Housing Options for the Homeless inDurham Region, Ontario

Transcription

1 Session 2.1 A Durham Region Response to Homelessness Services Dis-Integration

2 By Way of Update Regrets from Our Regional Sponsors Service Manager Commitment Financial challenges linking our shelter to housing and supports Fixed Costs Uncertain Revenues with per diems Ed Goerz Christine McGee Sarah Johnson-Cochrane Kyle Smith Executive Director Housing Manager Shelter Manager Community Support Coordinator

3 Pre-2013 Supports to Daily Living $185,000 RGI $650,000 HPS $60,000 Housing Outreach Worker $58,000 Per diem + PNA (max budgeted) $640,000 Bridging the Gap $4,400

4 2013 Durham Housing Benefit $52,000 RGI $650,000 Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative $1.1 million HPS $60,000

5 Video Introduction

6 Our Journey Initial focus on perfecting shelter services 46 years ago 1980 s Unless Shelters are a place of transition, they are part of the problem 1987 Connection to Transitional & Permanent RGI Housing Homeless Maze 2012 Regional Service Manger Commitment to CHPI

7 454 Bloor Street

8 Tenant Support Services Cornerstone Community Association Durham Inc.

9 Tenant Support Services at Cornerstone Mandated by M.O.H to house the homeless and hard to house. Homeless do not survive housing waiting lists. A Shelter linked directly to a continuum of housing and support is the best possible strategy to end homelessness. The entry point for all tenant s begins in our shelter. First step to permanent housing Housing continuum

10 Tenant Support Services at Cornerstone This is where their journey begins, they are on the path from homelessness to home Transfer option is a tenant s choice All support is driven by tenants needs CHPI funding provides support staff and emergency on-call staff for our housing programs Critical importance of support in this transition to independent living at all locations

11 Tenant Support Services at Cornerstone Discharge planning when in hospital, case management, community agencies support, Doctor s appointments, bedbug remediation and preparation, addiction referral, hygiene support, cooking skills development, bank machine use. Tenants may require additional support. At times our support staff work with tenants to transition to a medical facility, or a nursing home.

12 Tenant Support Services at Cornerstone We understand that we are a housing provider of last resort CHPI funding has allowed us to provide seamless supports beyond bricks and mortar. Community kitchen programs, mental health workers and the availability of doctors on site will be extremely helpful and will enable our staff to continue to do what they do best support our tenants through their transition to independence.

13 How successful is Our Supportive Housing? As of December 31, % tenants have been housed with us for over 20 years. 10% have been housed for 15 to 19 years. 20% have been housed for 10 to 14 years. 27% have been housed for 5 to 9 years. 37% tenants have been housed for 1-4 yrs.

14 Contributing Homelessness Factors as disclosed 90% Mental Health 76% Budget Management 70% Credit History 68% Tenant History 59% Substance Abuse 41% Financial Crisis 41% Anger Management 41% Medical Condition 32% Relationship Breakdown 27% Literacy 27% Conflict with Law 20% Developmental Disability 19% Physical Disability 14% Age 12% Transience 10% Partner Abuse Mental Health issues continue to be predominant in the homeless population. Financial challenges follow closely.

15 Cost of Homelessness Housing Policy Research (Pomeroy) done on homelessness in 4 Canadian Cities Relative costs of homelessness in institutions: Jails, Hospitals $66,000 - $120,000 annually Shelters $13,000 - $42,000 Transitional and Supportive Housing $13, $18,000 Affordable Housing without Supports $5,000 - $8,000.

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17 Dis-Integration of Services for the Homeless in Durham Lack of affordable housing! Scarcity of social housing stock available for singles The population of Durham Region was just under 600,000 (2010) and is planned to increase to over 900,000 by Since 2000 less than 1% of housing built has been rental housing. Average monthly market rent for a 1 bedroom is $819 which is 136.7% of OW recipient s monthly allowance.

