New Homeless Hub Articles

1.7 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - July 28, 2010

2010-09-09T03:36:20

Toronto formally endorses harm reduction on drug use

Paperny, Anna Mehler — 2010-09-08T12:37:09

Toronto has become the first city in the world – and the first government in North America – to formally endorse a declaration that advocates harm reduction over the war on drugs. The Vienna Declaration, which slams the criminalization of illicit drugs as a major factor fuelling HIV infection rates, came to the fore during this year's AIDS conference. Its authors called on policy-makers around the world to refocus their approaches to illegal drugs and HIV-AIDS prevention – especially in light of new statistics that show HIV infection rates have climbed back to 1982 levels, largely thanks to infection in injection-drug users.

Journal Name: The Globe and Mail

Tags: harm reduction ; HIV-AIDS; drug users

Calgary homelessness plan to undergo year three tweak

Myers, Sean — 2010-09-07T10:16:05

The 10-year Plan to End Homelessness is going through a three-year tweak. The Calgary Homeless Foundation will spend the fall reviewing the achievements and lessons learned since the plan began in January 2008 to come up with a strategic plan for the next three years.

Journal Name: The Calgary Herald

Tags: strategic plan ; research; Calgary Homeless Foundation; 10-year Plan to End Homelessness

10 homeless to get apartments

CBC News — 2010-09-01T12:45:42

A transition house that's the first of its kind for Moncton will be offering a place to stay to 10 homeless men by this October.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: transition house; single men; subsidized apartment

Homeless teens to get new place in Saskatoon

CBC News — 2010-09-01T12:40:29

Two new homes, with enough room for 10 beds, will be built in Saskatoon to provide a safe haven for young women who are homeless, government officials announced Thursday. The homes will be part of an existing network of 11 homes currently operated by the Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: youth; homes ; construction

Nuns donate $1M to house homeless women

CBC News — 2010-09-01T12:39:40

A generous gift from an Ontario religious order will cover more than half the remaining cost of a permanent home for dozens of homeless women. The Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic group based in Pembroke, Ont., have donated $1 million toward a new supportive housing facility being built on Ottawa's Booth Street. The announcement was made Thursday by Cornerstone, the group that is building and operating the home for 42 vulnerable women, including 20 seniors.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: supportive housing; nuns; women; seniors; donation

Homeless man says security guards beat him

CBC News — 2010-09-01T12:36:50

A homeless Toronto man says he was beaten up Monday afternoon by two undercover security guards hired to monitor a municipal parking lot. Chris Van Hartskamp, 35, told CBC News on Tuesday that the attack happened in the stairwell of a parking garage on Charles Street, just east of Yonge Street.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: assault; police

Inuvik's homeless shelter to close

CBC News — 2010-09-01T12:35:18

Homeless people in the Arctic town of Inuvik, N.W.T., will soon lose the place where many sleep and stay warm, as the local homeless shelter will close next month due to a lack of funds. The shelter is slated to close on July 15, which worries homeless people like Michael Coien, who said he and many others rely on the facility. "I don't think it's right, because a lot of people will be homeless," Coien told CBC News on Wednesday. "Right now there's about 20 people homeless right now. I go there every night, almost."

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: shelter closure; deficit; funding

Beating the Heat on the Street

Samra, Steven — 2010-08-30T11:35:13

When the heat rises dramatically during summer months, people experiencing homelessness are at extreme risk of exposure-related illnesses associated with the rise in temperature. This article provides a brief description of the signs and symptoms of heat related disorders and provides a perspective on how one veteran outreach worker works outside the box of conventional approaches to assist this vulnerable population.

Organization: Partners for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Tags: outreach; health; hyperthermia

Empowering Consumers through Motivational Interviewing

Kraybill, Ken; Martin, Melissa — 2010-08-30T10:50:58

Weary of trying to get people to change? Frustrated with trying to convince clients to move off the streets, take their medications, stop drinking, follow up at the clinic, eat better, and take other steps to improve their lives? The good news is that there is an alternative and more effective approach to helping others—based on Motivational Interviewing (MI).

Organization: Partners for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Tags: evidence-based practice; motivational interviewing; homeless outreach; clinical approaches

PATH and SSH: Working Together in West Virginia

Hanlon, Katy — 2010-08-30T10:27:26

While PATH funds can be used for many services, PATH funds cannot be used to pay for housing or shelter stays. At Harmony House, a drop in center in Huntington, WV, collaboration developed between the PATH and Services in Supportive Housing (SSH) projects to fill this need.

Organization: Partners for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Tags: PATH; SSH; collaboration; supportive services; housing

Breaking Down Barriers – Patient Centered Psychiatry

Centrone, Wayne — 2010-08-30T10:09:57

Dr. Liz Frye of the Emory University Community Psychiatry and Public Health Fellowship program collaborates with Atlanta PATH providers to bring psychiatric services to the streets. In this first of a two-part interview with Dr. Frye, she discusses how she began working with people living on the streets with severe mental illness.

Organization: Partners for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Tags: community psychiatry; integrating mental health and psychiatric services; outreach

Private Dwelling in Public Space: Edmonton’s Tent City

Black, Erin — 2010-08-26T03:32:20

How are homeless individuals, who have no access to private space yet still have the same needs of dwelling as the rest of us, regarded when they exercise their right to dwell? This question guided my research of Edmonton’s Tent City, which emerged during the summer of 2007. Interviews with twenty-two individuals, including with encampment residents, service providers, and state officials, informed a broader understanding of why the encampment emerged at the time that it did; how Edmonton’s public spaces accommodate the homeless; and, how Tent City shaped municipal and provincial policy on housing and homelessness. Homeless campers saw Tent City as “home,” while state management focused on excluding homeless campers from the downtown public space to restore order to the streets of Edmonton, as well as their positive public image. Tent City constituted a claim by homeless campers to occupy public space and be represented as part of “the public” but hitherto this has been met with increased strategies of dispersement and exclusion rather than with an expansion of citizenship rights. I argue that Tent City illuminates the state’s preoccupation with regulating the visibility of homeless individuals rather than focusing on the dwelling needs of homeless campers.

Tags: University of Alberta (Canada)

Predictors of Treatment Retention among Homeless Men With Substance Use Disorders

Drymalski, Walter Matthew — 2010-08-26T03:28:53

Homelessness is a significant problem in the United States. Recent estimates suggest that nearly three million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Further, the rates of substance abuse are considerably higher among the homeless than in the general population. Substance abuse treatment has been found to be effective in reducing substance use among those persons with substance use disorders, as well as ameliorating other consequences of substance abuse (e.g., reducing rates of crime associated with substance abuse and dependence). One of the more robust predictors of positive outcomes for substance abuse treatment is retention, which is defined as the length of time clients remain in treatment. However, while a considerable amount of research has been conducted regarding what predicts retention among non-homeless persons with substance use disorders, less is known about what predicts retention among homeless persons with substance use disorders. The following study was conducted to determine if a set of pre-treatment biopsychosocial variables could effectively predict retention among a cohort of homeless men with substance use disorders who were seeking treatment in a substance abuse clinic, which was located in a homeless shelter for men. Path analysis was used to compare two predictive models of retention. The results indicated that both models represented an adequate fit to the data, though each model explained approximately 15% of the variance in retention. In both models, initial severity of biopsychosocial issues and perceived consequences of substance abuse did appear to predict higher motivation for treatment, which itself appeared to predict greater length of time in treatment. However, nearly 85% of the variance in retention was not explained by either model. This suggests that the factors that lead homeless individuals to remain in substance abuse treatment over the long-term may be better accounted for by variables not in the model, such as during treatment “process factors,” rather than pre-treatment factors. Study implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Tags: substance abuse; treatment plan; Retention

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Basics

BrainLine.org — 2010-08-26T03:20:33

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) upsets life on a physical, psychological, social, and even spiritual level. It can affect the ability to communicate and connect with other people. Combined with the loss of function to contribute to a wage-earning job, individuals are at a high risk of homelessness. Understanding the basics of TBI is the first step toward providing quality care.

Organization: Brainline.org

Tags: feature; traumatic brain injury; traumatic stress

Second Opinion: An Integrated Treatment Group for Dual Disorders

Evans, Wendy Grace — 2010-08-26T03:19:21

Second Opinion is an integrated treatment group for people who experience co-occurring disorders. It is offered by Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore, Maryland. “We both meet people where they are. We collaborate in order to integrate treatment for both mental illness and substance use,” shares Dr. Alan Sofranko, one of the facilitators of the group.

Organization: Homelessness Resource Center

Tags: feature; Integrated Treatment; co-occurring disorders

Aging in Place: Bea's Room of her "OWN"

Lewis, Philip — 2010-08-26T02:51:57

The OWN Co-op – the place that Bea Levis calls home and a model of inner city affordable housing – owes its existence partly to good timing. “It was the last housing project to be built before the Harris government cancelled Ontario’s affordable housing funding,” says Erin Harris, a retired nurse who volunteers with the Older Women’s Network, the non-profit advocacy group that was behind the novel housing initiative. “The shovel was in the ground, so we got in under the wire.” Completed in 1997, the OWN Housing Coop, located near the St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto, is home to a mixed-income population of 167 – mostly midlife or older women and men, along with some families and young people. Reflecting a commitment to affordable housing, about 75% of residents benefit from subsidized rent, with the remaining occupants paying market rates. It now operates separately from the Network, and is governed under the Co-operative Corporations Act.

