Foyer Toolkit #1
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FOYER TOOLKIT #1 www.homelesshub.ca What is a Foyer? In adapting the Foyer model to your community, the best place to begin is with a brief overview of what a Foyer is. In this section, you will learn: • A brief history of the Foyer; • What a Foyer is and why it is deemed an effective model of accommodation and support for homeless youth; and • How the Foyer fits in with other housing options for young people. is a well-established model of transitional THE FOYER housing for youth that has been growing in popularity around the world over the past two decades. The term Foyer was coined in France, where a network of “Foyers pour jeunes travailleurs” (hostels for young workers) was created to support a large number of young people who, in search of work, moved to towns and cities following World War II. In the The Chelsea Foyer, New York City, NY early 1990s, the British government introduced the Foyer model in response to high youth unemployment, and the model’s success led to replication throughout the country. The growth and development of the Foyer model in the UK has been supported by the Foyer Federation , which has created a range of resources including guides for those developing foyers, staff support, a quality assurance scheme and accreditation program. Today, Foyers have been adapted and implemented in Europe, Australia and the US to include not only housing and links to employment, but also access to education, training, life skills development and on-going case management support. Focus E15 Foyer London (UK). hen thinking about Foyers, a key What makes the Foyer model unique is Wquestion to consider is whether not just the client-driven approach to this form of accommodation and case management, life skills support and supports really makes sense for youth. programming, but the emphasis on an While transitional housing models have assets-based approach to youth devel- largely fallen out of favour in the wake opment. This philosophical orientation of the success of Housing First, it is to the Foyer is important, because often argued that when properly configured, our response to youth homelessness the Foyer effectively addresses the does not really take the developmental needs of adolescents and young adults, needs of this age group into account. and therefore should be considered as one of the key housing options for For more about the Foyer young people who are homeless. While philosophy, see Toolkit #3. there is not a huge body of research on the effectiveness of homelessness Aberdeen Foyer music interventions in general, there have By responding to youth homelessness www.aberdeenfoyer.com/music.html been a number of evaluations of largely through emergency shelters and Foyers in the UK and Australia, which day programs, are we really meeting the demonstrate positive outcomes. These needs of young people, or merely provid- evaluations show that through the ing a crisis response that was developed For resources from the Foyer model, young people enhance with adults in mind? And in helping Foyer Federation, see their education, social relationships young people move on in their lives, the Toolkit #8. and engagement, and have better focus should be successful transitions to employment and housing outcomes. adulthood, not merely independence In addition, the Foyer model has been and an exit from the system. adapted in large communities and small, in both urban and rural areas. For more on adolescent This is a housing and support model for development, see Toolkit #2. young people that works! Aberdeen Foyer, Scotland C/o Wendy Malycha, St. John’s Youth Services, Adelaide, Australia.Powerpoint: ANGLICARE WA YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FORUM PRESENTATION Foyers – International learning and relevance to Australia. For information on different models of accommodation for Foyers, see Toolkit #5. For examples of Foyers from What makes around the world, see Toolkit #7. the Foyer so good? The Chelsea Foyer, New York City, NY The Foyer is an effective ONE KEY FEatuRE is the heavy assets, needs and development of the response to youth emphasis on education, in recognition young person in question. that this will pay longer-term dividends homelessness because the for the individual, their families and This final point is important. The key philosophy, structure and society as a whole. Other important elements of the Foyer that we propose activities of this model of features include not only development are based on the evolution of the accommodation– if properly of life skills (for independence), but model, and the variable ways it has implemented – acknowledge also an effort to help young people been adapted in communities large and engage in meaningful relationships small to date. The real possibilities for Focus E15 Foyer London (UK). and support healthy youth and activities. Finally, the fact that community adaptation emerge when development. most Foyers allow young people to stay one considers how the model may be for extended periods of time is a key modified based on advancements in feature, and an acknowledgement that our thinking about housing and support For essential program elements, for any young person – housed or not - developed in Canada and elsewhere, see Toolkits #4, 5 and 6 the transition to adulthood takes time. including Housing First, dispersed The Foyer model we propose actually housing models with mobile supports, extends the length of stay, based on the and the notion of convertible leases. Options for Accommodation and Support Where does the Foyer fit in? Young people are not a homogeneous are without the support of parents or group. There are important differences guardians typically includes emergency based on age, maturity, development, shelters, transitional housing, group resilience and levels of independence. homes, supported housing and inde- These differences are further pendent living, depending on the com- complicated by the experiences of munity in question. Many other models Aberdeen Foyer, learning education & training sexism, racism and homophobia that are hybrids of the above options. www.aberdeenfoyer.com/education.html many young people endure. The challenge for service providers and sexism, racism and homophobia need The uniqueness of individual adoles- policy makers is in considering exactly targeted solutions? In other words, cents’ experiences of homelessness sug- what kind of housing and supports are what works and for whom? Given the gests we need to carefully consider the effective, and appropriate given the dynamic relationship between adoles- kinds of accommodation and support diverse circumstances and needs of cence and homelessness, it is worth that are appropriate for this popula- young people. Do younger teens need considering whether there continues to tion. The range of accommodation op- different solutions than older teens? Do be a role for transitional or interim hous- tions for young people in Canada who those who are multiply marginalized by ing and / or supports. Diagram 1 Housing Options for Homeless Youth TRANSITIONAL HOUSING INDEPENDENT LIVING 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 AGE An effective response to youth may be most appropriate for many homelessness should give young young people who require the longer- people choices and options based on term supports we generally consider their age, maturity, experience and necessary in helping them transition need. The diagram below establishes to adulthood, while building life skills a range of options for accommodation that enhance their capacity to become and supports for young people who economically self-sufficient and socially are – or are at risk of becoming – integrated community members. homeless. This model is not conceived as a continuum – for instance, it is not There are a range of transitional housing necessary for young people to pass models characterized by differences through the various stages on the road in size, scale, program and length of to independence. Rather it is designed residency. Fixed site, congregate living in recognition that different young environments with intensive supports Chelsea foyer common ground www.housingpolicy.org/gallery/entries/The_Christopher.html people will need different solutions, may be important for some youth (and and that needs may shift and change in particular, younger teens), who will over time. benefit from the companionship, and a higher level of day-to-day support. This THE FIRST HOUSING OPTION identified is where the Foyer best fits. is transitional housing, which “is meant to provide a safe, supportive A SECOND OPTION – enhanced environment where residents can accommodation – moves towards a overcome trauma, begin to address less institutionalized environment by the issues that led to homelessness offering smaller settings and in some or kept them homeless, and begin cases uses dispersed housing in the to rebuild their support network” . It community or a scattered site approach. should be considered part of a range of This means that young people housing options for youth , but should experience greater independence by be configured to more directly address living alone or in small groups, and the needs of the developing adolescent still have access to supports that are and young adult. This is what makes portable. The key advantage here is the Foyer a strong model. Because the that young people are supported in experience of adolescence is inherently their transition from homelessness in transitional, this form of housing a way that reduces stigma and offers Step Ahead, Melbourne Citymission www.melbournecitymission.org.au/What-We-Do/ Our-Programs-Services/Homelessness-Services/ Homelessness-Homeless-Support/Foyer-Plus more opportunities to integrate into the (which may be in the community and depending on their need, some level of community, provides greater control not part of their housing) and eventually supports may continue. over tenure, and is an alternative to an progress to full independence. This is institutional living environment . At the the end goal of any transitional housing So, while transitional models of housing same time, residents are not yet fully model.