Waterloo Region's Housing First Journey

January 25, 2018

Angela Pye, Region of Waterloo Edwina Toope, Lutherwood

What are we working towards?

Three goals:

1. Increase Housing Affordability Preserve existing affordable housing options Help create enough housing options that people can afford Support poverty reduction, so people have more housing choice

2. Prevent Homelessness Offer shelter diversion services Help people stay housed Help people to reduce vulnerability

3. End Chronic Homelessness Help people find housing Offer housing support

Connected, but uncoordinated approach

Fully coordinated, triage approach to matching people with programs

Because trends for people with housing issues look like this

We are designing a system that looks like this

Supportive

Housing (on-site support)

Emergency

Shelter

Portable Home-Based Support (new team-based model April 2018)

Housing Resource Centres &

Housing Help Hubs (next for redesign)

Coordinated Access and PATHS (HIFIS & SPDAT)

#1 (2014) #2 (2017)

SYSTEM REDESIGN

Level 4: Longer-Term

Housing Support (High Acuity)

Level 3: Shorter-Term

Housing Support (Medium Acuity)

Level 2: Housing-Focused

Services (Low/Mixed Acuity)

Level 1: Self-Directed Housing Resources

(Renter's Toolkit and Housing Help Hubs)

Levels 3 & Level 4: Coordinated Access (PATHS)

Level 2: Coordinated Access (Decentralized)

9 10

7 8

3

2

6

5 4 a

b

d

c

10: Supportive Housing 9: Portable Home-Based Support (Longer-Term)

8: Portable Home-Based Support (Shorter-Term) 7: Transitional Housing

Housing Stability System: Progressive Engagement Pyramid

1

Focus of Programs: Primarily Housing Affordability Housing Help Available Housing Support Coordination

Access & Referral Protocols

Coordinated Access

Universal Access

6: Ontario Renovates 5: Affordable Home Ownership 4: Community Housing 3: Street Outreach 2: Emergency Shelter 1: Housing Resource Centres

Less focus on supporting consistency between agencies, more on strengthening service for clients

Goal is to strengthen partnerships with other support agencies/systems through enhanced Housing-Focused System Partnerships Development role.

Vision: Fully coordinated waiting lists for people with disabilities Fully coordinated case conferencing strategies with other sectors Leveraging funding opportunities between various ministries Keep learning as we build our new system!

What's Next – Systems Partnership Focus

Learning with our Peers

• Like an anchor in uncharted waters • Support network and safe place to find

reassurance during times of uncertainty

– Like a relay race • One group tackles part of a complex

problem and next extends the learning – Like a treasure chest

• Staff orientation (leave inspired) • Access each other's strengths • Share capacity-building tools • Unified key messages

Systems Change and the SW5…

Housing First Pilot Experience

Cambridge STEP Home Team Pilot • Implement Housing First principles and work towards

Functional Zero for homelessness in Cambridge.

• Piloting new approach: 1. Team-based with a team lead (not decentralized service) 2. Co-located/shared space (not on-site of shelter) 3. Administer Cambridge PATHS list (coordinated access) 4. Housing Support Coordination Guide (standardized) 5. Service pathway (intentionally linked with other services) 6. Specialized staffing roles (not generic roles)

• Goal: House 50 people by March 2018

Shared Housing First Principles

• Immediate access to housing with no readiness conditions (sobriety or treatment)

• Consumer choice and self-determination • Recovery orientation • Individualized and person-centred supports • Community inclusion

Features of the Pilot Team

• Collaborative/matrix reporting model with 4 agencies participating – 15 member team: – Cambridge Shelter (4 team members) – Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank (3 team members) – Argus Residence for Youth (2 team members) – Lutherwood (Team Lead + 5 team members)

• Neutral, leased space for work/meetings (staff only)

Coordinated Access to Housing Support

• Prioritized Access to Housing Support (PATHS) process coordinates access to housing support for people with a history of homelessness and high acuity

• Pilot team manages the list and supports the process: – Engagement: Street Outreach workers focus on eligibility

(SPDATs, Housing Support Application) and offer-ready steps – Finding Housing: Housing Liaisons and Housing Support

Coordinators help with housing search, lease-up, and move-in steps

– Support Planning: Housing Support Coordinators and Peer Support Workers implement Housing Support Coordination Guide

Who is Eligible?

• High level of acuity (VI-SPDAT or Full SPDAT) • Lived in Waterloo Region for at least one year

(current or past) • Currently living without permanent housing • Exhausted a market rent search • Consent to service • Wants in-home visits

Who is a Priority? • First Priority – people with greater depth of need who

are experiencing chronic homelessness

• Second Priority – people who are highly vulnerable and have less ability to survive homelessness

• Third Priority – people who have been living without housing the longest

Housing Support Coordination

• New and evolving local standards of practice • Promotes consistency of person-centered service –

clarifies roles for staff, participants/tenants and the community

• Five essential and sequential stages of recovery from homelessness:

1. Housing Stability 2. Individualized Housing-Based Support Plan 3. Self-Awareness 4. Self-Management 5. Reframe/Rebuild

Housing First Team Challenges

1. Change management

2. Implementing Housing First program in a system of

many moving – and interdependent – parts

3. Shelter-based "Hub" model of services

4. Housing retention

5. Landlord vs. tenant tensions

6. System partnerships

Housing First Team Strategies

• Team building

• Make it visual to reinforce new direction – Vision for the team, individuals "why's" – Key messages, reference documents/tools – Relevant data – e.g., housing goal and outcomes

• Solutions-focused conversations about housing

– Asking "How is that going to help us end homelessness?" – Focusing on housing before addressing other needs