18 Dis-Integration of Services Maze of Disconnected Services and Supports Lack of ID No program in place to get ID from the institution (Lindsay Jail) Applying for Social Assistance without ID has additional barriers Unable to open bank accounts = Money cashing stores Access to Medical Services Lack of ID- health card Doctors not accepting our guests as patients EMS and Emergency department Food Insecurity Data linking majority of the food banks Majority of soup kitchens and meal drop ins are located in Oshawa Limited funds after housing to secure food

19 Transportation Issues Durham Region has an area of almost 2,600 square kilometres (1,000 square miles)

20 Dis-Integration of Services No resources to support individuals to maintain housing avoid eviction Isolation Loneliness Absence of Mental Health connections for the Homeless Inability to access mental health services Avoidance/Suspicion of such services Concurrent disorders- denied services and sent to another agency Limits to Shelter resources and supports - One shelter for men in Durham Region - Limited stays (14 days max)

21 Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative CHPI (What difference has it made?) First and foremost based on relationships developed with the homeless Addressing isolation Support beyond basic needs

22 What Difference Has CHPI Made? Flexibility Based on Individual Needs Measures of progress can be individualized Shortened the turnaround between shelter stays Decreased emergency shelter stay from 14 to 7 days and made it mandatory to meet with our housing worker to get beyond 7 days to emphasize housing as a priority and to ensure earlier intervention and support.

23 Post CHPI Data Shifts Information gathered from Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) Occupancy Rates 2012-> 73% 2013-> 74% 2014 ( Jan-May) -> 84% Duration of stays has increased Average lengths of stays > 6.5 days > 9 days Drop in recidivism number of shelter stays Guests accessing the shelter 3+ times a year > 22% > 10%

24 Community Outreach & Service

25 CHPI Impact on Previous Service Identify pre-existing conditions and programs which CHPI has now enhanced and expanded

26 The CHPI Difference Voluntary and individualized support client driven Eviction Prevention Setting up landlord direct payment Housing supports to tenants and landlords Mediation Frequent check-ins with landlords Advocacy with Social Services and other community resources Mobile Supports (assistance with public transit, getting people to appointments)

27 The CHPI Difference Weekly food bank trips Support for Daily Living Activities (banking, groceries, cleaning) Obtaining ID and bank accounts Navigation through the Maze Additional support to families in motels Services are easy to find In the neighbourhood with an external office where meetings, events, and groups take place

28 The CHPI Difference Clients identified social isolation and a lack of social and community events Bi-weekly workshops are driven by client interests in a wide variety of topics Men s health, mental health information, dealing with stress, how to confront aggressive people, budgeting and money saving, bed bugs, where to find free stuff in the community, resume building, effective communication skills, and dealing with anger Participants are able to share their stories, opinions, and ideas with peers and are better able to network with each other to find solutions to problems

29 The CHPI Difference Weekly afternoon drop-in sessions that invite other agencies or topics Collaborations with Ontario Works, CMHA, Durham Region Health Department, as well as providing individuals time to connect for general support

30 The CHPI Difference Monthly day trips or group events Fishing trips, baseball games, beach days, nature walks, bbqs, and Holiday dinners

31 The CHPI Difference Art Therapy group and events A weekly open-session art group run by an art therapist, and a weekly art workshop.

32 The CHPI Difference Weekly Cooking Group Aimed at providing healthy alternatives, teaching basic kitchen skills, building teamwork, networking for education/job opportunities

33 The CHPI Difference Garden Project A community garden and that was built by staff and clients. Participants assist with watering, weeding, planting, and harvesting

34 The CHPI Difference On site Doctor (weekly) On site Community Health Nurse On site Psychologist Provides individual support and group supports, medication information, counselling. Actively participated in groups to build trust and relationships.

35 Durham Housing Benefit Rent subsidy provided to clients looking to take the next step and move into their own unit Provides $400 towards rent for single adults and $300 towards rent for seniors On-going support services to the tenant and landlord Funding follows the client and is not tied to the unit

36 Durham Housing Benefit Assistance with moving, furnishing apartments, stocking pantries, and setting up

37 Durham Housing Benefit This program is designed to bridge the gap between wait times for Rent-Geared-to- Income units and the lack of affordable housing options. Serves as the next level of support for clients who have made progress living in the community Tenants are able to continue supports and work towards goals while in housing

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