Organization: National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Tags: economy; senior housing; subsidized housing

Infants of Depressed Mothers Living in Poverty: Opportunities to Identify and Serve

Vericker, Tracy; Ehrle Macomber, Jennifer; Golden, Olivia — 2010-08-26T02:48:18

This brief offers a first-time national look at the characteristics, access to services, and parenting approaches for infants living in poverty whose mothers are depressed. Results reveal that eleven percent of infants living in poverty have a mother suffering from severe depression. At the same time, many of these families are connected to services, such as WIC, health care services, food stamps, and TANF, presenting opportunities for policymakers and service providers to help these families. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation funded this research as part of an Urban Institute project identifying service strategies to help connect depressed mothers with treatment.

Organization: Urban Institute

Tags: depression; poverty; single mothers; children; treatment plan; health care

Homeless Hilton still not ready

Levy, Sue-Ann — 2010-08-26T02:31:38

The now infamous city boondoggle we have come to call the Homeless Hilton was still shut tight to all but the construction crew Monday — despite a projected opening date of Aug. 16.

Journal Name: The Toronto Sun

Tags: Homeless Hilton ; shelter ; construction

Toronto homeless report barriers to health care

Shepherd, Leslie — 2010-08-26T02:28:12

Most studies of healthcare for homeless people have been conducted in the United States, where it's not surprising that lack of money and insurance are the main barriers. But what about here in Canada, where we have publicly funded universal health care? A new study finds that 17 per cent of homeless people in Toronto - one in six - reported unmet health care needs. Women with dependent children had almost twice as much trouble getting access to healthcare as the general population of the city.

Journal Name: Eurekalert

Tags: women; healthcare; refugees

Vancouver homeless count under way

CBC News — 2010-08-26T09:54:27

Volunteers are scouring the streets of Vancouver for homeless people, as part of a city-wide effort to determine just how many there are and if the number is growing. Three-hundred volunteers checked soup kitchens, shelters, safe houses and transition houses on Monday night and plan to survey outdoor locations such as alleys, parks and under bridges on Tuesday night.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: count; emergency shelters ; action plan

Yukon could take lead in reducing poverty: senator

CBC News — 2010-08-26T09:53:27

The Yukon could set a national example by trying new ways to eliminate poverty, a Conservative senator said Friday at a symposium in Whitehorse. Sen. Hugh Segal, who has been advocating the use of guaranteed income supplements to help lift Canadians out of poverty, said the Yukon is a small enough jurisdiction to try out such an idea.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: guaranteed income supplements ; senator

Montreal helps homeless families

CBC News — 2010-08-26T09:50:02

Moving day has come and gone, but not everyone in Montreal managed to find a home. For many Montrealers, June 30 — the day most leases in the province expire — is a chance to find a better apartment, maybe in a better neighbourhood. For the city's poor families, it's just another day of looking for something they can afford.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: lease; apartments; FRAPRU

New social housing project to study mental illness and homelessness

Rossi, Cheryl — 2010-08-25T10:12:35

Dave, otherwise known as Mad Dog, says he’s no longer blowing all his disability benefits on cocaine. He was one of the first 50 people to move into the Bosman Hotel Community on June 30, and since then, he’s stopped using every day and spends less on his habit. He reckons he now spends $100 a month on coke and collects bottles to foot some of the expense. “I don’t have to spend all my money at one time,” said Dave, a balding 51-year-old with blue eyes, a moustache, prison tattoos and missing teeth. He would not give his last name. “Nobody’s going to rob me, whereas I’m on the street, I don’t know how long it’s going to last, I do it all,” he said. The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the PHS Community Services Society officially opened the Bosman Hotel Community Aug. 23. It’s part of the mental health commission’s At Home/Chez Soi project to study mental illness and homelessness.

Journal Name: The Vancouver Courier

Tags: At Home/Chez Soi ; project ; B.C. Housing

Homeless people give an alternative guide to London

Pati, Anita — 2010-08-25T09:33:18

Homeless tour guides have been signed up to give visitors to the capital an alternative view of London's landmarks.

Journal Name: guardian.co.uk

Relationships Beget Relationships: Why Understanding Attachment Theory is Crucial to Program Design for Homeless Youth

Heineman, Toni Vaughn — 2010-08-25T08:22:29

In this report, the author takes a new approach to working with homeless youth, seeking to understand their psychological needs through the lens of attachment theory. The author provides his conjectures and supplements them with case evidence from three programs implementing attachment theory in their design and work with homeless youth.

Organization: California Homeless Youth Project

Poverty rate unchanged in 2008

CBC News — 2010-08-24T10:48:09

The number of Canadians living on low incomes changed little in 2008, Statistics Canada reported Thursday. The federal agency said just over three million Canadians — or 9.4 per cent of the population — were considered to be low income (after tax) in 2008, which was almost unchanged from 2007.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: Statistics Canada ; poverty rate; family income

Committee introduces new anti-poverty strategy

CBC News — 2010-08-24T10:32:25

More than 100 people descended on city hall in Ottawa Thursday to learn more about a new strategy designed to help reduce the cycle of poverty in Canada’s capital city. The authors of the City of Ottawa’s new poverty reduction strategy introduced the new plan Thursday. The plan is made up of 16 recommendations, and is the result of a joint effort between city staff and community groups.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: poverty reduction strategy ; recommendations; wage

Moving governmental policies beyond a focus on individual lifestyle: some insights from complexity and critical theories

2010-08-23T12:49:23

This paper explores why Canadian government policies, particularly those related to obesity, are ‘stuck’ at promoting individual lifestyle change. Key concepts within complexity and critical theories are considered a basis for understanding the continued emphasis on lifestyle factors in spite of strong evidence indicating that a change in the environment and conditions of poverty isare needed to tackle obesity. Opportunities to get ‘unstuck’ from individual-level lifestyle interventions are also suggested by critical concepts found within these two theories, although getting ‘unstuck’ will also require cross-sectoral collective action. Our discussion focuses on the Canadian context but will undoubtedly be relevant to other countries, where health promoters and others engage in similar struggles for fundamental government policy change.

Journal Name: Health Promotion International

Tags: critical theory; health policy; health promotion

The Dwelling-Type Choices of Older Canadians and Future Housing Demand: An Investigation Using the Aging and Social Support Survey

Perks, T.; Haan, M. — 2010-08-23T12:39:06

Using the 2002 Aging and Social Support Survey (GSS16), multinomial logit regression, and cohort-component projection techniques, this study explored how social support networks, health, and economic characteristics have shaped the residential choices of older Canadians, and predicts how they are likely to do so in the future. It focused on the distribution of 55-to-75-year-olds across three private-dwelling types: general community living, age-restricted housing, and age-restricted housing with nursing care. The analysis shows that social support characteristics are the strongest predictors of dwelling type, meaning that individuals appear to choose their dwellings largely on the basis of their social needs and wants, rather than on their economic or health characteristics. The analysis also indicates an increased age-specific demand for all dwelling types in the future, but with a reduction of over 2 million older Canadians living in dwellings in the general community between 2002 and 2022.

Journal Name: Canadian Journal on Aging

Housing and health promotion: moving forward

Lawrence, Roderick J. — 2010-08-23T12:27:57

During the last three decades, many empirical studies have analysed the relationships between housing conditions and the health status of residents. Numerous international conferences have been held to debate key issues.

Journal Name: International Journal of Public Health

Tags: housing conditions; affordable housing ; health

14-year diabetes incidence: The role of socio-economic status

Ross, Nancy A.; Gilmour, Heather; Dasgupta, Kaberi — 2010-08-23T12:22:10

Background Diabetes prevalence is associated with low socio-economic status (SES), but less is known about the relationship between SES and diabetes incidence. Data and methods Data from eight cycles of the National Population Health Survey (1994/1995 through 2008/2009) are used. A sample of 5,547 women and 6,786 men aged 18 or older who did not have diabetes in 1994/1995 was followed to determine if household income and educational attainment were associated with increased risk of diagnosis of or death from diabetes by 2008/2009. Three proportional hazards models were applied for income and for education—for men, for women and for both sexes combined. Independent variables were measured at baseline (1994/1995). Diabetes diagnosis was assessed by self-report of diagnosis by a health professional. Diabetes death was based on ICD-10 codes E10-E14. Results Among people aged 18 or older in 1994/1995 who were free of diabetes, 7.2% of men and 6.3% of women had developed or died from the disease by 2008/2009. Lower-income women were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than were those in high-income households. This association was attenuated, but not eliminated, by ethno-cultural background and obesity/overweight. Associations with lower educational attainment in unadjusted models were almost completely mediated by demographic and behavioural variables.

Organization: Statistics Canada

The Problem of Poverty Post-Recession

Yalnizyan, Armine — 2010-08-23T12:04:02

Every recession ushers in a rising tide of poverty. As jobless and underemployed people struggle to make ends meet, the nouveau poor swell the ranks of the déjà poor. The most recent statistical update on incomes in Canada was released in June, telling us that in 2008, as the nation headed into a brutal recession, there were just over 3 million Canadians living in poverty in this country using the standard measure, Statistic Canada’s after-tax low-income cut-off (LICO). Statistics on annual income data come in two years after the fact and much has happened in this country since 2008. But if past recessions are any guide, between 750,000 and 1.8 million more Canadians will be counted as poor before recovery is complete. More than one in seven Canadians may have tumbled into poverty before this is over. Many of them will be working. The greatest increase in poverty will be among working age adults (18 to 64 years of age) and they will pull along hundreds of thousands of children who live with them. For the first time in decades, we may also see a sobering increase in the number of seniors coping with low income, a phenomenon which did not occur in previous recessions but has already reared its head in these new numbers.

