Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Plan …ofifc.org/sites/default/files/content-files/SSM...
Transcript of Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Plan …ofifc.org/sites/default/files/content-files/SSM...
Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Community Plan 2014–2019
Community: Sault Ste. Marie Aboriginal
Region: Ontario
The plan has been approved by Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres for
implementation.
As this Aboriginal Homelessness allocation is not over $200,000, the community is not
required to commit any of its HPS allocation towards a Housing First approach.
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Current Situation: Establishing your Baseline Data ................................. 3
Data ..................................................................................................................... 3
Readiness for Implementing Housing First ............................................................... 4
Community Advisory Board Membership .................................................. 6
Planning and Reporting ............................................................................ 8
Your Planning Process ............................................................................................ 8
Reporting ............................................................................................................ 12
Your Priorities ....................................................................................... 13
Description of your Priorities ................................................................................. 18
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Current Situation: Establishing your Baseline Data
Data Please report on your current situation based on the following indicators. All
CABs should review their progress annually against these indicators. This
review will form part of the annual update. Note: Although this data is not
required at this time, data for 2013 will be required as part of the first annual update.
1. Number of unique Aboriginal individuals who used an emergency homeless shelter in the twelve month period between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012
2. Number of Aboriginal shelter users who were chronically homeless in 2012
3. Number of Aboriginal shelter users who were episodically homelessness in 2012
4. Number of Aboriginal homeless individuals identified during the latest point in time count (if available)
5. Date count was undertaken
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Readiness for Implementing Housing First
Please rate your community’s readiness to implement Housing First based on
the following questions. Each component of the scale has a rating of one to four
with four demonstrating full implementation of the HPS HF model. Use this information
to decide where to focus your efforts in implementing your HF program. Because
implementing Housing First may take some adjustments, communities will have the
opportunity to rate progress annually and use the information to update priorities.
Note: Responses will only be used by ESDC to understand the selection of the HF
priorities and activities.
Criterion Community’s Rating
CORE PRINCIPLES Rapid Housing with Supports. Program directly helps participants locate and secure permanent housing as rapidly as possible and assists them with moving-in or re-housing if needed.
-2-: Program supports participants in locating housing within 4-6 months and does not offer participants who have lost housing a new housing unit.
Housing Choice. Program participants choose the location and other features of their housing.
-1-: Participants have no choice in the location or other features of their housing and are assigned a unit without having a say in decorating and furnishing.
Separating housing provision from other services. Extent to which program participants are not required to demonstrate housing readiness.
-1-: Participants have access to housing only if they have successfully completed a period of time in transitional housing and meet all the readiness requirements.
Integrated Housing. Extent to which housing tenure is assumed to be permanent housing with no actual or expected time limits, other than those defined under a standard lease or occupancy agreement.
-1-: There are rigid time limits on the length of stay in housing or the housing is considered emergency.
Tenancy Rights and Responsibilities. Extent to which program participants have legal rights to the unit.
-1-: Participants have no written agreement specifying the rights and responsibilities of tenancy, have no legal recourse if asked to leave their housing and can keep housing only by meeting requirements for continued tenancy.
Reasonable Cost for Housing. Extent to which participants pay a reasonable amount of their income for housing costs and/or program has access to rent supplements or subsidized housing units.
-1-: Participants pay 61% or more of their income for housing costs and program does not have access to rent supplements.
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Criterion Community’s Rating
Housing Support. Extent to which program offers services to help participants maintain housing, such as offering assistance with landlord relations and neighborhood orientation.
-3-: Program offers some ongoing housing support services but does not offer any property management services, assistance with rent payment, and co-signing of leases.
SERVICE PHILOSOPHY Service choice. Extent to which program participants choose the type, sequence, and intensity of services such as recovery, medical and other services.
-3-: Participants may have some say in choosing, modifying, or refusing services and supports, but program staff determinations usually prevail.
Participant-Driven Program & Services. Extent to which the program and services are participant-driven.
-2-: Program offers few opportunities for input on their individual services or more generally on program services.
Contact with Participants. Extent to which program maintains regular contact with participants.
-1-: Program has no contact with participants.
Continuous Services. Extent to which program participants are not discharged from services even if they lose housing.
-4-: Participants continue to receive program services even if they lose housing.1
Directly Offers or Brokers Services. Program directly offers or brokers support services to participants, such as recovery, medical and other services.
