Homelessness Services in Nipissing District [DNSSAB’s Role] Presentation for the Board of Directors October 10, 2007 Bob Barraclough, Director of Operations & Client Services

2 Presentation Outline 1. Brief history of DNSSAB involvement in homelessness services 2. Current key priorities 3. Recommendations

3 Historical Highlights: External funding $60,000 PHIF funding is annualized through MCSS budget year. Regional surpluses added as available each year Federal government announces $272,000 for 3-year homelessness strategy in North Bay through Supporting Community Partnerships Initiative (SCPI) SCPI Phase II brings another 3-year $275,000 allocation Homelessness Partnership Strategy (HPS) replaces SCPI; $181,000 available over two years.

4 Historical Highlights: Planning DNSSAB commissions a comprehensive research report “The Face of Homelessness in Nipissing District” with PHIF dollars Local HRDC office works with DNSSAB, LIPI, Crisis Centre and Indian Friendship Centre to develop first 3 - year SCPI plan SCPI Phase I planners join with slightly larger community agency group to develop Phase II SCPI plan At request of Service Canada and community partners, DNSSAB leads consultations to assess outcomes for SCPI Phase II and to update community plan under new federal homelessness strategy.

5 Historical Highlights: Services The two services recommended in “The Face of Homelessness” implemented by DNSSAB with PHIF funds: Housing Help Worker Service - delivered by DNSSAB Housing Guarantee Program - delivered by LIPI SCPI Community Plan allocates SCPI funds for two services: LIPI - “one-stop crisis intervention and referral service” (2 staff) Indian Friendship Centre - 8 emergency shelter beds (1 staff & volunteers)

6 Historical Highlights: Services (2) Community allocates Phase II SCPI dollars LIPI funded for 2 crisis assessment, intervention and referral workers (Phase I staff positions are maintained) Crisis Centre North Bay funded for 1 transitional housing worker (enhancement) DNSSAB transfers Housing Help Worker funding service and related PHIF dollars to LIPI and Crisis Centre North Bay LIPI adds housing help services to its Housing Supports program (0.5 staff positions). Crisis Centre operates “Community Housing Transition Program” pilot (0.5 staff positions).

7 Historical Highlights: Services (3) Indian Friendship Centre’s emergency shelter closes with ending of federal DNSSAB annualizes funding for Community Transitional Housing Program (Crisis Centre) SCPI Phase II ends; services funded under the program have not identified on-going sources of funding (LIPI and Crisis Centre)

8 Ontario Works Shelter Subsidy DNSSAB’s 2007 Ontario Works budget includes $237,500 for per diem shelter subsidies and personal needs for people who qualify for emergency shelter services from one of the six providers in Nipissing District: – Crisis Centre North Bay – Salvation Army – Sturgeon Falls Resource Centre – Nipissing Transition House – Mattawa Resource Centre – Ojibway Family Resource Centre

9 Current Key Issue #1 [identified through Community Plan Update] People in need of homelessness services are approaching various agencies in the network for assistance. Clients who need services from more than one agency are assessed multiple times Does not promote effective individual service planning along the continuum of service. Does not promote effective service system planning and management

10 Current Key Issue #2 The Community needs a comprehensive plan to address homelessness Input required from all organizations and groups that have a stake in the delivery of related services Agencies are serving the same clients, but there is no way to determine whether services are being duplicated, or what the most effective way to coordinate services might be The Community wants to move to a more integrated and seamless model of service delivery, that makes optimal use of existing resources.

11 Current Key Issue #3 The supply of affordable housing in North Bay and the surrounding District is not sufficient to meet current or projected demand. The community has identified at-risk, hidden homeless, living-on-the-street and short term or crisis-sheltered youth, including aboriginal youth as an especially vulnerable group in the existing housing market

12 Current Key Issue #4 There is considerable potential for improvements to services for homeless people if service providers network and communicate with one another on a regular basis Participating in the development of the Community Plan Update was the first time many of the organizations had worked together on a common project. The stakeholders requested that DNSSAB continue to play a lead role in bringing the community together.

13 Current Key Issue #5 Some key core services, such as emergency shelters, housing crisis prevention, shelter-to- home transition and emergency food services are not funded on a permanent basis Creates potential that “first line” services could disappear Reduces the community’s ability to offer a responsive continuum of homelessness and housing services

14 Current Key Issue #6 Housing and Housing support programs for people with disabilities is targeted to specific demographic sub-groups; funding usually allocated on the basis of population, not on Nipissing's higher-than- average need Comprehensive planning and service integration can maximize existing resources The level of need is expected to increase (ageing population, closure of psychiatric facility).

15 Current Key Issue #7 A common database from all service providers is needed in order to accurately assess the level of need in the community Most agencies collect but have not been sharing data about whom they serve The community is looking to DNSSAB’s leadership to help them gather and share data that will support on-going collaborative service system planning and management

16 “Community Entity” Model A Community Entity – Facilitates the community planning process for homelessness – Disburses federal homelessness funding and Implements programs according to the community plan – Reports on programs and outcomes to Service Canada on the community’s behalf – Can use up to 15% of community’s federal allocation to offset administration costs – Can apply for additional administrative funding that is cost-shared with federal government

17 Recommendations That DNSSAB become the “Community Entity” for Nipissing District to lead the comprehensive community planning process That DNSSAB invest through the 2008 budget process to ensure that homelessness planning and service administration are coordinated and accountable