Organization: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Tags: recession ; poverty; low income groups

5 Questions for Mark Horvath, Founder of InvisiblePeople. tv

Horvath, Mark — 2010-08-23T10:00:08

5 Questions for Mark Horvath, Founder of InvisiblePeople.tv, a project that encourages homeless people across the United States to tell their stories on YouTube.

Organization: YouTube

Interview with Carolann Barr

Barr, Carolann — 2010-08-23T09:22:29

Carolann Barr is the Executive Director of Raising the Roof, Canada's only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness. Carolann has led the development of the national research report Youth Homelessness in Canada: The Road to Solutions. She is currently leading national research efforts and partnership-building initiatives to break the cycle of youth homelessness through Raising the Roof’s Youthworks initiative. Carolann’s background includes 20 years of working in the community sector providing leadership and program development expertise to benefit diverse and marginalized people.

Organization: Raising the Roof

Making a difference for Canadians who are hungry: 2009-2010 Annual Report

Food Banks Canada — 2010-08-20T12:16:09

Hunger is a persistent problem in our country, despite our wealth as a nation. Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2009 shows that nearly 800,000 individuals turn to food banks each month — a substantial increase from the previous year — and more than one-third of those helped are children. Research tells us that even more people are in need of assistance, with 2.7 million Canadians experiencing food insecurity over the course of a year.* Hunger is a complex issue. It demands immediate strategies and action at local, provincial, and national levels in order to provide support to those requiring food assistance. It also calls for collaboration, advocacy, and public education in order to achieve real, long-term solutions. Food Banks Canada is committed to both immediate and long-term initiatives that help those who are hungry in Canada. We do this by supporting our membership – the provincial associations and food banks assisting Canadians – by providing food, funds, and programs that help them with their important work. Through research, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy, and by engaging with other hunger and poverty reduction organizations, we are able to propose policy alternatives that will lead to fewer Canadians relying on food banks. Addressing this issue requires significant resolve. Food Banks Canada is determined to find solutions that will reduce hunger and support our membership with their efforts to assist Canadians in need. * Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2004.

Organization: Food Banks Canada

Tags: food access; food bank use; hunger

Hate Crimes Against the Homeless: America’s Growing Tide of Violence

National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) — 2010-08-19T11:46:20

Hate Crimes Against the Homeless: America’s Growing Tide of Violence is a shocking report on the growth of biased motivated crimes of hate against America’s homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless’ report marks the beginning of its second decade tracking, interviewing and classifying thousands of individuals impacted by homeless hate crimes. This years’ report has the horrifying distinction of being the deadliest, at 43 reported homicides. The research contained in this report chronicles more than a thousand separate attacks across the US, representing a fraction of the total hate crimes that remain drastically underreported. Individuals who commit homeless hate crimes are motivated primarily by a bias that another individual is or may be homeless. Perpetrators often give account to feelings of hostility and animosity, towards the visibly homeless, so strong they demand action. While others describe a generalized hatred, passed down from one generation to the next, resulting in a growing epidemic of violence across America. Documented hate crimes in this report involve: dosing with gasoline and setting aflame; rape in exchange for shelter; spay painting and stomping upon while sleeping; and, repeated incidence of gang initiations involving stabbings and beatings. “On behalf of any and every victim of biased motivated crime, we must remain committed to the cause of justice, honest stewards of truth and capable recorders of the endless narrative of hate.” said Neil Donovan, NCH Executive Director. Un-housed individuals, as a target of hate, have consistently grown over the past decade. This year’s report draws an especially gruesome and disturbing trend in the frequency and manner of the offenses. Violent, often fatal, attacks on homeless Americans now outnumber all other categories of hate crimes combined. The National Coalition for the Homeless has successfully advanced its legislative agenda on hate crimes, both at the state and federal levels. Our objective is to place the responsibility of tracking statistics on hate crimes against the homeless into the hands of local and national law enforcement. Our goal is to further legitimate our analysis and quantify the growing epidemic of violence against the homeless, ultimately resulting in sufficient resources to solve the problem and create the solutions.

Organization: National Coalition for the Homeless

Mainstreaming the response to homelessness and implementation of Hearth Act changes to McKinney-Vento

U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — 2010-08-19T11:42:59

Since 2000, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has created incentives in the annual Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) competition to encourage communities to bring the resources of a broad spectrum of health, education, human and social services programs into the response to homelessness. This “mainstreaming” approach can also be found in the Homeless Emergency and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009, which rewards Continuums of Care (CoCs) that leverage HUD assistance with mainstream resources and coordinate service systems with mainstream agencies. HUD has undertaken a number of strategies to explore the relationship of services with housing. This message is to convey what HUD has done, alone and in partnership, and to provide information on what other federal agencies are doing to help realize the full benefit of these mainstreaming approaches.

Organization: HUD

Tags: HEARTH act; HUD; NOFA; continuum of care

Changes in the composition of the homeless population:1992-2002

Israel, N.; Toro, P.A.; Ouellette, N. — 2010-08-19T11:42:35

This study spans the period before and after a domestic, extended economic expansion, covering the years 1992-2002 and examines changes in the characteristics of the homeless population during that period. In-depth surveys of representative samples of homeless adults (N = 249 in 1992-94; N = 220 in 2000-2002) showed strong differences in the makeup of the homeless population across the decade, consistent with the queuing theory. Persons experiencing homelessness after the expansion appeared to be a less readily employable population than those interviewed at the start of the expansion: Those interviewed after were older, spent more time living on the streets, had more health symptoms, were more likely to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and had more restricted social networks and social support. Policy, research, and service provision implications of the findings are discussed.

Journal Name: American Journal of Community Psychology

Tags: economic expansion; recession; queuing theory; homelessness

Effect of full-service partnerships on homelessness, use and costs of mental health services, and quality of life among adults with serious mental illness

Gilmer, T.P.; Stefancic, A.; Ettner, S.L. — 2010-08-19T11:42:08

Involved in the study were chronically homeless adults (defined as an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been either continuously homeless for a year or more or who has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years) with severe mental illness who are heavy users of expensive inpatient and emergency psychiatric services. Full-service partnerships (FSP) provide housing and engage chronically homeless clients in treatment. The objective of this study was to examine changes in recovery outcomes, mental health service use and costs, and quality of life associated with participation in FSP. This study is a quasi-experimental, difference-in-difference design with a propensity score-matched control group that was used to compare mental health service use and costs of FSP with public mental health services. Recovery outcomes were compared before and after services use, and quality of life was compared cross-sectionally. The study occurred in San Diego County, California, from October 2005 through June 2008, using 209 FSP clients and 154 clients receiving public mental health services. Main outcome measures included: recovery outcomes (housing, financial support, and employment), mental health service use (use of outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and justice system services), and mental health services and housing costs from the perspective of the public mental health system. The study found that among FSP participants, the average number of days spent homeless per year declined 129 days and outpatient mental health visits increased by 78 visits. Outpatient costs increased by $9180; inpatient costs declined by $6882; emergency service costs declined by $1721; jail mental health services costs declined by $1641; and housing costs increased by $3180. Overall quality of life was greater among FSP clients than among homeless clients receiving services in outpatient programs. Participation in an FSP was associated with substantial increases in outpatient services and days spent in housing. Reductions in costs of inpatient/emergency and justice system services offset 82 percent of the cost of the FSP.

Journal Name: Archives of General Psychiatry

Tags: full service partnership; chronic homelessness; Psychiatric care; mental illness; recovery; california; housing

Factor structure and risk factors for the health status of homeless veterans

Goldstein, G.; Luther, James F.; Haas, Gretchen L. — 2010-08-19T11:41:48

Homeless veterans can have many physical and mental health issues that have been set into four major subgroups; addiction, psychosis, vascular disorders, and generalized medical and psychiatric illness. Co-occurring disorders are common and involve both a psychiatric and medical disorder. Using data from the same survey of homeless veterans that was used to establish these four subgroups with cluster analysis, this study examined the structure of these subgroup patterns through the use of factor analysis. This analysis yielded a five factor solution: cardiac, mood, stress, addiction, and psychosis factors. Factor scores were computed and an odds ratio analysis was accomplished to determine the association between receiving a high score on a given factor with a number of sociodemographic and homelessness related variables. The conclusion was that health status of homeless veterans is a complex condition, but has a clear latent structure demonstrated by factor analysis. Scoring high or low on a particular factor is associated with numerous historical and sociodemographic considerations, notably age, ethnicity, and employment status.

