THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION’S ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND ERADICATE VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS “Leave the streets behind” 2020-2025 LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND | 2020-2025 SECTION 1 | INTRODUCTION 1.1 FOREWORD stakeholders and with experts in the field. It also The Royal Canadian Legion Operation: Leave the recognizes the importance of expanding the existing Streets Behind began in Ontario Command as a body of knowledge on Veterans’ Homelessness in result of being approached by a Veteran of the Korean order to refine outreach strategies, target prevention War to assist in conducting the first ever Homeless activities, and develop Veteran-centric interventions Veterans’ Remembrance Service in November, 2009. against the backdrop of a strong evidence base. The success of this Service brought forward 1.2 THE NEXT FIVE YEARS the necessity to review the need for a national To “prevent and eradicate Veterans’ Homelessness” Homeless Veterans Program. At the Dominion does not suggest that the Royal Canadian Legion Command Convention in 2012, held in will never again witness homeless Veterans. Some Halifax, Nova Scotia, a motion was made to Veterans may choose to remain homeless despite extend this Homeless Veterans program at the repeated offers of assistance and housing. The National level as ”Leave the Streets Behind”. goal of “preventing and eradicating Veterans’ Homelessness” does mean that a well-coordinated The Royal Canadian Legion’s Action Plan to and efficient system must be in place to ensure Prevent & Eradicate Veterans’ Homelessness “Leave that every Veteran has access to the necessary the Streets Behind” is a joint partnership with support to avoid living on the street and the ability Dominion Command, Provincial Commands, the to make timely movement to permanent housing. OSI Special Section, Branches, Ladies Auxiliaries The Action Plan, therefore, must be a revolving and external partners. It aligns with the federal cycle that will require periodic updating. government commitment to increase support to Veterans, to increase social infrastructure support, Successful implementation will mean that the and to ensure that all Canadians have access to Royal Canadian Legion, in consultation with affordable housing. This Action Plan builds on our partners, will have the capacity to: past initiatives undertaken by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), the VAC-Employment and Social • Quickly identify and engage Veterans at risk Development Canada (ESDC) 2013 Partnership of or experiencing homelessness and after Strategy to Address Veteran Homelessness, and Verification of Service, take the necessary the 2012-2014 VAC-ESDC Pilot Project on steps to coordinate assistance for the Veteran Veteran Homelessness. It is informed by research and his/her family; and evidence-based best practices that have been • Intervene to prevent the loss of housing and proven to address homelessness among Veterans. divert Veterans from entering homelessness; • Work with shelter and crisis services, to The Action Plan will rely upon consultation with provide immediate needs for the Veteran and; federal, provincial and municipal partners, both • Quickly connect Veterans to housing government and non-government, as well as national assistance and services – tailored to their and local Veterans/Homelessness advocates. It relies unique needs and strengths – to help them on collaboration and strong partnership among all achieve and maintain stable housing. THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION’S ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND ERADICATE VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS 2 LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND | 2020-2025 1.3 THE CAUSES OF VETERANS’ Near Homelessness HOMELESSNESS An individual or family are on the brink of losing Veterans become homeless as the result of complex their present living quarters, due to lack of payment and interrelated issues such as health status (physical of rent, heat and hydro, etc. and mental), personal problems, employment instability, poverty, lack of affordable housing, and At Risk Homelessness an inability to access services, support and social An individual who is dependent on others for assistance. In addition, many Veterans have been housing, who is couch surfing, and whose personal exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations as a or economic situation has changed. result of their military service and often struggle with the after-effects. More so, some Veterans find the Transitional Housing transition from military to civilian life difficult, and Many programs with Transitional Housing are two struggle to find ways to adjust to the civilian world. years in length and the client is obligated to maintain Lack of planning when making the transition from consistency in attending and being involved in the military to civilian life is a major factor. various rehabilitation