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The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

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across the country for the next 20 years, work<strong>in</strong>g collaboratively with the National<br />

Alliance to End <strong>Homelessness</strong>.<br />

Australia<br />

Outside the United States<br />

In South Australia, the State Government <strong>of</strong> Premier Mike Rann (2002 to 2011)<br />

committed substantial fund<strong>in</strong>g to a series <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiatives designed to combat<br />

homelessness. Advised by Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo and the<br />

founder <strong>of</strong> New York's Common Ground program, Rosanne Haggerty, the Rann<br />

Government established Common Ground Adelaide, build<strong>in</strong>g high quality <strong>in</strong>ner city<br />

apartments (comb<strong>in</strong>ed with <strong>in</strong>tensive support) for "rough sleep<strong>in</strong>g" homeless people.<br />

<strong>The</strong> government also funded the Street to Home program and a hospital liaison service<br />

designed to assist homeless people who are admitted to the emergency departments <strong>of</strong><br />

Adelaide's major public hospitals. Rather than be<strong>in</strong>g released back <strong>in</strong>to homelessness,<br />

patients identified as rough sleepers are found accommodation backed by pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />

support. Common Ground and Street to Home now operate across Australia <strong>in</strong> other<br />

states.<br />

Canada<br />

In its <strong>Economic</strong> Action Plan 2013, the Federal Government <strong>of</strong> Canada proposed $119<br />

million annually from March 2014 until March 2019—with $600 million <strong>in</strong> new fund<strong>in</strong>g—<br />

to renew its <strong>Homelessness</strong> Partner<strong>in</strong>g Strategy (HPS). In deal<strong>in</strong>g with homelessness <strong>in</strong><br />

Canada, the focus is on the Hous<strong>in</strong>g First model. Thus, private or public organizations<br />

across Canada are eligible to receive HPS subsidies to implement Hous<strong>in</strong>g First<br />

programs. In 2008, the Federal Government <strong>of</strong> Canada funded a five-year<br />

demonstration program, the At Home/Chez Soi project, aimed at provid<strong>in</strong>g evidence<br />

about what services and systems best help people experienc<strong>in</strong>g serious mental illness<br />

and homelessness. Launched <strong>in</strong> November 2009 and end<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> March 2013, the At<br />

Home/Chez Soi project was actively address<strong>in</strong>g the hous<strong>in</strong>g need by <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g Hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />

First programs to people with mental illness who were experienc<strong>in</strong>g homelessness <strong>in</strong><br />

five cities: Vancouver, W<strong>in</strong>nipeg, Toronto, Montréal and Moncton. In total, At<br />

Home/Chez Soi has provided more than 1,000 Canadians with hous<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

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 />

Page 184 <strong>of</strong> 289

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