Journal Name: Psychiatry Quarterly

Tags: factor analysis; veterans; homeless; co-occurring

Coming home: Health status and homelessness risk of older pre-release prisoners

Williams, B. A.; McGuire, J; Lindsay, R.G. — 2010-08-19T11:41:14

As the Baby Boomers age these older adults constitute a larger portion of the prison and homeless populations. However, the health status and homelessness risk of older pre-release prisoners are unknown. Also, many post-release services are focused on military veterans and it is not known whether the needs of non-veterans differ from those of veterans. This article will assess the health status and risk of homelessness of older pre-release prisoners, and will compare veterans with non-veterans. Participants include a cross-sectional study of 360 prisoners within 2 years of release from prison using data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Main measures include veteran status, health status (based on self-report), and risk of homelessness. Key findings include the average age was 61 years, more than 90 percent were men, and more than half were white. Nearly 40% were veterans, of whom 77.2% reported likely VA service eligibility. Veterans were more likely to be white and to have obtained a high school diploma or GED. Overall, 79.1% reported a medical condition and 13.6% reported a serious mental illness. There was little difference in health status between veterans and non-veterans. One in 12 prisoners reported a risk factor for homelessness, but the risk factors did not differ according to veteran status. The study concludes that older pre-release prisoners had a high burden of medical and mental illness and were at risk for post-release homelessness regardless of veteran status. Re-entry programs that would link pre-release older prisoners to medical and psychiatric services and to homelessness prevention programs are needed.

Journal Name: Journal of General Internal Medicine

Tags: veterans; incarcerated; inmates

2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (2009 AHAR)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — 2010-08-19T11:39:52

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) presents the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), the fifth in a series of reports on homelessness in the United States. The reports respond to a series of Congressional directives calling for the collection and analysis of data on homelessness. The AHAR reports provide the latest counts of homelessness nationwide—including counts of individuals, persons in families, and special population groups such as veterans and chronically homeless people. The report also covers the types of locations where people use emergency shelter and transitional housing; where people were just before they entered a residential program; how much time they spend in shelters during the course of a year; and the size and use of the U.S inventory of residential programs for homeless people. With the 2009 AHAR, there are three complete years of data on the numbers and characteristics of sheltered homeless people, how they became homeless, and how they used the homeless services system. This is important, because we can begin to see discernable trends in homelessness, including the effects of the recession and of changes over time to the homeless services system.

Organization: HUD

Tags: HUD; statistics; assessment; special populations

Obama administration unveils national strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness

2010-08-19T11:34:48

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is excited to announce the release of the Nation’s first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness titled Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Opening Doors will serve as a roadmap for joint action by Council agencies to guide the development of programs and budget proposals towards a set of measurable targets.

Organization: U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

Services and supports for individuals with co-occurring disorders and long-term homelessness

Foster, S.; LeFauve, C.; Kresky-Wolff, Marilyn; Rickards, L. D. — 2010-08-19T11:32:19

People who experience chronic homelessness typically experience co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders as well. The Federal Collaborative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH) was created to serve people with co-occurring disorders (COD) as they transition from homelessness to permanent-supported housing. Eleven sites across the United States were funded and this paper describes the strategies used by those sites. The findings of the study are based on observations of the program team leaders, administrators, and clients. This paper presents those findings and organizes them around three central themes: characteristics and needs of CICH clients with COD, strategies employed to respond to those needs, and challenges associated with implementing an integrated approach to COD. Some characteristics of clients include histories of untreated or irregularly treated mental health and substance use disorders. These CODs are often further complicated by trauma and chronic illness. Program teams used and approved an assortment of services and supports for their clients with COD and these services included stabilization, motivational techniques, and trauma-informed interventions. Challenges arose and included challenging client behavior, insufficient staffing and community resources, and the extended time needed for change to occur with this population. The paper concludes with recommendations for further research into the effectiveness of various combinations of service strategies for people who are chronically homeless and have COD in non-traditional settings during the earliest stage of recovery. Workforce and system-level barriers to providing integrated care must also be overcome.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; co-occurring disorder; permanent housing; trauma; chronic illness; stabilization; recovery

Adopting best practices: Lessons learned in the collaborative initiative to help end chronic homelessness (CICH)

McGraw, Sarah; Larson, M.J.; Foster, S.E.; Kresky-Wolff, Marilyn; Botelho, E.M. — 2010-08-19T11:31:33

The Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH) was established to provide housing and supportive services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. As part of this initiative, 11 sites across the United Stated received funding to apply models of best practices to support their clients in housing. This paper reports on the experiences of the CICH projects in their use of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), both of which are clinical practice models commonly used by CICH projects. A qualitative analysis identified five areas of challenge for the projects: (1) Incomplete and underdeveloped staff teams; (2) Incomplete understanding of the practice models; (3) Using the elements of the practice models; (4) Interagency teaming; and (5) Competing expectations of multiple federal agencies. The paper describes the specific challenges in each of the five areas as well as training approaches and gaps in training and the perceived benefits of the practice models as reported by project staff.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; chronic homelessness; Assertive Community Treatment; motivational interview; qualitative analysis

An evaluation of an initiative to improve coordination and service delivery of homeless services networks

Greenberg, Greg A. ; Rosenheck, R.A. — 2010-08-19T11:31:03

The Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH) is an 11-site, multi-agency project put in place to help people who are chronically homeless. This study examines system changes that are associated with the implementation of CICH. Data was gathered from an average of 7 agencies at each site in four-year intervals from people on both the community and agency level. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine time trends and bivariate relationships between measures. During the study period, significant increases were found in the use of practices designed to encourage system integration, joint planning and coordination, and of mutual trust and respect. However, in later intervals of the study, these measures reached a peak and became level. There were positive cross-sectional associations between direct measures of service system integration and the use of practices designed to encourage this system integration.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; chronically homeless; Linear Models

Twelve-month client outcomes and service use in a multisite project for chronically homelessness adults

Mares, Alvin S.; Rosenheck, R. A. — 2010-08-19T11:30:36

The 734 clients of the Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH) were enrolled in an entry and quarterly evaluation wherein assessment program that addressed sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and a wide range of service use and outcomes data. Mixed linear regression analysis was used to test for significant changes over time. Findings included the average number of days housed during the previous three months increased dramatically from 18 at baseline to 83 by year's end. Significant improvements also occurred in overall quality of life, mental health functioning, and reduced psychological distress. However, alcohol and drug problems among clients remained largely unchanged overall. Although, among baseline drug users crack, cocaine, and marijuana use decreased by 28-50% during the follow-up period. Total quarterly health cost estimates declined by 50%, as well, from $6,832 to $3,376. These findings suggest that when provided with comprehensive services, chronically homeless adults may be successfully housed and can maintain their housing.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; sociodemographic characteristics; Alcohol and other drugs; chronic homelessness

Collaborative initiative to help end chronic homelessness: Introduction

Rickards, L. D.; McGraw, Sarah; Araki, Lynnette; Casey, R. J. — 2010-08-19T11:30:07

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness initiated a coordinated effort to form the Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH). This Initiative was created to house and provide comprehensive supportive services to people who have co-occurring disorders that include serious psychiatric, substance use, health, and related disabilities. These individuals were also experiencing chronic homelessness. Eleven communities received 3-year grants from HHS and VA (2003-2006) and up to 5-year grants from HUD (2003-2008) to implement the Initiative. The authors of this article provide the reader with a background on chronic homelessness, describe the CICH, and introduce the seven articles in this special issue that describe the findings and lessons learned from the participating communities. These seven articles portray both the challenges and the benefits of providing housing and services to individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; HUD; VA; USICH; substance use; chronic homelessness

Strategies for Change

2010-08-19T11:29:11

Five new on-line training modules on implementing plans and practices for ending homelessness.

Tags: training for homeless services providers; HRC

Killings of Homeless Rise to Highest Level in a Decade

2010-08-19T10:41:43

Killings of homeless people have risen to their highest level in a decade, with 43 people killed last year and many more injured in often brutal attacks that are raising concerns among law enforcement officials, rights advocates and politicians, according to new data due to be released this week.

Journal Name: The New York Times

Tags: death toll

Keeping young moms off the street

Moreau, Jennifer — 2010-08-19T10:27:48

Burnaby NOW reporter Jennifer Moreau caught up with Gale Stewart, a Vancouver resident who started Aunt Leah's Independent Life Skills Society in 1988. The New Westminster organization runs a house in Burnaby that gives aboriginal teen moms a place to stay so they don't end up homeless. Aunt Leah's recently received $666,500 from the federal government to buy the home the organization was renting in Burnaby.

Journal Name: Burnaby NOW

City needs accurate tally of homeless: report

Warren, Jeremy — 2010-08-19T10:22:14

A "cold weather alert" for the homeless in Saskatoon might not work until the city has an accurate count of the people living on the streets, says a report presented to council Wednesday night. Coun. Glen Penner asked city administrators to report on "cold weather alerts," a program used in Toronto that warns homeless people about dangerous winter conditions and helps find them emergency shelter.

Journal Name: The Starphoenix

Postsecondary student housing overlooked

Pablo, Carlito — 2010-08-19T10:17:08

Paying your own way through school may sometimes mean having to survive on Mr. Noodles for months on end. A packet of this instant meal costs a few cents, according to Kari Michaels, and she has gone through many. The Kwantlen Polytechnic University student knows how tough it is for independent and low-income students to get a postsecondary education. She works full-time and can only study part-time so that she can make the rent and pay the bills.

