.

Aboriginal Housing First Toolkit Currently in development, is a series of resources that will guide the community towards creating an Aboriginal Housing First approach. The Canadian version of the online toolkit can be found at: www.housingfirsttoolkit.ca/welcome

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Models

A common model that works well with Housing First:Intensive Case Management (ICM) Team

1.Housing Navigator

2.Outreach Worker

3.Elder

4.Case Manager

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Eligible Activities

Housing First Readiness

Activities include: Determining the Housing First model Identifying, integrating and improving services Partnership development in support of a Housing

First approach Working with the housing sector to identify

opportunities for and barriers to permanent housing

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Eligible Activities

Client intake and assessment

Activities include: Coordinated intake management (where feasible) Client identification, intake and assessment,

focussing on the chronically and episodically homeless populations

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Eligible Activities

Connecting clients to Permanent HousingCommunities are required to ensure that HPS funding is used to fill gaps including;Facilitate access to housing Set up apartments (insurance, damage deposit, first and last months' rent, basic groceries and supplies upon move in, etc.)Furnish apartments for HF clients (furniture, dishes, etc.)Repair damages caused by HF clientsProvide landlord-tenant servicesRe-housing (if required)

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Eligible Activitie

Accessing services through case management

Coordination of a case management team Peer support Working with clients to set goals Support services to improve the self-sufficiency of

chronically and episodically homeless individuals and families in the Housing First program through individualized services, including:

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Eligible Activities

Data, tracking and monitoring Identifying the size and make-up of the chronically

and episodically homeless population by accessing shelter data

Tracking HF clients

 

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