Appendix B: Key Housing and Homelessness Terms

Appendix B: Key Housing and Homelessness Terms The terminology used to discuss housing, homelessness and the provision of support services can be quite confusing. While efforts have been made to avoid specialized terms, they are still required where there is a specific intent that cannot easily be explained without using the specialized term. This Appendix provides explanations of these specialized terms. Where terms have a specialized meaning, they are italicized throughout the HHAP. Housing Terms Accessible Housing: This type of housing is designed to meet all legislative requirements for accessibility, both inside and out. The intent of accessible housing is to accommodate the environmental needs of individuals living with physical disabilities through progressive building modifications. As the population ages, a growing number of people will be in need of housing that has been modified to meet specific accessibility needs. Affordable Housing: In this document the term Affordable Housing is used to describe: units owned by NRH (formerly public housing), units owned by Non-Profit Housing Corporations and Co-operative Housing providers (social housing), commercial, strong communities and IAH Rent Supplement as well as new development under the various AHP programs. While these three programs offer different levels of financial support, they all contribute to providing Affordable Housing. Non-profit Housing Corporations are privately owned and operated housing organizations, managed by an elected Board of Directors made up of community volunteers. The Board oversees the operations of their housing project(s) and the staff hired to operate it. The corporations' actions are governed by their by-laws as well as legislation regarding nonprofit organizations, social housing and the Residential Tenancies Act. Co-operatives are owned and managed by the members who live in the housing project. The volunteer Board of Directors is elected from the membership and governs in accordance with applicable legislation, their own by-laws and the Co-operatives Corporations Act. Co-operatives have their own operating by-laws and restrictions regarding pets which can vary from project to project. A key difference between a co-op and other non-profit housing is that members are required to volunteer their time to help with the running of their co-op. Rent Supplement Program: A program where rent is subsidized in privately owned buildings through an agreement between a private landlord and Niagara Regional Housing (NRH). Tenants in the Rent Supplement program pay rent that is geared-to-income or receive a set reduction to the market rent. NRH supplements the tenant s rent by paying the landlord the difference between the rent paid by the tenant and the approved market rent for the unit. Page 62

Housing Affordability: Generally speaking, this term refers to housing where a household pays no more than 30% of their gross income towards shelter costs. In the case of renters, affordability for a household is considered to be at or below the average market rent for the area where that rent is 30% or less of the household s gross income. For owners, affordability is considered to be a minimum of 10% below the average resale purchase price in the area where monthly carrying costs are 30% or less of the household s gross income (excluding utilities). Certain housing programs do have more detailed ways of defining affordability but the broad definitions provided here are among the most common measures used. Rent Geared to Income: For households living in Social Housing, their rent is based on 30% of the tenant s gross monthly household income. Landlord & Tenant Relationship: Rental housing in Ontario is governed by the Province s Residential Tenancies Act which sets out rights and responsibilities for both landlords and tenants. This Act addresses things such as lawful rent, evictions, rent increases and the role of the Landlord and Tenant Board in handling disputes. Tenancies are typically established through a signed lease which sets out the responsibilities of the landlord and tenant. These agreements identify the base rent as well as any related charges for things like parking or utilities. The Act also permits arrangements where support services may be offered by the landlord/housing provider as part of the rental agreement for an additional charge (e.g., retirement or care homes). Social Housing: Refers to housing that was built or funded under a range of federal, provincial or municipal housing programs and is provided to eligible tenants on the basis of defined need. Rents are typically geared to a household s income but there are some units which are rented at the low end of the market or market rates. The landlords for Social Housing, typically called housing providers, include community-based non-profit and co-operative housing corporations as well as the Region s own housing agency, Niagara Regional Housing. Special Needs Housing: Special Needs Housing is the general term used to describe a range of housing types that are designed to accommodate specialized needs and/or supports to occupants. In the case of social housing, the Housing Services Act defines special needs housing as follows: for a household to be eligible for special needs housing, at least one member of the household must require accessibility modifications or provincially funded support services in order to live independently in the community. Regardless of the individual s needs, the intent of special needs housing is to provide a suitable living environment which supports the needs of the individual and enables independence to the maximum extent possible. This gives the individual the best opportunity possible to continue living in an environment where they feel comfortable and are able to pursue activities associated with a good quality of life. Page 63

