Housing First tackles homelessness

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/03/2017 (3303 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a common-sense approach to end homelessness that is easy to grasp by its title: Housing First.

Before a homeless individual can even consider addictions treatment, mental health intervention or reconnecting with family, safe housing must be found.

“There is a much better chance of success because at least the person has a place to feel safe and secure and begin to think about what is next for them,” said Sam Tsemberis, founder of the Housing First program, which is now used in communities across Canada, the United States and some European countries.

Tsemberis, a clinical psychologist, founded Pathways to Housing in New York City in 1992. He grew up in Montreal and is currently visiting Canadian cities with Housing First programs.

He met with Brandon Housing First this week, and offered a workshop to approximately 45 people at the Manitoba Métis Federation Southwest Region office. A variety of program partners were represented, such as Brandon Friendship Centre, Samaritan House Ministries, Canadian Mental Health Association, Centre for Adult Psychiatry and Prairie Mountain Health, among others.

Tsemberis called the Brandon program impressive and inspiring. After just one year in operation, the local program has housed more than 40 clients, doubling its original target.

“They’ve been working with the people that have been on the streets here for years, some of them, and they have not only housed them but they have helped them to reconnect with family, some people are in treatment … really wonderful work going on,” he said.

“In a city that has, in a way, a manageable number of people who are homeless, you can see tremendous results and actually ending homelessness in the community.”

Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser), who works as a wellness manager with MMF in Brandon, said the 40 clients were housed between the efforts of MMF and Youth For Christ.

The ages of the clients ranged from 18 to 72, according to Desjarlais, with approximately 80 per cent being aboriginal. It is an even mix of men and women.

A key factor in its success, according to Desjarlais, is the rent supplement they have been able to offer. As a result, more landlords got on board.

“They’re the ones that are taking a lot of the risks here,” Desjarlais said. In the past, they’ve been left “holding the bag” for damages left by tenants.

But now, the program is able to cover such costs.

“We have that safety belt for them, and I think them knowing that has given them the push to say ‘OK, we’ll take a chance with some of these clients,’” Desjarlais said.

He admits there has been some growing pains as the fledgling program gets off the ground, but overall it has been going well and nearly all of the landlords they started with are still involved.

Chris Blaikie, a service navigator at the 7th Street Health Access Centre, attended the workshop. He sees the local housing struggle first-hand through his clients.

“Even folks on social assistance, they’re not getting enough money to cover the increasing rents in Brandon. They’re having to sacrifice food costs and clothing,” he said. “When you look at people on minimum wage, I don’t know how they do it. I remember doing it when I was younger, but it just seems like things have gotten harder and harder for people.”

Funding for Brandon Housing First comes through the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy, which has been secured through 2019. Desjarlais is optimistic the funding will continue beyond that as well.

The Canadian government’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy has adopted the program as a way to address chronic homelessness in the country. It is now in more than 40 communities, following the release of a study on the program, conducted between 2009 and 2014.

It showed positive results, not only for improved quality of life but also a cost saving for municipalities related to fewer homeless people visiting emergency room, jails and acute care shelters.

“Canada has become … in many ways, nationally leading the way in an informed, evidence-based approach to addressing chronic homelessness,” Tsemberis said.

Once housing is secured, the program then focuses on the more in-depth support work. Tsemberis said a main goal of Housing First is to follow the direction of a client, rather than figuring it out for them.

“It’s usually Housing First, and then what?” Tsemberis said. The next step can be helping the client secure benefits, make a health appointment, reach out to family, get a handle on an addiction, etc. It’s dealing with the problem, but in the sequence in which the person wants it.

Looking ahead to the next year, Desjarlais said a goal is to start offering more meaningful daily activities for clients, giving them a sense of purpose in the local community. They also plan to connect with trauma workers through Prairie Mountain Health.

“I would say that 100 per cent of them really have dealt with some kind of significant trauma, so it would be nice to be able to connect them to some trauma-informed care and practices,” he said.

» jaustin@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @jillianaustin