Housing First: A Key Part in Addressing Homelessness Catharine Hume Co-Executive Director RainCity Housing www.raincityhousing.org

Homelessness Poverty Lack of affordable housing Growing rates of homelessness Over representation www.raincityhousing.org

People with Brain Injuries Over representation of people with brain injuries Two recent studies – approximately 50% of homeless population with head injuries Higher risk group www.raincityhousing.org

At Home/Chez-Soi Background to study National research project Homelessness and mental illness Comparing Housing First to ‘services and supports as usual’ www.raincityhousing.org

Housing First Housing options Outreach based services and supports www.raincityhousing.org

Housing First Principles Immediate access to housing Choice Recovery orientation Individualized and person driven Community integration www.raincityhousing.org

At Home Key Findings Can be implemented Rapidly ends homelessness Sound investment Housing first not housing only Other positive outcomes Getting it ‘right’ makes a difference www.raincityhousing.org

Reflections: Assumptions People aren’t ready for housing People in our community ‘too sick’ People won’t choose scatter site Landlords won’t get involved People won’t stay housed NGO can’t lead a clinical team Housing options reflect people’s needs www.raincityhousing.org

Focusing the Frame A Participant Photography Project The view from classroom This is what I see when I look out of my class room window. The biggest thing the At Home/Chez Soi project has given me is options. When you don't have a home you're just trying to survive, you wouldn't even think about going back to school. Now I'm getting my grade twelve. All I used to look at was dirty streets, shelters, and food kitchens. Focusing the Frame A Participant Photography Project m www.raincityhousing.org

Link to Video http://www.raincityhousing.org/hf-p-into-p/ (view the HF videos)

http://athome.nfb.ca/#/athome http://www.raincityhousing.org/what-we-do/news/ http://www.raincityhousing.org/hf-p-into-p/ www.raincityhousing.org