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

2. Homelessness Poverty Lack of affordable housing
Growing rates of homelessness
Over representation

3. 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

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

5. Housing First Housing options Outreach based services and supports

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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