Building a Regional Housing First Network Geoff Nelson, Wilfrid
Laurier University, Waterloo Julian Hasford, Wilfrid Laurier
University Catharine Vandelinde, Mental Health Commission of Canada
MHCC Training & Technical Assistance Program, Atlantic Regional
Training Event, St. John, NB March 13, 2015
Slide 2
Building a Regional Housing First Network 9:30 Presentation on
Housing First Networks 10:00 Break 10:30 Small Group Discussions
11:30 Report Back; Next Steps 12:00 Lunch
Slide 3
Context Findings of At Home/Chez Soi and other recent
demonstration projects (Chez Soi Dabord in France) Housing First is
being promoted through HPS in its change in funding requirements
for Big 10 communities Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
providing training and technical assistance to 17 communities
across Canada MHCC development of a Canadian Housing First toolkit
Requests for Housing First training and technical assistance in the
U.S. and abroad MHCC role in providing training and technical
assistance will end in March, 2016
Slide 4
What is a Regional Housing First Network? A learning community
a network sharing a similar interest: implementing Housing First A
regional resource for leaders, agencies and stakeholders Includes
stakeholders who have implemented as well as partners who are
planning to implement HF Several regional networks envisioned
across Canada
Slide 5
What Might be the Purpose of Regional Housing First Networks?
Share and learn about planning, implementation, evaluation, and
sustainability Implementation focus and practice focus
jurisdictional sub-networks (i.e. provincial) might play P.R.,
advocacy, and policy/planning role with provincial ministries
Slide 6
How Would the Networks Function? Activities could include:
workshops, trainings, webinars, evaluation and networking Develop
and maintain a roster of consultant experts Identify themes for
Communities of Practice where members can come together in person
or virtually to share and learn Example: MHCC Communities of
Practice
Slide 7
What Mechanisms Are Needed to Support the Development and
Functioning of the Networks? Host agency to sponsor A
convenor/champion to provide leadership Devise an infrastructure
development plan for facilitating networking, knowledge brokering
and capacity development
Slide 8
Example of Regional Housing First Network: Albertas 7 Cities
Network http://www.7cities.ca/
Slide 9
Example of Regional Housing First Network: Albertas 7 Cities
Network The 7 cities are the Community Entities in Alberta Red
Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie
and Fort McMurray (a community within the Regional Municipality of
Wood Buffalo) Includes both municipal and community-based
organizations Focus is on ending chronic homelessness through
Housing First Made a business case to provincial government, which
provided $16 million in funding towards this goal and $285 million
in funding for new affordable housing, under Premier Stelmach
Secretariat on Action to End Homelessness was created with one
member from each of the 7 cities appointed
Slide 10
Example of Regional Housing First Network: Albertas 7 Cities
Network Provincial and municipal plans to end homelessness in 10
years Reductions in homelessness across the cities Organizes
workshops and conferences to build capacity of Alberta communities
to end homelessness Website with resources Roles taken by each of
the cities System planning and integration Funding and performance
management Knowledge, leadership and innovation
Slide 11
Planning: Small Group Discussions (10:45 11:30) Who should lead
and/or host such a network? What types of assistance can the PHSI
project and the MHCC provide to help get such a network started?
What would the next steps be in creating a Regional Housing First
Network?
Slide 12
Discussion (11:30 12:00) Reporting Back from Small Groups Next
Steps