Journal Name: Straight.com

CDC HIV Testing Guidelines and the Rapid and Conventional Testing Practices of Homeless Youth

2010-08-19T09:35:05

The study's aims were to describe rapid and conventional HIV testing practices and referrals/linkages to services posttest among homeless youth in New York City. We also examined variation among service-involved youth, street youth, and “nomads.” Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 217 homeless youth who participated in structured interviews. Almost all youth were tested in the past year (82%). Most received pretest/posttest counseling (> 77%). Rapid testing was common and conducted in diverse settings. However, youth reported that rates of referral/linkage to services posttest were low (< 44.4%). Service-involved youth were significantly more likely to receive rapid testing, be tested in the past year, and be tested at a high frequency. Street youth and nomads, those at highest risk for poor health outcomes, had less access to testing and may require creative, low-threshold services. Further, a better understanding of barriers to the use of referrals/linkages to services posttest is needed.

Journal Name: AIDS Education and Prevention

Edmonton hospital asks homeless for advice

CBC News — 2010-08-18T02:39:18

Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency department is launching a survey of homeless people in an attempt to find ways to better serve them.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Affordable Housing Dwindles As Need Grows

Faust, Dean; Couch, Linda — 2010-08-18T02:05:10

Funding for low-income housing has been falling for years. And nationwide, many public housing units have been torn down. The wait for housing vouchers in some cities can now last a decade, just as the recession has left more Americans struggling to pay the rent.

Organization: NPR

Tags: public housing; low-income housing; Waiting Lists

Can we measure homelessness?A critical evaluation of ‘Capture–Recapture’

Williams, Malcolm — 2010-08-18T01:23:21

Homeless people constitute a rare and elusive population, but additionally counting the numbers homeless is made more difficult as a result of the absence of agreed definitions, across time and place, of what constitutes homelessness. This paper reviews some of the methods of counting used and critically evaluates one particular method, that of ‘capture-recapture’. Projects undertaken by the author and his colleagues, in the UK, are used as illustrations of the possibilities and limitations of the method.

Tags: Cardiff University

“I’m finally there”: An examination of a feminist program working to change the dynamics of women’s poverty

Clare, Megan — 2010-08-18T01:08:53

One in seven Canadian women lives in poverty. There is a considerable body of research on the factors that cause women’s poverty in Canada and on how poverty affects women’s lives. There are also a number of programs and organizations that help women living in poverty. However, there is a lack of research that examines the meanings and experiences women have with these programs and the role these programs may play in their lives. This study has attempted to fill this gap by examining an innovative training and employment program for women living in poverty. A qualitative approach was taken, which included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight women who had recently completed the program, as well as an informal interview with the program director. The interviews explored the women’s experiences with the program, the meanings they associated with the program, and the ways in which participation in the program had influenced their lives. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the interview data, and socialist feminist theory provided a lens to guide the study as a whole. The analysis led to the development of a number of themes and sub-themes. Safety, stability and connections with others were found to be particularly meaningful and important components of the program. These features enabled the participants to discover a new sense of self through the development of skills, confidence and empowerment. These findings suggest the importance of providing a holistic program, and one that addresses the broad range of challenges and concerns that affect the lives of women in poverty. Programs that focus narrowly on employment and job training may be insufficient. The implications of this research are discussed in terms of the diverse needs of women living in poverty and the range of barriers that they face. Community programs such as the one studied can help women make significant gains in their lives, which can, in turn, contribute to overcoming poverty and achieving economic independence.

Tags: women; poverty; training and employment opportunities

Quality measures for primary mental healthcare: a multistakeholder, multijurisdictional Canadian consensus

2010-08-18T01:01:20

Objective To develop quality measures using a consensus-based, multistakeholder process to improve delivery of mental health services within primary healthcare settings. Methods A three-stage consensus model culminating in a two-round, modified Delphi postal survey ranking quality measures according to ‘actionability,’ relevance and overall importance. Participants More than 800 people from all 10 provinces and three territories in Canada participated in the study, representing consumers/advocates, clinicians, academics and government decision-makers from regional, provincial and federal levels. A small group with expertise in First Nations and rural-setting health issues was also included, as well as international experts. Results The top overall pan-Canadian measure was ‘Education about Depression.’ ‘Actionability’ was a key criterion for many of the top 30 measures. Fifty per cent of these measures focused on three major themes: depression, self-harm and access to a broader spectrum of treatment (such as outreach services and psychotherapy). Additional themes included the need for greater collaboration, respectful treatment of patients and families, and improved evaluation of patients. One-way ANOVA results indicated statistically significant differences (p <0.05) between academics, clinicians, consumers and decision-makers on approximately 5% of quality measure ratings. The majority (85% of the 5%) of these differences involved consumer stakeholders. Conclusion A small set of specific consensus measures were identified through a rigorous, evidence-informed process. These measures can be used for system-wide changes or at the individual practice level. Although these measures have been developed within a Canadian context, the methodology utilised and the measures selected can be adapted elsewhere.

Journal Name: Quality and Safety in Health Care

An Exploratory Study of Radical Mindfulness Training with Severely Economically Disadvantaged People: Findings of a Canadian Study

Hick, Steven F.; Furlotte, Charles — 2010-08-18T12:54:49

This article describes a two-phased research project that piloted a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention developed specifically for a severely economically disadvantaged population. The terms severely economically disadvantaged (SED) and “severely marginalised” were used to describe the participants who experience socioeconomic disadvantage and social isolation as well as significant medical, psychological, physical, and learning challenges. Phase one of the project consisted of community focus groups to determine what types of mindfulness-based interventions would most benefit this population. Based on this feedback, the first author developed a modified MBSR intervention he called radical mindfulness training (or RMT). Phase two was a pilot study of RMT with 11 SED participants who accessed services at a local community health centre; eight participants completed the program, and seven of the participants completed Self Compassion and Satisfaction with Life scales and qualitative interviews. Results revealed an overall mean increase in self compassion and satisfaction with life after completing the program. Qualitative findings provided further evidence of the nature of the participants' perceived effectiveness of this program. The authors conclude that the findings from his limited exploratory study substantiate the need for further study of the RMT program.

Journal Name: Australian Social Work

A homelessness report card for Victoria, British Columbia: establishing the process and baseline measures to enable annual homelessness reporting

Austen, Tyrone — 2010-08-18T12:48:04

Systems-level homelessness report cards are an intricate part of managing and resolving homelessness within a community. Homelessness report cards can be used to both educate communities around the complexities of homelessness and capture pertinent data required to formulate evidence-based strategies towards ending (rather than managing) homelessness. The process of developing and implementing homelessness report cards can be fraught with challenges relating to: limited resources; fragmented information; and political roadblocks. To help reduce the potential of these roadblocks, a system-level Homelessness Outcome Reporting Normative framework (the “HORN Framework”) was developed. The HORN Framework is based on a literature review and synthesis of the best-practice, systems-level homelessness report card development and implementation methods. The framework was then tested in a case study with the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness (GVCEH), through the creation of their 2010 Greater Victoria Homelessness Report Card. The framework and case study results are presented in this thesis.

Tags: University of Victoria

Older Homeless Women with Depression

Cameron, Karen L. — 2010-08-18T11:19:06

This qualitative descriptive study described how seven older homeless women with depression characterized their homelessness, depression, and aging. The women, with a mean age of 54 years, were concerned with day-to-day survival, and contemplating aging while remaining homeless was frightening. The women described feeling depressed and most had received treatment for depression; however they did not describe their depression as hindering their ability to find housing. The themes were aging, homelessness, depression, and chronic health conditions. Homelessness contained the subthemes of addictions, loss of relationships, and lack of income. Depression contained the subthemes of history, experience, and treatment of depression. Although chronic health conditions and chronic pain were concerns for all participants, only one woman had access to ongoing health care. The majority of the women had no income. Nearly all the women had attended school beyond high school but this did not translate into better paying employment because most of them had worked at jobs with no benefits. Implications for policy development included expanding the safety net to provide housing options for homeless women in the 50–60 year range. Recommendations for practitioners included the suggestion that older homeless women be viewed as geriatric clients with care provided at that level. Future research should explore the connection between addictions and homelessness for older homeless women, the impact of chronic pain or chronic illness on their daily functioning, and the potential benefits of treating older homeless women according to standards of care developed for the geriatric general population.

Tags: University of Arizona

The unmet health care needs of homeless adults: a national study

Baggett, Travis P.; O'Connell, James J.; Singer, DE; Rigotti, Nancy A. — 2010-08-17T10:13:18

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the prevalence and predictors of past-year unmet needs for 5 types of health care services in a national sample of homeless adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from 966 adult respondents to the 2003 Health Care for the Homeless User Survey, a sample representing more than 436,000 individuals nationally. Using multivariable logistic regression, we determined the independent predictors of each type of unmet need. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of the respondents reported at least one unmet health need, including an inability to obtain needed medical or surgical care (32%), prescription medications (36%), mental health care (21%), eyeglasses (41%), and dental care (41%). In multivariable analyses, significant predictors of unmet needs included food insufficiency, out-of-home placement as a minor, vision impairment, and lack of health insurance. Individuals who had been employed in the past year were more likely than those who had not to be uninsured and to have unmet needs for medical care and prescription medications. CONCLUSIONS: This national sample of homeless adults reported substantial unmet needs for multiple types of health care. Expansion of health insurance may improve health care access for homeless adults, but addressing the unique challenges inherent to homelessness will also be required.

