This post is based on answers from Tim Richter from the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) in a TweetChat on the State of Homelessness in Canada: 2013 report. But let’s unpack Tim’s answers a little more.
- Set the objective of ending homelessness. This seems simple on the surface. But yet, many agencies and governments look at “how to make homelessness manageable” or “how to reduce homelessness”. We believe that homelessness can be ended as a chronic, systemic issue in Canada. A big piece of that is changing how we view response. Right now we often focus on the emergency response rather than looking at the prevention and housing issues that needed to be included.
- Develop a community plan to end homelessness. The CAEH’s report “A Plan Not a Dream” does a great job of explaining both the importance and key principles of creating community plans. Usually based on a 5 or 10 year strategy, these plans are designed to create measurable outcomes and goals that communities can work towards to eliminate homelessness in their community. For an example of plans see The Saskatoon Plan to End Homelessness June 2013 and the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in the City of Kingston and County Frontenac. To look at how progress can be measured check out A Plan For Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years – 3 Year Progress Report.
- Housing First. We’re pretty proud of our new book – Housing First in Canada: Supporting Communities to End Homelessness. In fact, we want you to have it for free!! It’s available at the Hub to download in either PDF or E-Pub versions. You’re also able to purchase it from the York University bookstore if you prefer a paper copy. There is also a great deal of research available from the At Home/Chez Soi project of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The early findings are available and researchers are gradually publishing more in-depth reports. There is also a great web-doc blog on the project from the National Film Board of Canada. For more on Housing First, see our Topic section which has links to a variety of resources on the Hub.
- Build public and political support. We’ve talked before in this blog about the need to join together to create a national voice for housing and ending the homelessness crisis. Get involved and take action whether it be at an individual, community or national level.
- Be relentless. Never give up. I’ve been working in the homelessness sector since the mid-1990s. A lot has changed in that time, both for better and worse. With a concerted effort from a large number of Canadians who stand together to raise their voices repeatedly we firmly believe that homelessness can be ended.
AUTHOR: Gulliver, Tanya (2014) Homeless Hub.