Housing First – Plus Supports
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Homeless Needs Survey 2007 A Pathway to Home HOUSING FIRST – PLUS SUPPORTS Summarizing the results of the Homeless Needs Survey conducted from February 5 to 9, 2007, in the Capital Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. “Being homeless affects you mentally and physically. When you are homeless, you are out of the loop of daily living. You are worried about everyday living – eating, plus where to sleep. That is the foremost in your mindset.” Survey Participant The Government of Canada has contributed funding to this initiative. (250) 383-1977, www.Coolaid.org (250) 383-6166, communitycouncil.ca Homeless Needs Survey 2007 Page 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................ 5-10 Homelessness and Unstable Housing...................................................... 5 Survey Summary..................................................................................... 6 Recommendations................................................................................... 7 Create a Range of Affordable Housing Options.......................... 7 Provide Intensive Community Support for Housing.................. 8 Provide a Range of Harm Reduction and Treatment Services .... 8 Provide Income Supports for People Who Are Homeless or Unstably Housed....................................................................... 9 Provide Short-Term Solutions During the Transition to Affordable Housing................................................................. 10 Engage the Broader Community in Solutions........................... 10 Acknowledgements and Thanks....................................................................... 11-13 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 14 Methodology .................................................................................................... 15-22 Enumeration ......................................................................................... 16 Enumeration Locations............................................................. 17 Unstable Housing...................................................................... 17 Interviews.............................................................................................. 18 Survey Locations....................................................................... 19 Analysis Process.................................................................................... 21 Limitations of Interview Data............................................................... 22 Demographics................................................................................................... 23-31 The Region............................................................................................ 23 Gender .................................................................................................. 24 Aboriginal People ................................................................................. 25 Youth.................................................................................................... 27 Families................................................................................................. 28 Coolaid.org Homeless Needs Survey 2007 Page 3 Housing Situation............................................................................................. 32-39 Extent of Homelessness ........................................................................ 32 Houselessness........................................................................................ 33 Where People Stay................................................................................ 33 Shelter Use ........................................................................................... 33 Those Turned Away From Shelters.......................................... 34 Those Who Do Not Use Shelters.............................................. 35 Interim Supports........................................................................ 35 Cost-effectiveness....................................................................... 36 Subsidized Housing Wait-list ................................................................ 37 Lack of Affordable Housing ................................................................. 38 Contributing Factors: The Paths to Homelessness........................................... 40-51 Health ................................................................................................... 40 Physical Health.......................................................................... 40 Mental Health............................................................................ 41 Alcohol and Drug Use............................................................... 41 Health Service Use..................................................................... 43 Life Skills............................................................................................... 43 Domestic Violence................................................................................ 44 Criminal Record ................................................................................... 45 Government Income ............................................................................ 46 Provincial Government Assistance............................................ 46 Federal Government Assistance................................................ 48 Paid Work............................................................................................. 48 Employment Assistance............................................................ 49 Housing for Employment......................................................... 50 Education and Training............................................................. 50 Health for Employment............................................................ 51 Personal Identification............................................................... 51 Overall Recommendations ............................................................................... 52 Discussion of Recommendations...................................................................... 53-61 Create a Range of Affordable Housing Options in the Capital Region 53 Suggestions for Local and Regional Governments .................... 54 Provide Intensive Community Support for Housing .......................... 55 Provide a Range of Harm Reduction and Treatment Services.............. 56 Coolaid.org Homeless Needs Survey 2007 Page 4 Discussion of Recommendations (continued)................................................... 53-61 Provide Income Supports for People Who Are Homeless or Unstably Housed ................................................................................ 57 Adequate Income Assistance...................................................... 57 Employment Supports............................................................... 58 Government................................................................... 58 Businesses ...................................................................... 58 Social Service Agencies................................................... 59 Individuals...................................................................... 59 Provide Short-Term Solutions During the Transition to Affordable Housing ............................................................................ 59 Engage the Broader Community in Solutions ...................................... 60 Appendix A – Data Tables ............................................................................... 62-69 Appendix B – Enumeration Form.................................................................... 70-71 Appendix C – Questionnaire............................................................................ 72-77 Appendix D – Community Conversation Partners.......................................... 78 Appendix E – Contact Information.................................................................. 79 Appendix F – References and Resources .......................................................... 80-83 Coolaid.org Homeless Needs Survey 2007 Page 5 Executive Summary “My story is no different than anybody else's in this survey. We are, always have been, and will always be able to love and be loved.” “Humans are our best resources. We should take care of them.” “We are all people and need to be treated as such.” - Survey participants More than 1,242 of our neighbours in the Capital Region are homeless or nearly homeless. Above all, they need more than 1,242 housing units; affordable housing which is able to meet the many housing challenges they face. The homeless and nearly homeless also need more support workers to help them keep their new housing and to provide mental health and addictions care. And they need reliable and realistic income assistance, including help finding work. o Affordable housing is needed. o Health and housing support workers are needed. o Income supports need improvement. Homelessness and Unstable Housing The Homeless Needs Survey was a collaborative research project led by the Victoria Cool Aid Society. The question that this survey answers for the Capital Region is: “What housing and supports do people require when they are not housed or are in unstable housing?” To answer this question an enumeration and a questionnaire survey were conducted from February 5 to 9, 2007, with over 60 social service