Journal Name: American Journal of Public Health

Precarious Housing in Canada (2010)

The Wellesley Institute — 2010-08-17T09:48:38

Precarious Housing in Canada (2010) is a powerful, new research and policy report from the Wellesley Institute. Using the most comprehensive and current data, research and analysis, Precarious Housing sets out a pragmatic, five-point plan targeted to the millions of Canadians who are living in substandard, over-crowded and unaffordable homes – plus those who are living without any housing at all. Housing is one of the most important factors for a healthy life. A good home is important for individuals and for overall population health. The growing number of Canadians who are precariously housed continues to be a deep and persistent problem throughout the country; the nation-wide affordable housing crisis is costly to individuals, communities, the economy, and the government. Federal housing and homelessness investments – adjusted for inflation and population growth – have been shrinking over the past two decades; and, while the federal government announces short-term initiatives from time to time, Canada still doesn’t have a comprehensive, fully-funded and integrated national housing strategy.

Organization: Wellesley Institute

Risk chains over the life course among homeless urban adolescent mothers: Altering their trajectories through formal support

2010-08-17T09:43:30

This qualitative study uses life course theory along with risk and resilience as a foundation from which to examine the life histories of 14 adolescent mothers recruited from an urban homeless shelter. Semi-structured individual interviews focused on exploring experiences with violence and adversity, adaptations and coping in response, and sources of support; we analyzed the data using a grounded theory approach involving open, axial, and selective coding. The key storyline that emerged is risk chains over the life course, including lack of family support and a turning point at early adolescence. Participants’ adaptations to violence influenced their identity development, and formal support from the shelter staff facilitated critical protective processes as the young women transitioned to adulthood.

Journal Name: Children & Youth Services Review

Tags: adolescent mothers; poverty; urban shelters; formal support

Many Islanders close to homelessness: report

CBC News — 2010-08-17T09:40:37

Homelessness on P.E.I. is more hidden than it is in other provinces, and the problem is on the edge of getting worse, says a new report on homelessness. The new report card on homelessness, written by a coalition of government and private sector groups, points to a more serious issue amongst women than men. It found 242 people used a shelter last year: 117 women and 46 men. They stayed an average of 29 nights.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: report card ; Salvation Army ; shelter

Homelessness threatens 1 in 9: report

CBC News — 2010-08-17T09:36:55

One in nine Canadians has been homeless or come close to it, a study released by the Salvation Army suggests. Levels were highest in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where 20 per cent of respondents said they had experienced or come close to experiencing homelessness, among those aged 45 to 55 years (16 per cent) and among those with income levels under $40,000 a year (20 per cent), the report said. Levels were lowest in Newfoundland and Quebec, at seven and five per cent, respectively. The Salvation Army surveyed 1,000 Canadians by phone in late 2009. The results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: study; respondents ; survey; Salvation Army

The New Face of Homeless People - Interview with Harvey Low

Low, Harvey — 2010-08-17T09:24:28

Harvey Low, Senior Analyst with the Social Policy Analysis & Research Unit at the City of Toronto discusses his work in supporting policy and program development and the changing face of homelessness.

Organization: City of Toronto

Supportive housing approaches in the collaborative initiative to help end chronic homelessness (CICH)

McGraw, Sarah; Kresky-Wolff, Marilyn; Larson, M. J.; O'Brien, R. W. — 2010-08-16T04:24:14

Eleven sites were funded by the Federal Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness. The idea is to expand permanent housing and offer supportive services to people who are chronically homeless and have co-occurring disorders - they suffer from mental and substance use disorders. This study examines qualitative data on how the projects used the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding and three housing approaches (scattered units, congregate/clustered, or a combination) to quickly place clients in permanent housing. Each housing approach required service teams to adapt to the approaches and called for property personnel who helped support clients with a variety of skills, including, independent living skills, how to keep housing, and assistance in promoting client's overall health in order to reach Initiative goals. Property personnel reported taking on new roles with clients and forming new collaborative arrangements with services teams. This article discuss the lessons learned by the sites that were associated with these housing configurations, types of lease, and the roles of property personnel.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Tags: CICH; mental disorders; substance use; qualitative data; HUD; housing approach

SAMHSA's 10 Strategic Initiatives

2010-08-16T04:21:32

Through continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services SAMHSA with its partners can advance and protect the Nation’s health. In order to achieve this goal SAMHSA has identified 10 Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The 10 Initiatives are briefly described below with the Agency lead identified along with some background on the issue.

Organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Tags: substance abuse; mental illness; trauma; health reform; military families; housing; homelessness; economy; jobs

Housing Interventions at the Neighborhood Level and Health: A Review of the Evidence

2010-08-12T01:01:55

A panel of subject matter experts systematically reviewed evidence linking neighborhood-level housing interventions, such as housing programs or policies, to health outcomes. One of the 10 interventions reviewed—the Housing Choice Voucher Program—had sufficient evidence for implementation or expansion. The evidence showed that voucher holders are less likely to suffer from overcrowding, malnutrition due to food insecurity, and concentrated neighborhood poverty than nonvoucher holders. Of the other reviewed interventions, 2 needed more field evaluation and 7 needed more formative research. None were determined to be ineffective. Although many of the reviewed interventions lacked sufficient evidence for widespread implementation solely based on their health benefits, this evidence review shows that many interventions positively affect other areas of social, economic, and environmental well-being. Efforts to improve neighborhood environments and to maintain and increase the number of affordable housing units are critical to ensuring safe, healthy, and affordable housing for all people in the United States. Given that people of color disproportionately reside in high-poverty neighborhoods, neighborhood-level interventions may be particularly important in efforts to eliminate health disparities.

Journal Name: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice

Caring for a homeless adult with a chronic disease

Savage, Christine; Lee, Roberta J.; Lee, Roberta L. — 2010-08-12T12:54:03

Homelessness isn’t a disease, but it can kill. The prevalence of illness in homeless persons is as high as 55%. What’s more, the homeless are three to six times more likely to die than their housed counterparts, and their life expectancy is just 44 years on average, compared to 78 years for the general U.S. population. The homeless experience higher rates of chronic disease than the general U.S. population. Most homeless adults have at least one chronic disease and with age, the risk of chronic disease rises. Up to 29% have hypertension, compared to 16.5% of the general population. The homeless are more likely to have mental health problems; up to 37% report depression, compared to up to 10% of the general adult population. As many as 84% of homeless men and 58% of homeless women have alcohol problems, compared to just 8% in the general population. Many homeless people become “frequent flyers” at hospitals, especially during the month before death. Providing safe care to homeless persons with a chronic disease is complicated by their high risk for comorbid conditions and lack of resources to help manage their disease after discharge.

Organization: University of Cincinnati College of Nursing

Differences in 5-year survival after a ‘homeless’ or ‘housed’ drugs-related hospital admission: a study of 15–30-year olds in Scotland

Dibben, C.; Atherton, I.; Doherty, J.; Baldacchino, Alex — 2010-08-12T12:27:13

Young drug misusers and the homeless both have a greater risk of death than their peers. This study sought to estimate the additional impact of homelessness on the risk of death for young drugs misusers.

Journal Name: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Homeless and Jailed: Jailed and Homeless

2010-08-12T09:51:05

Previous research has established that being homeless increases the likelihood of ending up in jail, while imprisonment increases the risk of homelessness and the length of time that homeless people spend in shelters. The number of homeless prisoners in Toronto area jails is increasing. And a small, but growing, number of men are caught in a revolving door between jails and shelters.

Organization: The John Howard Society of Toronto

Tags: prison; imprisonment; shelter; discharge planning; income supports

John Howard Society report: “Homeless prisoners” on the rise

Rankin, Jim — 2010-08-12T09:28:08

Each year, more people — mostly men — are leaving Toronto jails with nowhere to call home and no plan or supports to keep them from heading back to jail, according to a report to be released on Aug. 10 by the John Howard Society of Toronto.

Journal Name: The Toronto Star

Tags: jail; prisoner re-entry; housing

Scarce housing goes mainly to abuse victims

Winsa, Patty — 2010-08-12T08:44:11

Raul Elqueta stands outside the Housing Connections office on Elm St. in Toronto where he was helping his two nieces, immigrants from Chile, update their family’s social housing application. Elqueta says he was told the wait would be 10 years. “It should be faster,” he said.

Journal Name: The Toronto Star

Episode 11: Interview with Susan Gapka

Abramovich, Ilona — 2010-08-11T01:52:22

Susan Gapka, candidate for City Councillor in Ward 27 is interviewed about her views and knowledge on homelessness in Toronto and the G20 2010

Eating Nutritiously A Struggle When Money Is Scarce

Fessler, Pam — 2010-08-11T01:48:41

Alex Williamson, 8, doesn't look very hungry — in fact, he's a little chubby. But Alex, who lives in Carlisle, Pa., is one of 17 million children who live in U.S. households where getting enough food is a challenge. The Obama administration has pledged to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. A key element of that challenge is to make sure the food hungry children eat is nutritious. They're lofty goals that will be difficult to achieve. Alex's mom, Connie Williamson, says she tries to give her son healthy food but doesn't always succeed.

