Promising Practice Interventions for Chronically and Episodically Homeless Families Christine A. Walsh, PhD, Meaghan Bell, MA, & John Graham, PhD Funded by Human Resources Skills Development Canada, Homeless Partnering Secretariat
Is family homelessness a problem in Calgary? August 2012 point-in-time count enumerated198 homeless families, with 401 children In 2012/13, 315 families with 577 children used emergency shelters in Calgary (*not including domestic violence shelters) HMIS Driving factors Lack of affordable housing & tight rental market In-migration Poverty Family breakdown Domestic violence Proximity to reserves
System of care Calgary s homeless system for families is made of the following program types: Prevention Emergency shelter Short term supportive housing Housing with Intensive Supports (24 month time limit) Permanent Supportive Housing (currently only 1 exists) Affordable Housing & rental subsidies Is Calgary s system of care responsive to the needs of families experiencing homelessness?
Is PSH an effective intervention for families with complex needs? While many families benefit from the support provided through shortterm supportive housing, transitional housing or emergency shelter, some families experiencing chronic and episodic homelessness require the continued stability and supports provided through Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Cities in North America have adapted the PSH model to meet the needs of families. The model requires careful adaptation to the current context in Calgary.
Project Overview Understand service needs of families who experience multiple episodes of homelessness to identify barriers and facilitators to residential stability Better understand current difficulties in supporting long-term homeless families because of the complexity of their needs and systems interactions Create a framework from which to understand the unique needs of homeless families with children, pathways into homelessness, services used and gaps in service delivery in Calgary Strengthen local understanding of the needs of homeless families in Calgary Use findings to develop a PSH model for families experiencing multiple episodes of homelessness and exhibiting major barriers to residential stability
Research Questions What is the need for PSH for families in Calgary? What are the primary issues that chronically and episodically homeless families face? What types of supports are necessary to ensure complex homeless families achieve housing stabilization and residential stability? What programs and supports currently exist in Calgary that can be enhanced to create a PSH model? What are the key components necessary in our local context to develop, implement and maintain a PSH model for homeless families? What PSH models currently exist in other jurisdictions and how is their effectiveness being measured?
Data Collection Environmental scan of existing PSH models specifically designed to support homeless families (29 models) Literature review of family homelessness (111 sources) Analysis of Calgary HMIS data to determine homeless family demographics including family composition, size, age, length of time homeless and systems interactions (Housing First programs and Emergency Shelter) A survey with Calgary service providers to identify gaps in Calgary s system of care and best practice recommendations for PSH supports Interviews with homeless families to determine particular risk factors, pathways into homelessness, presence of protective factors and housing and support preferences
Interview Sample (N=24) Family = at least one adult + one minor child (age 0-18) who identify as a family Includes women who are pregnant, and parents whose child has been in their direct care within the previous 12 months or expected to return to their direct care within 12 months of the interview Interview sample demographic data: 54% Aboriginal, 33% Caucasian, 13% Other 54% single parent, 46% two-parent Average number of children: 2.4 (ranged from 1-6 children) 3 participants pregnant at the time of the interview 8 families had child protective services involvement 16 families unemployed; 2 employed; 6 part-time/students
Data Analysis Explores risk factors, protective factors, barriers and facilitators to residential stability, including: Income and expenses Housing Non-housing supports and services Transportation Relationships and relationship breakdown Mental and physical health Formal and informal supports Impact of homelessness on children and child services involvement Service system navigation, eligibility/expectations Criminal justice system Substance use Education and employment
Involvement with the Justice System I got some criminal charges I got going up against and it's really stressful to know that, not, not really trying to get a hold of my lawyer, not knowing what my court date is, or know that if I miss court, what if there's a warrant out for my arrest? What if I go to jail just walking down the street, you know? So then there's that stress too.
Social Support I am here alone; I had no friend, no money nothing at all. So I went to [shelter] and asked them for help and I start from there. Make an appointment to see a lawyer and discuss with them what I should do and make a plan. It is very tough for me because I had no money, I had no friends I had no family. I m here alone totally.
Inadequate time to stabilize They say if I can t find a job they will stop giving me money in three months because this is the time period. I have to find a job. Which I feel like it s overwhelming because I have to deal with lots of things. I just ran away from a jerk and I have no place, no family, and no friends. I have to start out and I have to find a place, what am I going to do with my three kids, where is the day care, what is the job. I feel so depressed.
Is there a need for PSH for families in Calgary? According to HMIS data, about 20% (33 families) have had 3 or more episodes. Qualitative interview data is revealing families with complex needs and multiple involvements with systems (criminal justice and child welfare) Homeless children and youth exhibit more mental health challenges, behavioral problems, and poorer school performance An emerging body of research on unaccompanied homeless youth demonstrates histories of familial conflict, abuse, family disruption a family experience of homelessness may create the risk factors for homelessness in youth and adulthood.
Christine Walsh, cwalsh@ucalgary.ca Meaghan Bell, meaghan@calgaryhomeless.com John Graham, jgraham@ucalgary.ca Final Report: April 2014