-1-: Program does not offer services to participants, either directly or through brokering.
Selection of Vulnerable Populations. Extent to which program focuses on chronic and/or episodically homeless individuals.
-1-: Program has no method to identify and select participants who are chronic and/or episodically homeless.
TEAM STRUCTURE/HUMAN RESOURCES Low Participant/Staff Ratio. Extent to which program consistently maintains a low participant/staff ratio.
-1-: 50 or more participants per 1 FTE staff.
1 There may be a service hiatus during institutional stays.
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Community Advisory Board Membership
1. Name of the Community Advisory Board: Community Advisory Board
2. Number of members in your CAB: 14
Community Advisory Board Membership
Last
Name
First
Name
TITLE
ORGANIZATION
SECTOR(S) Role
on CAB
Include on
Distribution List?
Pearson Joanne Sault Ste. Marie Housing
Corp Housing and Homelessness
Coordinator
Housing Social Housing Member Yes
Johns Mona Neech Ke When Homes
Manager Tenant Services
Housing Social Housing Member Yes
Hanson Shawna Metis Nation of Ontario
Community Wellness Coordinator
Healthcare Member Yes
Hepburn Carolyn Sault College, Director Native
Education
Education Member Yes
Syrette Cathy Indian Friendship Centre
Executive Director
Social Services Member Yes
Harrington Carolyn Community Elder
Board Member Neech Ke When
Homes
Community Member Member Yes
Kakapshe Tom Neech Ke When Homes Director Housing Social Housing Member Yes
Morin Matthew Indian Friendship Centre Outreach
Coordinator
Social Services Member Yes
King Liz Service Canada Federal Government Member Yes
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3. Given the requirement to allocate funding to the Housing First
approach, which involves both housing and individual supports, are
there any sectors or organizations the CAB needs to include and/or
engage in the future to more fully represent your community? (for
example, Provincial or Territorial representatives responsible for
housing and/or mental health, landlord organizations, people with
lived experience, police, corrections, health and health promotions
(including the Health Authority), income supports, other funders,
addictions treatment)
Private Sector: engaging private landlords to address concerns and
understanding into market rents vs. rents that can accommodate those on social
benefit programs. Share knowledge about resources that are available to
tenants for rental and utility arrears and mediation for landlord/tenant issues that
can affect housing retention or acquisition.
Aboriginal Community Member: to offer grass roots/cultural perspective on
issues and concerns related to housing, the homeless and at risk populations.
Municipal Government city councillor: would help with city planning related to
social services and housing by having a council member that is informed of
Aboriginal issues.
City Police: a liaison that works with the Aboriginal community with the goal of
gaining a better understanding of Aboriginal issues around housing and
community members gaining knowledge about policing and law.
United Way: provide awareness of housing issues that Aboriginal peoples
experience when attempting to secure housing.
All the above could be sought for CAB membership with the goal of providing
awareness of the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness program and the challenges
facing the Aboriginal population with respect to housing.
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Planning and Reporting
Your Planning Process
1. Stakeholder Engagement
a. Who and how did the CAB consult in your community as you prepared this Community Plan? Please include information about the approach you took and the extent of your consultations. Community Consultations were held with clients/participants of the Urban
Aboriginal Homelessness program of the Indian Friendship Center during
meal plan as an additional activity. Approximately 40 questionnaires/surveys
were completed by the group and the Outreach Coordinator was available to
explain and answer questions. Consultations included the following topics;
drop in services and emergency support, outreach services, and knowledge
and communication/public awareness components around the issue of
homelessness. Housing first was also discussed. The current Community
Advisory Board was also convened and a review of the past community plan
and discussions ensued for each of the issues, priorities, and areas of
concern, and the mechanism and strategies employed to assist individuals
that are in need of our services.
The consultation and CAB review revealed the priorities identified in the
previous community plan are still applicable to this community and it was
concluded that these priorities would carry over into the new plan.
b. How is your CAB working with the Designated Community to get access to data and implement Aboriginal homeless priorities? Members of the Aboriginal CAB sit on the Social Development Council, which
is the Sault Ste. Marie City CAB. The Social Development Council gets regular
updates of current and past tenants for each of the shelters. This activity
ensures access to the data, including Aboriginal participation rates and
provides a venue for networking with the shelters and gains access to
identifying Aboriginal clients who are experiencing chronic homelessness.