Journal Name: NPR.org

Psychache and self-harming behaviour among men who are homeless: a test of Shneidman's model

Patterson, Allisha — 2010-08-10T12:18:47

Suicidal ideation among the homeless is 10 times greater than in the general population. Therefore, research helping mental health professionals better predict and potentially prevent suicide within the homeless population is an important societal focus. Various cognitive theories of depression and hopelessness have been proposed to explain suicidality, however, to date, none of these are able to fully explain the phenomenon. More recently, Shneidman has suggested a theory of psychache (i.e., unbearable psychological pain) to explain suicidality. Although this theory has been supported by investigations with university students, there has not been much research exploring psychache with populations at high risk for suicide. The current study attempts to assess Shneidman’s theory with a high risk population, namely the homeless. Ninety-seven men were recruited at homeless shelters and drop-in centres. Participants completed questionnaires assessing criterion measures of suicidality and psychological predictors of depression, hopelessness, life meaning, and psychache. Analyses revealed that psychache was the only variable with statistical predictive ability over and above the other three psychological variables in predicting suicide ideation, motivation, preparation, and attempt history. This finding indicates that psychache is a better predictor of suicidality than depression, hopelessness, and life meaning and supports Shneidman’s model of psychache as the most proximal cause of suicide. Results also indicate the potential use of a scale assessing psychache in mental health settings to predict those who are, and are not, at risk for suicide.

Tags: Queen's University

Health Care Access and Utilization in Older versus Younger Homeless Adults

Brown, Rebecca T.; Kimes, Ryan V.; Guzman, D.; Kushel, Margot — 2010-08-10T11:49:39

Objectives. To examine whether demographic characteristics, health care access, and acute health care utilization differ by age among homeless adults. Methods. We interviewed all 2,175 adult attendees of a citywide homeless outreach event. Results. Older participants were more likely than younger participants to have a regular place for health care (59.8% vs. 44.3%, p<.01), a regular health care provider (53.6% vs. 35.6%, p<.01), and health insurance (45.5% vs. 32.1%, p<.01). Older participants were less likely to be unable to obtain needed health care (15.6% vs. 20.9%, p=.05). In a multivariate analysis, only lack of health insurance predicted inability to obtain needed care (AOR 2.9, CI 1.76–4.8). Conclusions. Older and younger homeless adults have similarly high rates of acute health care utilization. The better access to care among older homeless adults speaks to the importance of insurance in determining access to care among homeless adults.

Journal Name: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved

Getting to know Mark, a homeless alcohol-dependent artist, as he finds his way out of the river

Kidd, Sean A.; Kirkpatrick, Helen; George, Lindsey — 2010-08-10T11:11:34

Managed Alcohol Programs (MAPs) are a relatively recent addition to the repertoire of harm reduction approaches for persons experiencing severe alcohol dependence. In these settings, clients, who are typically homeless, are provided with a maintenance amount of alcohol while residing in a shelter setting. This case study examines the living experience of a homeless alcohol-dependent client of a MAP in an effort to articulate the process factors related to engagement with this form of treatment. The participant, a 48-year-old white male, participated in a series of qualitative interviews that took place prior to admission, immediately following admission, following re-admission, and after completion of the program over the course of 18 months. A grounded theory approach to data analysis was undertaken. The findings suggest that the primary utility of the MAP was in stabilizing a range of problems such that he was provided with the time, energy, and resources necessary to engage in the critically important task of constructing valued identity, place, and meaning and purpose in life.

Journal Name: Addiction Research & Theory

Assessing the Mental Health Service Needs of the Homeless: A Level-of-Care Approach

2010-08-10T10:57:26

Objective A level-of-care needs assessment was undertaken at Ontario’s largest shelter to establish homeless clients’ mental health service needs and identify service gaps. Methods A level-of-care planning model was applied to data on 356 men. Assessments included the Colorado Client Assessment Record and a Service Needs and Use Questionnaire. Results Among the clients, 32% (N=105) were recommended for weekly support, 38% (N=125) for Intensive Case Management or Assertive Community Treatment, and 9% (N=29) for 24-hour supervision in a residential care facility. Despite on-site health services, half the men did not have their level of service need met. Conclusion The wide range of unmet specialized mental health needs suggests that interventions of different structure and service intensity may be required for this population. A level-of-care planning model may be a helpful tool for ensuring homeless clients are matched to appropriate services and supports.

Journal Name: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved

Domestic violence, housing instability, and homelessness: A review of housing policies and program practices for meeting the needs of survivors

2010-08-10T10:28:02

Evidence suggests that domestic violence is among the leading causes of housing instability (including homelessness) nationally for women and children. In this paper, we focus on housing policies and practices that may inadvertently make it more difficult for women to secure stable housing after having left an abusive partner. We review the types of housing options available for survivors of domestic violence, as well as housing policies and practices, including their strengths and limitations. In addition, the level of coordination between domestic violence and housing/homeless service systems is discussed. Our rationale for this review is to highlight not only the intent of specific policies and programs but also the effect of their implementation on women's ability to secure stable housing. Finally, we explore alternatives to current housing policies and program practices that may serve as models for how to think “outside the box” so that women's housing and safety needs can be better met.

Journal Name: Aggression and Violent Behavior

Road to Recovery Webinar

2010-08-09T02:19:42

SAMHSA, with our partner agencies and grantees recognize the relationship between homelessness, mental health and substance use disorders is complex, multi-dimensional, and reciprocal. To effectively break this cyclical relationship, it is essential to understand that treatment for substance use disorders is effective and recovery is possible. With the help of evidence-based behavioral, clinical, medication-assisted treatment regiments, and recovery support services, individuals can enjoy independent and productive lives in the community. This video will discuss successful programs that allow people with co-occurring disorders maintain productive lives in their communities and provides valuable information for providing clients with the appropriate housing approach that addresses their specific issues.

Organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Tags: homeless; mental health; substance use; recovery; evidence-based; video; co-occurring

Evaluation of the Homeless Assistance Rental Program (HARP)

Hickert, Audrey O.; Becker, Erin E.; Prospero, Moises — 2010-08-09T01:39:10

In 2009 the Salt Lake County Community Resources and Development Division (CRDD) asked the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC) to conduct a follow-up study to their 2007 evaluation of the Homeless Assistance Rental Program (HARP). Specifically, CRDD was interested in finding out whether or not the assumptions from the first HARP study remained true and if HARP continued to fulfill its goals. The following research questions were the foundation of the study and were answered based on available program records and a thorough search of the literature on homelessness interventions. The current study examines all HARP clients from inception through August 1, 2009 (N = 222) and compares them to a group of homeless individuals who received a similar type of supportive housing intervention (Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) through The Road Home Shelter, N = 231).

Organization: University of Utah, Evaluation of the Homeless Assistance Rental Program (HARP)

Tags: housing and homelessness; programs; shelter

Voices from the periphery: Prospects and challenges for the homeless youth service sector

Gharabaghi, Kiaras; Stuart, Carol — 2010-08-09T01:37:17

As a result of its focus on transitionally-aged youth (16-24), the homeless youth service sector finds itself on the periphery of both the children's services sectors, represented by children's mental health, child welfare, education and youth justice, and the adult services sectors that seek to address the varying needs of adults for social assistance and mental health services. Based on an extensive literature review and a series of interviews with service providers, stakeholders and youth within this sector, in the Central East Service Region of the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the authors synthesize core themes and issues that help to situate the current prospects and challenges facing this sector. Feedback from informants positioned the concept of “relationship” as a central feature of both service provision and service use on the part of youth. The Central East Region is a mixed urban, suburban and semi-rural region situated in close proximity to Canada's largest urban centre, Toronto. With a population of nearly 2 million, the Region is often perceived as diverse, encompassing a series of highly affluent commuter communities, relatively isolated rural and small town communities and urban working class communities. While social issues such as homelessness and poverty have long been recognized in urban communities, they have only recently been acknowledged as community concerns in the geographically large suburban areas of this region.

Journal Name: Children and Youth Services Review

Tags: youth; mental health; youth justice

Homelessness and Citizenship: Exploring the Meaning and Negotiation of Place, Space and Geography for Rough Sleepers

Whitefield, Martin Jones — 2010-08-09T01:34:17

This doctoral thesis, drawing on a detailed ethnographic study of a small voluntary day-centre for rough sleepers in West Dorset, sets out to explore and elucidate the relationship between contemporary citizenship and 'on-street' homelessness. From this empirically grounded basis I show how the vocabulary of rights and responsibilities is profoundly intertwined in the local governance of homelessness. I situate this mode and style of governance within the contours of public policy efforts that seek to recode behaviour and lifestyles deemed to be deviant, irresponsible and, ultimately, self-excluding. In doing this, I offer a critique of the moral economy of responsibility that draws extensively on the perceptions and experiences of homeless people. Ethically, and in conclusion, emphasis is placed on the importance of pursuing critically engaged and empirically sensitive scholarship which takes homeless people‘s agency into account in ways that have the potential to 'subvert' political and policy judgements linking contemporary citizenship with 'on-street' homelessness.

