EXPLORING EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS

INTER-SECTORAL COLLABORATIONS
as well as supportive, transitional, social and affordable
housing), to address the various challenges and needs
of people who were at risk of becoming homeless and
those who were currently homeless, the Housing First
strategy was the first opportunity to pilot the systems
approach across multiple cities in Canada with federal,
provincial and municipal supports for the goal to end
homelessness in 10 years.
Considering the various housing and support programs
implemented over the past decade, including the
Housing First strategy, we pose some questions worthy of
a retrospective investigation within one Canadian city:
What have we learned over the past decade about the
determinants of homelessness and related experiences
of those delivering and receiving the various programs
and strategies to manage the determinants and, in turn,
manage or prevent homelessness? What has been the
impact or outcomes of various programs and strategies
implemented over this past decade, including Housing
First, on managing or reducing homelessness and,
specifically, on the experiences of people at risk of
becoming homeless or who were homeless (micro
level), service providers and the broader community
(meso level) and government decision makers (macro
level)? What further adaptations or changes were or
are needed for a strategy like Housing First to be more
effective at addressing micro, meso and macro system
challenges and staying on course to end and prevent
homelessness in 10 years?
These questions are the focus of this chapter. The
authors apply a system-wide analytical lens (i.e.
examining responses at the micro, meso and macro
levels), seeking the experiential knowledge of people
who were homeless, service providers and decision
makers. We situate our research in a case study of
one city, highlighting its experience and outcomes
with managing homelessness as various programs and
strategies, including Housing First, were implemented
over a 10-year time frame between 2005 and 2015.
We draw on data from three separate projects as
part of the case study. We also explore the successes,
challenges and barriers related to managing or ending
homelessness. Recommendations are discussed in the
context of what we have learned from the three projects
in this case study which provide data over the 10 years
from 2005 to 2015 regarding specific and system-wide
decisions and changes in practices aimed at preventing
and ending homelessness.
Homelessness is a
community affair,
involving individuals,
families and community
service providers.
The Significance of
Homelessness for Individuals,
Communities and Governments
Homelessness is a community affair, involving individuals, families and community
service providers. Each of these groups come into the relationship dealing with
many unknowns but sharing a goal to address the determinants of homelessness
(Guirguis-Younger, M., McNeil, R. & Hwang, S.W., 2014; Hwang, 2009; Mills
et al., 2014; Oudshoorn, A., Ward-Griffin, C., Poland, B. et al., 2013). The first
challenge in addressing the determinants of homelessness is to identify individuals
or families as being homeless and in need of housing and other services. However,
homeless counts are point-in-time estimates, which often underestimate those who
are precariously housed. Further, the affordable housing supply may be limited
when demand is high. Community capacity in terms of human and other resources
providing health and social supports and services in safe and appropriate spaces are
also limited (Oudshoorn et al, 2013). The biggest challenges are associated with
policy and funding. Without a national agreement to support an affordable housing
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