EXPLORING EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS

INTER-SECTORAL COLLABORATIONS
Discussion and Conclusion
In this case study of one Canadian city, Edmonton, Alberta, a systems lens was
applied in the description and analysis of three projects spanning 10 years from
2005 to 2015 and focusing on the determinants of homelessness and the outcomes
(i.e. successes, benefits, challenges and barriers, as well as failures) related to various
programs and strategies implemented to manage and/or prevent homelessness.
The three projects in this case study provide the experiences of individuals and
families who were at risk of becoming homeless or were homeless (micro level),
community housing and service providers (macro level) and government decision
makers (macro level) over the 10-year span. The case study, based on the findings
of the three projects, provides answers to our study questions.
A chronological description of the micro, meso and macro system experiences
acquired in projects conducted in 2005, 2009 and from 2009 to 2015 confirmed
that gaps identified in 2005 and 2009, as in understanding the determinants of
homelessness, in integrating and coordinating a continuum of housing and support
services as a community or city response and in implementing case management and
navigation approaches (Figure 1), went unheeded until a plan to end homelessness
in 10 years was implemented in 2009. Through this plan, the documented changes
from 2009 to 2015 involving programs, services and strategies such as Housing
First illustrate the favourable outcomes for people who were chronically homeless
and the advantages of a structured systems approach to managing homelessness.
Limitations and challenges at micro, meso and macro levels concerning Housing
First and related strategies are acknowledged for the system to address. There has
been a change in attitude and practices concerning the intent to end and prevent
homelessness over the past decade.
Based on the rising homeless counts and associated direct and indirect costs of
poverty and homelessness identified in Edmonton before 2009 (Homeward
Trust, 2014), community service providers and decision makers could see that
the approaches they had implemented and funded up to that point in time had
not worked to address the determinants of homelessness and move people out
of homelessness. Prevention did not exist. The community and decision makers
recognized that they had to become more proactive in their approaches and more
aggressive in implementing structured or coordinated housing and supports (Burt et
al., 2004), including case management and making it easier for people experiencing
homelessness to access needed services, as illustrated in Figure 1.
The three projects in
this case study provide
the experiences of
individuals and families
who were at risk of
becoming homeless or
were homeless.
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