By: Jasmine Salazar
The overrepresentation of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton reinforces the need for Indigenous-specific programs to address their social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs.
Over 5% of Edmonton’s total population identify as Indigenous (Stats Canada, 2016 Edmonton Census), yet they account for ~60% of the city’s population experiencing homelessness as of June 8, 2020. More than 370 people experiencing homelessness that identify as Indigenous are under the age of 24.
Adequately meeting the needs of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness requires a flexible, responsive and inclusive service delivery that is best provided by Indigenous organizations and people to support healing and resiliency and overcome obstacles associated with colonialism and historical trauma. Solutions to address homelessness among the Indigenous population is most effective when it considers the barriers that prevent someone from accessing a permanent home and are solved through non-western approaches such as cultural traditions, ceremonies, language and community.
In Edmonton, Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) and Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society have been operating Indigenous Housing First programs for adults experiencing homelessness by providing supports through an Indigenous lens. Recently, these organizations have expanded their services to support Indigenous youth facing homelessness. Both agencies have launched Housing First teams designed to support Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 whom are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
“We’re asked to shelter-in-place [during COVID-19], but our youth can’t do that if they don’t have a home,” says Melissa Meneen, Youth Housing First Manager at NCSA. “Our new program fills those gaps. It’s an opportunity to create some good movement for our Indigenous youth to interrupt that cycle of intergenerational trauma and help them see a different perspective with regards to a life beyond what they knew before.”
These new teams embrace the Housing First model—that is, moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing as quickly as possible with no preconditions and then connecting them with the supports that they need to avoid a return to homelessness—a standard across all Housing First programs. The notable difference of a Youth Housing First program is the focus on early intervention and prevention. Early intervention is connecting with youth before they become chronically homeless and prevention is providing youth who are currently housed, but experiencing housing instability, the support needed to maintain independent housing. However, Youth Housing First programs are not limited to just these requirements and are equipped to support those who are experiencing chronic homelessness as well.
The Bent Arrow and NCSA Indigenous Youth Housing First programs complement the existing Youth Housing First programs in the city, which are currently offered by Edmonton John Howard Society and E4C. This partnership will better connect Indigenous youth by providing housing supports through an Indigenous lens.
“When you work with Indigenous adults and youth—and being Indigenous myself—and you move to an urban setting, you often can feel disconnected from community and that community is a reflection of the culture,” explains Lovette Ferguson, Senior Manager at Bent Arrow. “Being able to connect youth at an earlier age to their culture and heritage is especially important. Being able to connect to your roots makes you feel like you know who you are as a person and that you fit somewhere.”
These supports have been identified as critical components in healing, and in turn, help Indigenous youth maintain their housing. These supports are guided by Indigenous staff members who can engage interconnected worldviews and help them reclaim a positive Indigenous identity to initiate that healing process. It was recognized by communities that change must be rooted within an Indigenous set of values, understandings, and subsequent actions when it comes to addressing Indigenous experiences of homelessness, especially for youth.“It’s not a straight line, because every person that we are working with has a uniqueness to them,” says Melissa. “We need to see that uniqueness and support them on whatever journey they want to go on.”
Lovette agrees.
“We’ve had people come our way who have tried the mainstream services in battling their addictions and it didn’t work for them,” she adds. “But they went down the spiritual journey of addressing their addictions and that’s what worked.”