Supported Housing: This refers to housing where external supports are brought in to a home through community service providers to help support a residents continued independence. Supports are elective and provided only when requested. Service agencies are typically located off-site and the services they provide are delivered on-site as needed (i.e. in a resident s home). A number of housing providers in Niagara have partnership arrangements with local support agencies which enables those agencies to offer necessary support services and provide an enhanced quality of life for residents. The advantage of the Supported Housing model is that services can be modified, expanded or withdrawn as the needs of the individual changes. The resident also does not have to move out of their home in order to access the services they need. Instead, the services help provide stability to the resident, enabling them to stay in their own living environment. For seniors, these supports can help individuals to age in place and maintain their independence for a longer period of time. Supportive Housing: This form of housing seeks to meet the needs of individuals who are not capable of living independently in the community, but who do not need the level of support and on-going medical services provided by a continuing care facility. Through the delivery of supports on-site, residents are provided with a living environment that accommodates their elevated needs. Generally, supports are available on a 24/7 basis and are responsive to the level of assistance needed by residents. These on-site supports may be provided by the landlord, contracted by the owner with another agency, or some combination thereof. In some instances, supportive housing providers may also use a head lease model, securing units in a number of buildings via landlord agreements and then housing their clients in those units. The supportive housing provider is then responsible for bringing in support services to the tenants of these units, typically through a service cluster. Regardless of the model used, individuals living in a supportive housing environment retain their specialized housing so long as they can live independently with the level of supports required/available. This is a distinction from Supported Housing in that those resident services are elective whereas services for supportive units are necessary to the residents well-being. Homelessness Terms Emergency Shelters (Hostels): Facilities that provide board, lodging and personal needs to homeless individuals or families on a short term and infrequent basis. They assist individuals in crisis seeking temporary housing and supports pending resolution of the issues that give rise to the emergency. Residents of emergency shelters may or may not be in receipt of social assistance. Emergency shelters tend to be operated by non-profit organizations, voluntary associations, religious groups or municipalities. Page 64

Homelessness: Describes the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is important to note that not all organizations or governments use the same definition of homelessness when assessing individual need and eligibility for supports or financial assistance. For example, under the provincial Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, persons in a shelter are not considered homeless. Homeless: Those who do not have safe, affordable, appropriate, permanent housing to which they can return whenever they choose. Homeless falls into three categories: the absolute homeless, the hidden homeless, and those at risk or imminent risk of becoming homeless. Absolute homeless: Based on the proposed Canadian Definition of Homelessness, absolute homelessness refers to people who have no home to call their own. They live outside, in an emergency shelter, in a place like a car or an abandoned building not intended for human occupation. They may also stay for short periods with friends or family members, a practice known as couch surfing. In that context, absolute homelessness includes anyone who is provisionally accommodated where accommodation is temporary or where individuals lack security of tenure. There are also situations where a person may technically have a home and yet still be homeless because they are unable to return to it after release from hospital or because it was deemed unsuitable for their children by a child protection agency. Chronic Homelessness: Those who have either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. To be considered chronically homeless, a person must have been sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (e.g. living on the streets) and/or in an emergency shelter. Episodic Homelessness: A person who is homeless for less than a year and has fewer than four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Hidden Homelessness: People who are homeless, but temporarily housed with friends or family form another category of the homeless, referred to as hidden homeless. This category includes people living with family or friends because they cannot afford shelter themselves. Without this help, they would be living on the street or be sheltered by an institution. Page 65

