Housing First in the Finnish Context

Transcription

1 Housing First in the Finnish Context Analysis of the implementation C-SPI Limerick

2 Actions for eviction and homelessness häätöhakemuksia action for eviction homeless asunnottomia persons th of November 2009 there was 3457 long-term homeless persons in Finland Reference: ARA & execution office

3 Definition of long-term homeless (LTH) I. long term homeless refers to a person whose homelessness has lasted or threatens to last for over a year due to social or health reasons or whose homelessness has been repeated during the past three years II. a person whose homelessness has become prolonged and chronic, or is threatening to become chronic, because normal housing approaches have not worked, and because there have been insufficient housing solutions tailored to individual needs.

4 The profile of LTH in Finland (stereotype) divorced middle aged or older man - the numbers of the young and the families are growing member of uneducated working/jobless class member of original population - growing immigration will change the situation in the near future severe alcohol abuse and/or mental health problem - the new generation with drug problems is raising long history of unsuccesfull treatments/housing

5 Housing staircase I (housing market in Finland) private owned flat or house right of residence apartment rented flat college hostel living with parents age, income etc. birth

6 Housing staircase (the market bottom) independed apartment transitional housing unit hostel shelter (dry department) shelter (wet department) street HOUSING FIRST (elevator model)

7 Back to basics: Housing first employment? leads to services rehabilitation? education? integration tailored support

8 Selected criticism of the HF in Finland The amount of LTH living in rented accommodation are increasing but the amount of bed places are decreasing The program will eradicate the great efforts put into the development of intoxication treatments HF = "bottle first model" Housing as a form of abandonment

9 Challenges of the implementation of HF in Finland Intertwining of intoxication treatments and housing Institutionalized services and service providers - lack of service providers that are able and willing to work with the most challenging long-term homeless clients Self interests of professions and professionals - lack of workforce with appropriate values and skills Housing resources - lack of both, scattered site and single site housing units

10 Housing first principle (Pathways USA) Consumer Choice Philosophy - no evaluation of housing readiness Separation of Housing and Services - services walk away and the person stays home Recovery Oriented Services - housing is not a solution for a general emptiness of life Community Integration - scattered site housing preferred (normalization) Reference: Tsemberis 2010

11 Example I Experimental project (5 yrs), housing continues, single site HF-unit for 28 LTH men, long term rental agreements, maintained by NGO Consumer Choice Separation of Housing and Services Recovery Oriented Services Community Integration High: LTH tenants was picked up from the shelters and from the streets by the staff of the unit Yes: in house support is provided 24/7 but there are no obligations for a change of a life style, long term rental agreements Yes: support and opportunities are provided as needed and wished by the tenants Low: single site community residence in the city center, homogenius community

12 Example II Highly systematisized preventive model for young people without severe SA/MH problems, long term rental agreements, maintained by NGO Consumer Choice Separation of Housing and Services Recovery Oriented Services Community Integration Medium: LTH tenants are selected by social workers, the young with the most severe problems cannot access Yes: off site support is provided in different intensities and tailored services are provided by the partners of the program Yes: support, opportunities and treatments are provided as needed and tailored by the case High: scattered independent apartments

13 Example III Single site housing unit for mental health rehabs, long term rental agreements, maintained by municipality Consumer Choice Separation of Housing and Services Recovery Oriented Services Low: LTH tenants are selected by social workers and double-checked by staff, substance abusers cannot access No: housing unit is for mental rehabs and total abstinence is required, short and long term rental agreements Yes: support, opportunities and treatments are tailored and provided as needed Community Integration Low: institution

14 Housing first 2.0 (Finnish implementation) Objective is to settle over 3000 LTH persons in 8 years Parallel implementation of staircase model and HF Because of the quantity: large units are needed Permanent rental agreements as a goal In house support is provided (when/if needed) Preventive and systemic perspectives

15 opens June 2011

16 T H A N K Y O U! marko.kettunen@hel.fi