Post on 01-Jan-2016
transcript
Homelessness, A New Phenomenon In Canada
May 12, 2014 All Our Sisters Conference 2014
Dr. Abe OudshoornArthur Labatt Family School of Nursing
History of Homelessness• Pre-1977: transience and skid row• “Report on Skid Row” – City of Toronto
Planning Division, 1977
1977-1987
• Homelessness as a real problem in developed nations
• To 1985: 136,334 social housing units developed
• UN 1987 – International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
A Reaction• Food Banks Canada – 1989• 400 shelters developed across Canada by
1990 (including domestic violence shelters)• The charitable impulse
Current Situation
• 1,086 shelters; 28,495 shelter beds• 146,726 unique individuals accessed shelter• 5,263,182 shelter bed nights
The PressureWelfare Benefits
(1992 Dollars* )
$ 0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1000
$1200
$1400
J an-35 J an-40 J an-45 J an-50 J an-55 J an-60 J an-65 J an-70 J an-75 J an-80 J an-85 J an-90 J an-95 J an-00 J an-05
Month
Mo
nth
ly W
elf
are
Be
ne
fit
($)
Single person Sole support parent with one child
* Deflated using C anada C PI
The Pressure
The Pressure
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
450000
Foodbank Users per Month - Ontario
Foodbank Users per Month - Ontario
Ontario’s Affordable Housing Policy Vision
1. Demonstrating outcomes2. Housing First3. Collaboration with non-profit and private
market4. Integration with other services5. Priority populations6. Environmental sustainability
Housing First
• All things held equal…
Policy Issues
• Orders to reside
Policy Issues
• Hospital discharge to shelter
Policy Issues
• Rent supplement, direct to landlord
Therefore…
• Where is the housing?
Housing First in Action
New Model• London CAReS• A municipal commitment• Flexibility• Monitoring outcomes• Outreach partnered with housing stability
18
Current Housing Status*as of August 31st, 2013
85%
Shelter 2
4%
Tenuously
Housed
36%
Incarcerated 12%
Residential Treatment/Hospital 2
4% Housed 46Shelter 2Tenuously Housed 3Incarcerated 1Residential Treatment/Hospital 2
19
Participant #8
Jun-12
Jul-1
2
Aug-12
Sep-12
Oct-12
Nov-12
Dec-12
Jan-13
Feb-13
02468
101214161820
# of Emergency Room Visits
# of Emergency Room Visits
Fiscal Impact
• $800 per ED visit• $335 per street arrest• $255 per night in prison• $75 per night in shelter
source: HomelessHub
Women’s Homelessness
Violence and Homelessness
• 26% of all people experience homelessness report family violence as cause of admission to shelter
• Rises to 40% for homeless families• Rises to 73% for homeless women• Intersectionality of other social locations
(LGBTQ, Aboriginal, new Canadians, households with substance use)
Best Practices
• Risk escalates during intervention/separation• A place unknown to abusive partner• Involved and aware professionals• Focus on maintaining custody of children• A safety plan• All services aware of no contact orders• Connection with legal and financial advocacy
Chronic/Episodic
• Housing First has best results with chronic homelessness to date
• Women’s homelessness more likely to be episodic than men’s homelessness
Social Exclusion, Peers, and The Support of Women