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2. Other Related Strategies and Programs
a. In this section, you will identify and describe the federal, provincial, territorial, or local strategies, programs (other than HPS) which fund activities in your community that you will access to support your Housing First and other homelessness effort. How many have you identified? 31
Name of federal, provincial or territorial or local strategies and programs
Focus of strategy or program
Canadian Mental Health Mental Health Counselling
PACT Housing Support
OW Ontario Works Income Support
ODSP Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support
Service Canada Program Supports
NHIB Non Insured Health Benefits Non Insured Health Benefits
Assets Employment and Training
Urban Aboriginal High School Literacy Basic Skills, GED
Sault College Upgrading, post-secondary education
John Howard Society Housing Supports
Salvation Army Food Security
United Way Housing Supports, Community Liaison Coordinator
Neech Ke When Housing Affordable Housing
Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation Affordable Housing
Vincent Place Men’s Shelter Temp Housing Shelter Services
Women In Crisis Temp Emergency Housing
Sault Area Hospital Emergency Assistance and Release Planning
Habitat for Humanity Housing supports Furniture
Pauline’s Place Temp Emergency Housing for Youth
Canadian Red Cross Housing Support
Aboriginal Combined Courtwork Program Social integration
Aboriginal Criminal Courtwork Program Social integration
Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Healthcare, Social integration
Addictions and Mental Health Program Mental health, addictions, social integration
Akwe:go: Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program Education, mental health, social integration
Alternative Secondary School Program Education, employment, social integration
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Name of federal, provincial or territorial or local strategies and programs
Focus of strategy or program
Apatisiwin Education, employment, social integration
Healing and Wellness Program Mental health, addictions, healthcare, social integration
Life Long Care Program Mental health, healthcare, social integration
Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program Social integration
Wasa-Nabin: Urban Aboriginal Youth Program Education, mental health, social integration
b. Does your Province or Territory have a plan or strategic direction to address homelessness, poverty, housing, or another related issue? Yes
How does your HPS Community Plan complement Provincial or
Territorial direction in this area?
Partially aligns
Fills in gaps
Please explain.
Services provided by the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness program include:
Discretionary Funds accessed when other sources of funding (OW, ODSP,
CHPI) have been depleted for clients that are in urgent need of one or more
of the following supports; transportation, food, clothing,
furniture/appliances, special needs not covered other agencies or program,
personal identification.
The Indian Friendship Centre Community Health Access Centre N’Mninoeyaa
is located on site and is often used for referrals to general health concerns
and for mental health referrals. Health Centre has nurse practitioners
available regularly and a doctor is available weekly.
To fill gaps in access to nutritious food, a hot lunch is provided on Tuesday
and Thursdays. Lunch and learns examples life skills, healthy living, and
related activities are presented to clients in this group setting.
The provincial strategies and programs have limited priorities for Aboriginal
populations, the Aboriginal Community Plan addresses this gap and when
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clients are referred to services, priority is given to Aboriginal specific service
providers.
c. The Housing First approach requires access to a range of client supports. How will you engage (or how are you engaging) provincial or territorial programs to facilitate access to provincial/territorial services for Housing First clients? Income Security Advocacy is provided to clients experiencing difficulty maintaining an ongoing benefit unit, assistance is offered for understanding the needs of social benefit programs by working (upon consent) directly with case worker and identifying reason for ineligibility or suspension, also helping with setting appointments for intakes and requests for ODSP application process initiation. Also referrals to emergency travel and discretionary funds administered by the benefit program. Health Referrals – brief discussions around medical issues or concerns (upon client willing to disclose or requests for assistance) to Community Health Access Centre nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, doctor, Also referrals are made to other programs of the IFC (Indian Friendship Centre) drug and alcohol program, family support, healing and wellness, healthy babies, prenatal nutrition, employment and training, family and criminal court workers, children’s programs and any other community or government agency as required on a case by case basis. Prevention – clients requiring assistance to maintain current housing are assisted with finding resources that are able to help with rent and utility arears. Connection to additional health services if require for in home care. Referral to landlord and tenant review agencies, referrals to legal aid, court or family crisis supports in order for clients to meet demands maintain current household. Emergency housing referrals to crisis shelters and temporary shelters, leading to return to permanent or longer term residency. Social integration though drop in services, light lunch and volunteerism. Pre-employment supports bridging to labour market. Employment Supports and Life Skills
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Reporting The Community Advisory Board is expected to report to its funder (Employment and
Social Development Canada), its stakeholders and the broader community on what it is
doing and the progress the community is making in reducing homelessness.
