FOYER TOOLKIT #5

www.homelesshub.ca

Part 2 Foyer Essentials ACCOMODATION of the key considerations in establishing One a Foyer is deciding what kind of accommodation will be provided: a fixed site with multiple rooms and a common area: a dispersed housing model with individual apartments, or small clusters of rooms with

shared space? There are many options, and these carry Aberdeen Foyer, Marywell Training Centre. different considerations in terms of capital and operating http://grampianpropertynetwork.org.uk/about-us/our-venue/ expenses. In addition, the built form of the Foyer has implications for the delivery of services and supports. What forms of The good news is that in developing a new Foyer, one has housing are most the unique opportunity to build on what has clearly been appropriate? demonstrated to be an effective model, and to adapt what International research identifies that has been more broadly learned about the full range of there is much flexibility in terms of the physical form that Foyers can take. housing options for youth. There is no single type of facility In fact, the Foyer can be adapted to associated with the Foyer; they come in all shapes and incorporate different forms of housing, sizes. including a dedicated youth housing facility on one hand, or dispersed housing (potentially including scattered But accommodation is about much more than shape and site approaches) on the other. There are size. The quality of accommodation is also really important benefits to both models, and in thinking about establishing a Foyer, they should to consider. Often, there is an attitude on the part of not be considered mutually exclusive. funders and the public that ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, and that young people who are should be satisfied with the bare minimum of accommodation. T his Dedicated youth goes against a core belief that underlies the Foyer model housing facility and more progressive approaches to youth development. Dedicated facilities, also known as The Foyer should be more than a bare bones shelter; it ‘stand-alone’ or congregate living should be a safe and a decent place to live. environments (though not to be confused with congregate shelter environments, where many people “Go smaller, fight for the money, make them nice places to be. sleep in the same room) may be more Don’t make them austere. Don’t have a bare mattress. Make appropriate for youth who are younger, it look nice. Invest in living space, good quality furniture, nice less independent, have higher needs for flooring, everything that makes it nice. These poor kids are support and / or need help with social coming from horrible places often, so make it nice for them.” interaction. Dedicated facilities have (Narelle Clay, Chairperson, Homelessness Australia1). the advantage of centralizing staff and program resources, easily accessible program space, and the ability to In this section, we will review a range of potential options nurture and support community for accommodation that respect the principles of the Foyer. building. For high needs clients where security and access to around the clock supports is important, this may be a preferable option. Reports on the implementation of Foy- ers in concluded that “good design is essential for the building to be attractive, practical, secure, and cost and environmentally efficient to operate” and that successful Foyer buildings include “well-planned offices for support staff, Southern Youth and Family Services (Australia) www.syfs.org.au training rooms and space for tenant part- ners”2. Innovative Canadian projects for youth, such as Eva’s Dispersed Housing Phoenix in Toronto and the Lilly Build- ing run by Choices for Youth in St. John’s Dispersed housing has been used in tran- ticularly attractive to young people leav- demonstrate how to combine innova- sitional housing models as an alternative ing group homes or juvenile detention tive living accommodations with com- to the dedicated youth housing facility, facilities. Second, support for sub-pop- mon spaces, services and training space and is seen as more advantageous for ulations (young women, LGBTQ youth) in renovated settings. Jeff Karabanow, young people who are older and / or can be more easily accommodated with a leading Canadian scholar on youth who are able to live more independently. a decentralized housing model. Third, * homelessness, suggests that transitions Dispersed and scattered site housing the number of youth who can be accom- out of homelessness may be facilitated provides a great deal of flexibility in modated is much more elastic, and is by having such housing facilities at a dis- terms of differentiated accommodation, not limited by the number of rooms in a tance from mainstream youth services as more so than fixed site models. Single dedicated housing facility. Fourth, in the this may make it easier for street involved room or multiple room apartments can case of a scattered site approach, costs youth to disconnect from the lifestyle.3 be used, as well as houses. for capital, administration and mainte- nance may be reduced and shifted to the While dispersed housing models have private sector, making the model more Blended model: become common, particularly in the cost effective (though support costs may wake of the success of , be higher because clients are dispersed). Hub and Spoke there is no reason to believe that this ap- Some interesting innovations have re- proach cannot also work with Foyers. In Finally, and this is perhaps the key bene- sulted from blending the two models fact, the Foyer model has been adapted fit, length of tenure becomes much more of accommodation. A blended model to include dispersed accommodation in flexible. With a scattered site model that might include a main or central dedi- both the UK4 and Australia5. houses people in private market housing, cated facility with multiple residential lease conversion is then possible, mak- units, communal space, and administra- There are many advantages to the dis- ing the transition to independent living tive space. Residents who are young, in- persed Foyer model. First, because it is much more fluid. Long-term tenancy is experienced or have higher needs would not associated with a single facility, it can therefore possible through the Foyer and be better suited for this centralized facil- feel less like a ‘program’ or an institutional young people are supported to live inde- ity. At the same time, this central facility setting for residents. This may be par- pendently in permanent housing. could be augmented with a number of dis- One complicating feature of this ap- persed units, allowing proach, however, is that it means adapt- older youth who are ing the model to ensure that some of the more independent or key supports and program components, who are averse to the such as communal space, life skills, edu- more institutional con- cational supports and the nurturing of text the opportunity positive relationships, are still imple- to live in smaller units mented and supported in an effective that are integrated into manner. Southern Youth and Family Services (Australia) the community. www.syfs.org.au

