20.11.2018 Views

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Hous<strong>in</strong>g First has grown <strong>in</strong> popularity <strong>in</strong> Canada and used <strong>in</strong> many Canadian ten-year<br />

plans to end homelessness, such as those <strong>in</strong> Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />

First: A Canadian Perspective (TM) is spearheaded by Pathways to Hous<strong>in</strong>g Calgary<br />

and director Sue Fortune. Canadian adaptations to Hous<strong>in</strong>g First have demonstrated<br />

positive outcomes as documented on the website: www.thealex.ca (Hous<strong>in</strong>g Programs;<br />

Pathways to Hous<strong>in</strong>g). Canadian implementations <strong>of</strong> Hous<strong>in</strong>g First must be tailored to<br />

Canadian homelessness, resources, politics and philosophy.<br />

In Calgary, Alberta, the Alex Pathways to Hous<strong>in</strong>g Calgary which opened <strong>in</strong> 2007, has<br />

150 <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong> scatter site homes <strong>in</strong> 2013. Clients pay 30 percent <strong>of</strong> their <strong>in</strong>come<br />

towards their rent: 85 percent <strong>of</strong> Pathways to Hous<strong>in</strong>g clients receive Assured Income<br />

for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefits and 15 percent receive Alberta Works.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Alex Pathways to Hous<strong>in</strong>g uses a Hous<strong>in</strong>g First model, but it also uses Assertive<br />

Community Treatment (ACT), an <strong>in</strong>tegrated approach to healthcare where clients<br />

access a team <strong>of</strong> "nurses, mental health specialists, justice specialists and substance<br />

abuse specialists." Director Sue Fortune is committed to the 10 Year Plan To End<br />

<strong>Homelessness</strong> <strong>in</strong> the Calgary Region. Fortune reported that the Hous<strong>in</strong>g First approach<br />

resulted <strong>in</strong> a 66 percent decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> days hospitalized (from one year prior to <strong>in</strong>take<br />

compared to one year <strong>in</strong> the program), a 38 percent decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> times <strong>in</strong> emergency<br />

room, a 41 percent decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> EMS events, a 79 percent decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> days <strong>in</strong> jail and a 30<br />

Page 151 <strong>of</strong> 289

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!