Simcoe Community Services

1. Simcoe Community Services Regional Housing Support Services

2. Overview • Define Housing First, including its core principles, how Housing First is implemented, goals of Housing First as well as, successes and some barriers to success • Review Housing First Referral Process • Define Roles of Simcoe Community Services Staff

3. What IS housing First • 1. An Approach 2. A Philosophy 3. A Program Model • Housing • Clinical Supports • Housing • Supports

4. AN Approach • Centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent, permanent, stable housing • Provides additional supports and services individualized on a case by case basis

5. A Philosophy • Based on the belief that everyone deserves housing, and people who are without housing will have better outcomes if they are provided with housing as soon as possible

6. A Program Model • Housing is provided first and then supports are provided including physical and mental health, education, employment, substance abuse and community connections. These support are specific to each participant.

7. Housing First Core Principles • Immediate access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements • Consumer choice and self-determination • Individual, recovery-oriented, and client driven supports • Harm Reduction • Social and community integration

8. Implementation • Supports must be determined on a case by case basis based on the level of acuity of each individual • Supports must be appropriate for each individual and determined based on their specific needs • Building relationships with local landlords and support agencies

9. The Goal • To end the homelessness • To address other underlying issues Which means there is no “housing readiness” criteria to be fulfilled prior to housing.

10. Barriers to success • Landlord willingness to participate • Tenant Credit/Rental History • Funding • Affordable housing stock • Local resources • Client involvement • Stigma

11. Successes • Streets to home • As of 2009, 60% of the participants were living in private rentals, and 20% were in social housing units. • Medicine Hat, Alberta • In 2009, Medicine Hat pledged to end homelessness, and in 2015, they accomplished that goal! • At Home/Chez Soi • During the last 6 months of the program 60% of high acuity participants were still maintaining housing, compared to 32% initially.

12. Housing SPECIALIST • Builds relationships with Landlords and Property Management Companies through-out Simcoe County • Provides education to landlords/property management about the Housing First program • Maintains an up to date list of landlords who are actively participating in the Housing First program • Maintains and up to date vacancy list for Housing First Case Managers to access with their participants • Provides third party mediation and support to the landlord

13. HOUSING FIRST CASE MANAGER • Work with a case load of 15-20 people • Develop individual case plans • Assist in developing personal goals for each case plan • Assess basic needs • Assist with income support • Assist in setting up and maintaining housing • Provide landlord and Tenant mediation • Application assistance • Community Partner collaboration • Teach life skills and assist in developing meaningful daily activity • Make links and provide referrals to community service providers

14. Are you supporting Someone who Might be Housing First?? • Simcoe Community Services has made the referral process very easy for our Community Partners. It only requires 3 steps….

15. Referral Process • Step 1 • Full SPDAT to be completed with the individual needing the support (VI-SPDAT will only be excepted until March 15th) • SPDAT to completed ONLY by those who have received the training

16. Referral process CON’D • STEP 2 • Complete both the Coordinated Intake Referral Form AND the Supplementary Details Form. These forms require information about the individual including, SPDAT score, individual contact information, situational information (chronically/episodically homeless) If information is left blank the referral will be sent back to referring agency.

17. Referral process CON’D • Step 3 • Submit Coordinated Intake Referral and Supplementary Details forms to the intake Entity on Monday’s by 4:30 PM for prioritization • Pathways to referral are: • Fax: 705-739-9543 • Email: housingfirstintake@gmail.com • Mail or Drop off at 88 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, Ontario L4M3M5 • All forms can be found on our website, simcoecommunityservices.ca, under “Community Partners”

18. HOUSING Associate • Initial contact for our participants • Screens all calls for housing across Northern Simcoe County (seeing call volumes of approximately 50-60 calls a day) • Conducts a prescreen on each participant to determine how we can offer assistance through our programs for housing • Books appointments with the appropriate Housing Access Worker after the pre-screen is completed • Re-direct phone calls for people to are in need of assistance from other community partners.

19. Housing access worker • Support individuals with their search for housing and with securing housing • Providing a housing listing once a week • Assistance with applications for funding (HRF, LEAP, OESP, subsidies, supplements) • Provide information relating to the Residential Tenancies Act to both landlords and tenants • Support to both tenants and landlords

20. Housing Access Worker CONT’d • Landlord and tenant mediation • Tenant support at the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal • A wide variety of support locations to meet the needs of our participants • 35 West st. Orillia, Guest House Midland, 115 Hurontariost. Collingwood, Salvation Army Barrie, Youth Haven Barrie, David Busby Street Centre Barrie, Elizabeth Fry Society Barrie, and Simcoe Community Services (@39 Fraser)Barrie

21. Transitional-aged Youth Housing Program (TYHP) • This program is uniquely designed to offer housing supports to youth across Simcoe County who are currently in the care of Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions and transitioning to independent living.

22. Key Supports Offered: Knowledge around availability of funding through the County of Simcoe Youth Housing Workshop—including a certificate of completion Collaborative supports with numerous community partners throughout Simcoe County • Solution focused case management that addresses housing goals as well as barriers • Individualized assessments using the Service Prioritization Decision Assessment Tool (SPDAT) • A landlord registry to connect tenants • Individual or group opportunities for education that’s specific to tenancy

23. How to access supports: • The Child and Youth Service Worker or Youth Service Worker must complete a referral. • In the event that an individual is not able to receive supports through the Transitional-aged Youth Housing Program a transfer of supports will be made to additional staff within Regional Housing Support Services; a fully funded public service to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

24. Simcoe Community Services is a multi-service organization which provides services that respond to community needs. We support people of all ages and abilities to realize their full potential and to enhance their quality of life. • If you would like a copy of this presentation for your reference please contact • Tpowell@simcoecommunityservices.ca • Or • Tstubbings@simcoecommunityservices.ca