programs. Transitional Housing eventually leads to permanent and one must complete 1.4 MEASURING THE PROBLEM programs that lead to being permanently housed. Accurately measuring the number of homeless Veterans is very challenging. Many times the question Permanent Housing is being asked “How many homeless Veterans are Permanent Housing is the first and most important there in Canada?” Simply put the answer is unknown. part of our needs for the Homeless Veterans They must self-identify and their service verified program. We continue to seek partners to establish before they become a part of the program. Many Permanent Housing. Developers in Ontario have times homeless people are in transit moving from come forward to provide apartments. Outside place to place and are therefore difficult to count. organizations such as Mainstay Housing (Toronto) There are also the so-called “hidden homeless” (i.e. and Multifaith Housing (Ottawa) have stepped to those who are “couch surfing” and those at risk of the plate to fulfill the need for permanent housing. becoming homeless) who are often not captured in these formalized counts. Finally, there are those It has been noted that incentives are being offered to homeless individuals who identify as Veterans in an developers by municipalities and the Legion needs to illegal attempt to garner financial assistance from seek out these developers to ensure affordable housing the Royal Canadian Legion. Care must be applied to for Veterans is included in their new builds. ensure these individuals do not obtain assistance and reduce our limited financial resources. 1.5 DEFINITIONS NOTE: It must also be kept in mind that families Absolute Homelessness of homeless Veterans can also be affected as they Absolute Homelessness is defined where an often endure the most of emotional, physical and individual or family has no permanent housing and financial abuse because of a Veteran’s addictions is staying at a temporary shelter. The temporary and often leads to the family leaving the Veteran. shelter could be doorways, empty buildings, abandoned vehicles, parks or beach common areas. THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION’S ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND ERADICATE VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS 3 LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND | 2020-2025 SECTION 2 | THE APPROACH 2.1 OUR MISSION 2.5 THE THEMES OF APPROACH “To serve Veterans, which The Themes of Approach, in turn, are driven by the Guiding Principles and identify the Action Plan’s seven Strategic Objectives: includes Serving Military and RCMP members and their families, to promote THEMES OF APPROACH STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE remembrance and to serve LEAD Improve 1. Through strong and visible our communities and and Collaboration leadership, strengthen existing our country.” ENGAGE and relationships and develop and Leadership leverage new partnerships across 2.2 OUR VISION all like-agencies to prevent and eradicate Veteran homelessness. “Our vision is to be the most highly respected 2. Increase knowledge about homeless Veteran and Community Veterans, the factors that lead to homelessness among Veterans, and Service organization.” successful initiatives that prevent and eradicate homelessness and 2.3 OUR AIM support Veterans in Crisis. “To prevent and eradicate Veterans’ homelessness.” FIND Improve 3. Strengthen the capacity of the Royal Outreach and Canadian Legion and work with its Identification partners to identify and connect 2.4 THE GUIDING with homeless Veterans. PRINCIPLES The Guiding Principles for this ASSIST Improve 4. Strengthen the capacity of the Royal Action Plan are provided to us Mechanism Canadian Legion and work with its in the Veterans Affairs Canada to Assist partners to provide effective crisis homeless response to homeless Veterans. strategy and culture of Care, Veterans Compassion and Respect. 5. Increase access to stable and Thus, to ensure success, affordable housing for Veterans. the Action Plan must: • be Veteran-centric, PREVENT Prevent 6. Facilitate the successful military • be collaboration led, Veterans’ to civilian transition and inspire • be evidence-informed, homelessness Veterans to achieve their optimal • be outcome-based; and well-being. • support the Legion’s 7. Expand and enhance initiatives to overall Mission, Vision rapidly identify and better support and Strategic Plan. Veterans who come into contact with the criminal justice system. THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION’S ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND ERADICATE VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS 4 LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND | 2020-2025 2.6 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES Strategic Objective 2: AND KEY RESULT AREAS Increase knowledge about Strategic Objective 1: Veterans’ homelessness Strong and visible leadership Over the past few years, information has emerged Strong leadership is required at all levels of the about the