The HPS was renewed with a commitment to using a Housing First approach and demonstrate reductions in homelessness. The collection of data and results will be critical to this change. As part of your community planning process, you will set priorities and select activities. Projects should lead to results that contribute to reductions in homelessness. The HPS has identified specific results that it will be collecting through Results Reporting, but the CAB and CE should also be working together to identify other results they would like to gather.
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Your Priorities
Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness
(AH) allocation that will be invested in this
priority in:
Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:
(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.
(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.
2014 -
2015
2015 -
2016
2016 -
2017
2017 -
2018
2018 -
2019
To reduce homelessness through a Housing First (HF) approach*
0% 0%
To improve the self-sufficiency of homeless individuals and families and those at imminent risk of homelessness through individualized services †
85% 85% Housing Placement (outside of Housing First)
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
Connecting clients to income supports
15 people will increase their income or income stability.
Pre-employment suport and bridging to the labour market
7 people will increase their employment stability or will start part-time or full-time employment.
0 people will start a job training program.
Life skills development (e.g. budgeting, cooking)
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
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Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness
(AH) allocation that will be invested in this
priority in:
Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:
(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.
(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.
2014 -
2015
2015 -
2016
2016 -
2017
2017 -
2018
2018 -
2019
Supports to improve clients’ social integration
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
Culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
Connecting clients to education and supporting success
15 people who will start part-time or full-time education
Housing loss prevention (only for individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness)
14 people will remain housed at three months after receiving a housing loss prevention intervention.
Liaise and refer to appropriate resources
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
Basic or urgent needs services
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
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Priorities The percentage of your HPS Aboriginal Homelessness
(AH) allocation that will be invested in this
priority in:
Activities Selected Targets for 2014-2015 Where a target is set at 0 it could be because:
(1) The community will not be implementing the activities in 2014-2015.
(2) The activities will lead to outcomes different from the ones identified in the targets.
2014 -
2015
2015 -
2016
2016 -
2017
2017 -
2018
2018 -
2019
To preserve or increase the capacity of facilities used to address the needs of people who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.
0% 0%
To ensure coordination of resources and leveraging
15% 15% Partnership and development in support of a systems approach to homelessness
The HPS has not asked for targets related to this activity.
To improve data collection and use
0% 0%
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Notes:
* The Housing First model includes both housing and access to supports
primarily for chronically and episodically homeless individuals. The
services provided are offered through an integrated approach and are
interdependent. Generally, the approach will be to ensure that Housing
First clients have access to all the existing services required.
‡ Housing First readiness activities include:
• Determining the Housing First model (e.g. consultation, coordination,
planning, and assessment)
• Identifying, integrating and improving services (including staff training
on Housing First activities and functions)
• Partnership development in support of a Housing First approach
• Working with the housing sector to identify opportunities for and
barriers to permanent housing (e.g. establishing landlord relationships,
mapping of current available assets)
§ Client intake and assessment activities include:
• Coordinated intake management (where feasible)
• Client identification, intake and assessment, focusing on the
chronically and episodically homeless populations.
** Connecting to and maintaining permanent housing require communities
to establish housing teams that implement the following activities:
• Facilitate access to housing, which could include providing emergency
housing funding to bridge clients to provincial/territorial system
• Set-up apartments (insurance, damage deposit, first and last months’
rent, basic groceries and supplies at move-in, etc.)
• Furnish apartments for HF clients (furniture, dishes, etc.)
• Repair damages caused by HF clients
• Provide Landlord-tenant services
• Re-housing (if required)
†† Accessing services through case management include the following
activities:
• Coordination of a case management team
• Peer Support
• Working with clients to set goals
• Identifying a strategy for reaching the goals
• Connecting clients to services needed to reach the client’s goal
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• Monitoring progress
• Support services to improve the self-sufficiency of chronically and
episodically homeless individuals and families in the Housing First
program through individualized services, including: connecting clients to
income supports; pre-employment support, and bridging to the labour
market; life skills development (e.g. budgeting, cooking); supports to
improve clients’ social integration; and culturally relevant responses to
help Aboriginal clients; and connecting clients to education and
supporting success
† These services are offered primarily to individuals who are homeless or
imminently at risk that are not part of the Housing First program.