Organization: Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK

Tags: moral economy; experiences; perceptions; governance

Vancouver approves homeless heat relief

CBC News — 2010-08-09T09:33:18

Vancouver city council has unanimously voted to implement an extreme hot weather plan to help protect people during summer heat waves. Under the plan approved at a council meeting Tuesday, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority will send out bulletins when conditions reach dangerous levels. The conditions include heat, humidity, air pollution or a combination of them.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: extreme heat; heat relief; health education

Province pledges $12M to house homeless

CBC News — 2010-08-09T09:32:18

The Alberta government has announced a contribution of $12 million to create 112 housing units for the homeless in Edmonton and Calgary. The announcement comes on the first anniversary of the provincial program aimed at ending homelessness in 10 years. The Mustard Seed Society, a non-profit Christian ministry, will head up the initiative. It's based on what the government calls a Housing First approach, which provides permanent housing along with support services.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: Mustard Seed Society; housing first; housing units; permanent housing

Staircases, Elevators and Cycles of Change ‘Housing First’ and Other Housing Models for Homeless People with Complex Support Needs

Johnsen, Sarah; Teixeira, Ligia — 2010-08-09T09:26:14

Homeless people with complex support needs, together with other groups suffering from ‘deep and persistent exclusion’ (Cabinet Office, 2007) or ‘multiple disadvantage’ (DWP, 2010) have become a policy priority in the UK because they are disproportionately ‘failed by’ and/or apparently ‘resistant to’ existing service interventions (Hampson, 2010). Many were included within the remit of the previous Government’s Public Service Agreement 16 (PSA 16) ‘Socially Excluded Adults’ and/or ‘Adults facing Chronic Exclusion’ (ACE) initiatives, and the challenges they face have recently been highlighted in the voluntary sector’s ‘Making Every Adult Matter’ manifesto (MEAM, 2009). Under the new Coalition Government the language may have changed (referring to ‘multiple disadvantage’ rather than ‘social exclusion’, for example) but homeless people with complex needs continue to be a policy priority (Cabinet Office, 2010)

Organization: Centre for Housing Policy (CHP), University of York

Tags: exclusion; complex needs; multiple disadvantage

Perceptions of Students about Younger and Older Men and Women who May Be Homeless

Kane, Micheal N.; Green, Diane; Jacobs, Robin J. — 2010-08-04T04:31:47

Future human service providers will interact with homeless persons in health, mental health, and social service practice contexts. This study investigated the perceptions of students enrolled in social work courses who are pursuing degrees in human service programs toward older and younger female and male homeless individuals. Respondents (N = 207) were given one of four vignettes in which a character was identified as an older male, a younger male, an older female, or a younger female who was frequently seen near an interstate highway, talking to him/herself and appearing unkempt, thin, and frail. Most respondents perceived the vignette character as mentally ill, neglectful of health, likely to have HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis A and/or hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, likely to experience suicidal thoughts/ideation, and to have head lice/scabies/body lice. Older men were more likely to be perceived as military veterans with a history of mental illness and substance abuse. Older women were least likely to be perceived as having a history of substance abuse or using a handout to purchase ethanol. Older women were perceived to be homeless because they could not afford other living accommodations. A general linear model revealed significant differences in 7 of 41 items that respondents answered based on the gender and age of the vignette characters. These perceptual differences between male and female homeless persons will require additional investigation.

Journal Name: Journal of Social Service Research

Tags: human service providers; mental health; health; substance abuse

Contingency management among homeless, out-of-treatment men who have sex with men

2010-08-04T04:30:38

Homeless men who have sex with men are a particularly vulnerable population with high rates of substance dependence, psychiatric disorders, and HIV prevalence. Most need strong incentives to engage with community-based prevention and treatment programs. Contingency management (CM) was implemented in a community HIV prevention setting and targeted reduced substance use and increased health-promoting behaviors over a 24-week intervention period. Participants in the CM condition achieved greater reductions in stimulant and alcohol use (χ2 = 27.36, p < .01) and, in particular, methamphetamine use (χ2 = 21.78, p < .01) and greater increases in health-promoting behaviors (χ2 = 37.83, p < .01) during the intervention period than those in the control group. Reductions in substance use were maintained to 9- and 12-month follow-up evaluations. Findings indicate the utility of CM for this high-risk population and the feasibility of implementing the intervention in a community-based HIV prevention program.

Journal Name: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

Tags: substance abuse; HIV ; vulnerable populations; prevention programs; homosexual

1970s' Manitoba poverty experiment called a success

CBC News — 2010-08-04T04:29:59

A controversial government experiment in the 1970s in which some households in a Manitoba town were given a minimum level of income improved the community's overall health, a professor at the University of Manitoba says. From 1974 through 1978, about 30 per cent of the population of Dauphin was provided with a "mincome," as the guaranteed level of income came to be called. "We found that, overall, hospitalizations in Dauphin declined relative to the control group," said Evelyn Forget, professor of community health science at the University of Manitoba. "We also looked at accidents and injuries, and they also declined. You can argue that accident and injury hospitalizations are strongly related to poverty." The goal of the program, which cost $17 million, was to find out whether a guaranteed income would improve health and community life. If a household's income dropped below a certain amount, the program would top it up to an income equivalent to the welfare rates at the time.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: experiment; poverty; health & community life; Canada

Human Services in Contemporary America, Eighth Edition

Burger, William R. — 2010-08-04T04:29:12

Over the years, human services in the United States have evolved into a network of programs and agencies that provide an array of services to millions of Americans. The one feature shared by all of these services is that they are designed to meet human needs. Thus, this chapter begins with a consideration of the full range of human needs and the kinds of services that seek to meet them. Some service agencies are devoted mainly to helping people meet basic survival needs such as food and shelter, whereas some are concerned with helping clients achieve more satisfying relationships or attain other kinds of personal fulfillment. Primary social supports, such as family and friends, also play a role in meeting human needs, and that role will be examined in this first chapter.

Organization: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning

Tags: services; human needs; programmes

Homeless tide sure to rise

Falvo, Nick — 2010-08-04T03:54:18

You can step over homeless people, but you can’t ignore them. The recession is finally over, but we haven’t seen all of the after-effects, especially when we’re talking about homelessness. And if our political leaders don’t come to terms with this soon, we’ll see a steep rise in homelessness in the near future.

Journal Name: The Toronto Star

Tags: recession ; rental supplements; response plan

Why Do Homeless People Use a Mobile Health Unit in a Country With Universal Health Care?

2010-08-04T03:32:19

Mobile health units (MHUs) are an important source of health care for the uninsured; however, it is unclear what role these units play in Canada, where a universal health insurance system exists. The purpose of this study was to understand why individuals who live in a country with universal health insurance seek care at an MHU and to determine whether MHUs are used in addition to or in place of the client’s usual source of care. This study investigated the use of the Rotary Club of Toronto Health Bus among 150 homeless and marginally housed adults in Toronto, Ontario, over a 3-month period. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, current and lifetime homelessness, health care use, and reasons for using the Health Bus. The majority of participants (94.6%) had a regular health care source, primarily doctor’s offices (41.6%) and community health centers (16.1%); 18 (12.1%) stated that the Health Bus was their usual source of care. Participants were frequent users of the Health Bus, reporting a median of 7.0 visits (interquartile range, 3.5-12.0 visits) in the past 3 months. Most clients (86.0%) reported using the Health Bus to obtain basic supplies (eg, vitamins, socks); health problems were cited as reasons for using the Health Bus for 55 (36.7%) participants. The findings suggest that in a country with universal health insurance, MHUs supplement other sources of health care, providing essential supplies and offering important outreach services to a high-needs population.

Journal Name: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health

Tags: mobile units; health; marginally housed; outreach

On the right pathway: Youth centre celebrates 10 years in Richmond Hill

Traber, Chris ; Mc Lean, Adam — 2010-08-04T10:14:06

Released from prison last year, Segun Akinsanya, 22, had a dream and no one to turn to. “When I left prison, I looked for a job and no one would hire me,” the soft-spoken Richmond Hill resident said. “My dream was to create my own job, starting a grassroots program for youth.” He was referred to Pathways Home Base. Sitting on the front steps of the tidy and busy Pathways youth drop-in centre, tucked off Yonge Street in Richmond Hill, he reminisced and prepared to celebrate the drop-in centre’s 10th anniversary Tuesday. “This is my foundation of help,” Mr. Akinsanya said of the non-profit organization serving young families and youth at risk of homelessness in York Region.

Journal Name: YorkRegion.com

Tags: Pathways Home Base; youth; drop-in centre

Taylor grant helps York Habitat

Latchford, Teresa — 2010-08-04T10:13:45

Habitat for Humanity York Region is the first organization to receive a donation from the Kate and Tom Taylor fund. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor joined Habitat for Humanity executive director Nancy Van Kessel and York Region Community Fund executive director Gina Rosen at Habitat’s Eagle Street headquarters to present the grant of about $1,000. The endowment fund was started with the York Region Community Fund as a lasting tribute in honor of Mr. Taylor's 44 years of contributing to the community, including nine served as Newmarket’s mayor. "The idea of our fund is to assist people who are in need," Mr. Taylor said. "It feels good to give the first grant to an organization whose work I so strongly agree with." He is also president of Habitat for Humanity’s York branch, holding the motto "providing a hand up not a hand out" near and dear to his heart. The grant will be used to support Habitat's efforts to provide affordable, sustainable housing for local families who would otherwise not be able to afford to purchase a house, Ms Van Kessel said.

Journal Name: YorkRegion.com

Tags: sustainable housing; Habitat for Humanity; grant

Poverty plays role in cancer death rates: study

CBC News — 2010-08-04T10:13:15

Cancer patients from poorer communities in Ontario have a greater chance of dying prematurely than those from wealthier backgrounds, but the stage of cancer at time of diagnosis made little difference, researchers have found. Researchers looked at household incomes from the 2001 Canadian census and used the Ontario Cancer Registry to identify patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2007 with breast, colon, rectal, non-small-cell lung, cervical and laryngeal cancer. The patients were divided into household income brackets of $24,000, $31,000, $36,000, $45,000 and $55,000.

Journal Name: CBC News Online

Tags: cancer; study; household income; research