Implementing Housing First Dec 4, 2013 OMSSA Conference 2013 Dr. Abe Oudshoorn Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing
History of Homelessness Pre-1977: transience and skid row “Report on Skid Row” – City of Toronto Planning Division, 1977
Homelessness as a real problem in developed nations To 1985: 136,334 social housing units developed UN 1987 – International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
A Reaction Food Banks Canada – shelters developed across Canada by 1990 (including domestic violence shelters) The charitable impulse
Current Situation 1,086 shelters; 28,495 shelter beds 146,726 unique individuals accessed shelter 5,263,182 shelter bed nights
The Pressure
Ontario’s Affordable Housing Policy Vision 1.Demonstrating outcomes 2.Housing First 3.Collaboration with non-profit and private market 4.Integration with other services 5.Priority populations 6.Environmental sustainability
Housing First All things held equal…
Policy Issues Orders to reside
Policy Issues Hospital discharge to shelter
Policy Issues Rent supplement, direct to landlord
Fiscal Issue
Therefore… Where is the housing?
Existing Model
New Model London CAReS A municipal commitment Flexibility Monitoring outcomes Outreach partnered with housing stability
Current Housing Status * as of August 31 st,
Participant #8 21
Fiscal Impact $800 per ED visit $335 per street arrest $255 per night in prison $75 per night in shelter source: HomelessHub
Elucidating Outcomes Hours of service, number of contacts, satisfaction with service Vs Housing result, fiscal impact, health and QoL outcomes Managing Ending
Questions