Results
With renewal, the HPS is increasing the focus on achieving results. All
projects are expected to contribute to reducing or preventing homelessness
and CABs and CEs should be working together to determine how they will
measure project success. The HPS has identified a number of indicators it
will be using to measure the success of the HPS at reducing and preventing
homelessness.
Annual Activity Report and Tools
OFIFC (Community Entity) collects data on a quarterly basis
Ensure Intakes and activities are accurately compiled into quarterly and annual reports
as required
Financial reporting through financial department and auditors report.
Periodically the CAB request some data extrapolations to assist in identifying trends or
comparing actual data to local regional or national trends.
Statistical information and trends reported from other independent community agencies
is also shared with the CAB and funders.
The Outreach Coordinator will participate in HIFIS training with other community
agencies in October 2014. This will enhance the skills and ability to identify what data is
relevant and the method of collecting.
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Description of your Priorities
Housing First (HF) Priority
Rationale
Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified
in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.
What other resources can you leverage to contribute to your HF efforts?
• HF Readiness
• Client Intake & Assessment
• Connecting to and Maintaining Permanent Housing
• Accessing Services
• Data, Tracking & Monitoring
Description of the Housing First (HF) Approach
Please describe your Housing First approach, identify what percentage
of your allocation will be used towards furnishing and repairing
housing for HF purposes and provide a timeline for HF implementation.
Target Group(s)
Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.
• Chronically homeless individuals
• Episodically homeless individuals
Individualized Services priorities
Rationale
Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified
in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.
The priorities of the Aboriginal Community Plan target an estimated three
hundred plus Aboriginal homeless people in the Sault Ste. Marie area who access
shelters. An exact number of this population is difficult to express, to obtain this
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estimate the CAB conducted a survey of 6 shelters in the community. an
additional 150 Aboriginal people experience some sort of housing crisis whether
it be eviction, unplanned homelessness (social experience/relationship changes),
or are at risk of becoming homeless and require services to maintain or seek out
new housing. Most of priorities were originally identified in the 2007 Aboriginal
Community Plan and have been carried into this plan.
The current HPS program in SSM delivers the following services: housing
placement, connecting clients to income supports, pre-employment support,
referrals to employment services, life skills development, supports to improve
clients’ social integration, culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients,
connecting clients to education and supporting success, housing loss prevention
for individuals and families at imminent risk of becoming homelessness.
The HPS program Coordinator participates as a sitting member of the Social
Development Council (United Way), Housing Support Committee (John Howard
Society) Shelter Guideline Review Group (Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation) and
attends other agency meetings as topics around homelessness arise. The objective
of participating in these meetings is to give awareness to the issues and concerns of
the Aboriginal homeless and at risk populations, to network and build/enhance
working relationships with other agencies and service providers in the community.
Target Group(s)within the homeless and at imminent risk of homelessness populations
Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.
General population, Aboriginal
Facilities Priority
Rationale
Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified
in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.
Target Group(s)within the homeless and at imminent risk of homelessness populations
Please describe in more detail the group(s) this priority will address.
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Coordination of Resources and Leveraging Priority
Rationale
Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified
in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.
The current HPS program in SSM delivers the following services: housing
placement, connecting clients to income supports, pre-employment support,
referrals to employment services, life skills development, supports to improve
clients’ social integration, culturally relevant responses to help Aboriginal clients,
connecting clients to education and supporting success, housing loss prevention
for individuals and families at imminent risk of becoming homelessness.
The HPS program Coordinator participates as a sitting member of the Social
Development Council (United Way), Housing Support Committee (John Howard
Society) Shelter Guideline Review Group (Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation)
and attends other agency meetings as topics around homelessness arise. The
objective of participating in these meetings is to give awareness to the issues
and concerns of the Aboriginal homeless and at risk populations, to network and
build/enhance working relationships with other agencies and service providers in
the community.
Data Collection and Use Priority
Rationale
Why is this a priority for your community? If the priority was identified
in another related plan or planning process, please identify it.