* Dispersed housing is often distinguished from scattered site models because while in both cases the units are smaller (housing fewer residents in one place) and located over a wider area, the units are owned by the provider. Scattered site housing typically refers to units rented from the private sector, which can allow greater flexibility and lowers capital investment. READ MORE

#10

Live, learn, grow:

Supporting Transitions to Adulthood for Homeless Youth

A FRAMEWORK FOR The importance THE FOYER IN CANADA of Communal Space Stephen Gaetz & Fiona Scott READ THE FULL REPORT Whether the Foyer uses a dedicated youth can often feel isolated. By housing facility or a scattered site providing space, youth can gather approach, it is considered important to exchange information and TOOLKITS for youth to have safe spaces to experiences, get support from peers, #1 What is a Foyer? gather, talk, and engage in activities and essentially learn effective ways of #2 The Foyer and Transitions to Adulthood together. Without communal spaces, communicating. #3 The Philosophy and Principles of the Foyer #4 Foyer Essentials Part 1: The Program #6 Foyer Essentials Questions and Comments: Part 3: Organizational Framework #7 Foyer Case Studies 1) What model best suits your target 5) A dispersed model has its population? Based on age or strengths. In going down that #8 Resources from the Foyer Federation (UK) other demographic factors, and road, you will need to consider: the developmental assets of resi- dents, what model makes sense? • The need for a system of References roving supports, and 24 1. Quotation from a conference presentation at 2) How will an inclusive and safe hour on call care. the CHRA Congress, St. Johns Newfoundland, environment be supported by May 4, 2012 the model you choose? How will • Is there adequate and affordable supply 2. Malycha, W. (n.d.). Foyers – International the dignity, safety and security learning and relevance to Australia. Presentation of women, LGBTQ and racial of rental housing to at the Anglicare WA Forum. minority youth be respected enable a ‘scattered site’ Retrieved from www.stjohnsyouthservices. approach? org.au/documents/FOYERWAPresentation- within the housing model you WendyMalycha.pdf choose? What is the range of • What are the challenges 3. Karabanow, J. (2004). Being young and ages that can be supported? of recruiting, negotiating homeless: Understanding how youth enter 3) How will the model you and supporting and exit street life. New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing. choose assist with community landlords? engagement, building healthy • What kind of plan do you Karabanow, J. (2008). Getting off the Street: social relationships, and Exploring the Processes of Young People’s Street need to have in place in Exits. American Behavioural Scientist, 51(6), 773- involvement in education, case of eviction, so that 789. training and / or employment? young people do not 4.Quilgars, D. (2001) Dispersed Foyers: A New 4) A dedicated site model (and return to homelessness? Approach? An Evaluation of the Shortlife Plus even dispersed site model where Project. University of York: Centre for Housing Policy the organization owns the units) carries with it capital and Smith, J. (2004) Dispersed Foyers: A Research operational cost considerations. Study. Foyer Federation How can these be met? 5. National Youth Commission (2008) Australia’s Homeless Youth: a report of the National Youth Commission Inquiry into Youth Homelessness. Australia: National Youth Commission