At risk of homelessness: Generally where the rent exceeds 50% of the household s income and housing may be lost in the future as a result (beyond 30 days) 34, the household is considered to be at risk of homelessness. There are other circumstances which may also put households at risk of losing their housing in the near future such as domestic violence, risk of eviction due to conflict caused from mental health or behavioural issues, or safety issues arising from physical disabilities. Those who do not have suitable housing in place prior to being discharged from the criminal justice system, leaving a health care facility after an extended stay or exiting the child welfare system are also considered at risk of homelessness. 35 Imminent risk of homelessness: Those at imminent risk of homelessness are those who will lose their housing within 30 days. Imminent risk can apply regardless of the rent to income ratio (e.g. a tenant whose rent is 30% of income may have been served an eviction notice). Transitional housing: Housing facilities that provide targeted, provisional services that assist individuals to transition beyond basic needs to more permanent forms of housing. These facilities generally allow for a longer length of stay than emergency housing facilities (typically up to one year but longer in some cases) and offer more privacy to residents than emergency housing. Transitional housing also places greater emphasis on participation in supports and programs as a condition of tenancy, with the specific goal of addressing those household issues that contributed to housing loss. This housing format is targeted to those in need of structure, support, and/or skill-building to move from homelessness to housing stability, and ultimately to prevent a return to homelessness. 36 Terms Related to Services and Supports Aging in Place / Aging Well at Home: Refers to a wide range of services and programs that support seniors to live at home for as long as possible. For example, services and programs delivered by the Niagara Region include; adult day service, Niagara Gatekeepers program, client intervention and assistance, and the respite companion program. Food Banks: Food banks serve the community by acquiring and warehousing food and other necessities from numerous public and private sources. This food is then distributed throughout the year to eligible people in need. 34 Provincial Government, Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Program: Glossary 35 Federal Government, Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS): Definitions 36 Federal Government, Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS): Definitions Page 66

Furniture Banks and Clothing Banks: Provide furniture and clothing using the same approach as Food Banks. Homelessness Drop-ins: Refers to a place that supports both people who are absolutely homeless and those at risk of homelessness. The types of services offered typically include meals, social recreation, counseling, etc. Drop-ins are vital in helping to keep people safe, connect to other services, and addressing social isolation. Homelessness Prevention: Refers to services that help people avoid losing their home, and to stabilize housing. Types of services typically include: Help with rent arrears, rent deposits and moving costs (examples include the Rent Bank which provides low income households with modest interest free loans to cover rent arrears, and the Housing Stability Plan which helps social assistance recipients with housing costs) Help with utilities arrears and disconnections (for example, the Niagara Emergency Energy Fund provides help with utility arrears, deposits and reconnection fees) Trusteeship services are voluntary supports that individuals may access to help them manage their finances, for the purpose of helping to ensure basic needs, including housing, are covered Out of the Cold Program: A network of churches and other faith groups that provide overnight shelter, drop-in services and meals for homeless and socially isolated people in the cold winter months. Prevention Programs: Are caseload based programs that offer ongoing supports to at risk households. They typically have five (5) design components: identification of client group served housing stability focused voluntary participation by the client case management collaboration with other service providers. Services include direct and critical interventions to retain stable housing or prevent imminent homelessness as well as other prevention services that promote longer-term stability of individuals and families most at risk of homelessness include mediation with landlords, rapid rehousing, participation in Housing First, and trusteeship to name a few. Rent Bank: A program that provides interest free loans to households at risk of losing their housing due to rental arrears. The primary goal of a rent bank is to prevent evictions and to promote housing stability. Page 67

Street Outreach services: A mobile service that supports people living outside by assisting them to gain access to emergency shelter or housing, and provide supports to those who remain outdoors 37 Niagara Region (2013). Housing and Homelessness Statistics in Niagara (Technical Report). Accessed from www.niagararegion.ca/social-services/technical-report 38 Data from Niagara Region 39 Average reduction for all Regionally funded shelters. Variations occur depending on the time of year and/or the needs of the group served by individual shelters. 40 Niagara Region (2013). Housing and Homelessness Statistics in Niagara (Technical Report). Accessed from www.niagararegion.ca/social-services/technical-report 41 Niagara Region (n.d.) Consultation Workbook: Developing a Housing and Homelessness Action Plan for Niagara Page 68