By: Brandon Kelm

This process is also about setting participants up with the necessities involved in making that space a HOME

If you require help, please contact our Coordinated Access Team, details HERE.

Part Three: Move-In Day

At this point in the journey out of homelessness a considerable amount of progress has already been made; however, being housed in the Housing Support program isn’t just about securing documentation, income, and an apartment. This process is also about setting participants up with the necessities involved in making that space a HOME. 

For someone to go from living in a tent outdoors, a shelter, or even a friend’s couch, to living in their own home with their own bed and furnishings is a world of difference, and it should feel like going HOME. That is the goal. It is about finding a suitable place – four walls and a roof – but it is also about making sure that when the individual moves in they feel like they are in a safe place, that they belong.

Move-in day is a busy day, one that usually begins with a phone call from Find to confirm what time their very own new-to-them furniture will be delivered. Internet/cable/phone service they can access any time will also be hooked up that day. Entertainment and connectivity on demand, the ability to communicate and engage with the world, and from the comfort of a space that is theirs, is something many of us take for granted. 

Imagine how exciting – and simultaneously overwhelming – all of this would be. This is where the Housing Outreach Worker (HOW) continues to be a crucial source of support. The HOW will take them out on their first shop for groceries and necessities, and they will help familiarize them with their new neighbourhood.

In Part One of this series, choice and autonomy were explored as crucial components in ensuring someone remains successfully housed. Activities like going on a furniture pick at Find or a first grocery shop are very important because the participant has the CHOICE in what they furnish their home with, and a choice in what they stock their fridge and pantry with. They are now able to choose what their meals will look like, what their snacks will be. This may seem trivial, but experiencing homelessness means meals and snacks are limited to whatever is being offered by the community resources these individuals were previously accessing. 

The final additions to their new home are those household items that are used every day but might not be a consideration for someone that was previously focused on simply surviving. Things like shower curtains, cutlery, dish cloths, laundry detergent, a clock, toilet paper, a toothbrush, soap, etc. These are all provided to ensure that when they move into their new place, they are comfortable and set up for long term success. 

As Edmontonians, we care about our neighbours, our communities and our City as a whole. When we house our City’s most vulnerable citizens, we all benefit. No single agency, program or tactic can end homelessness. It takes commitment, leadership, action and trust. Homelessness is something we can and will end, together.

Read:
Journey Out of Homelessness Part One

Journey Out of Homelessness Part Two

By: Brandon Kelm

The most humane and cost effective solution for homelessness is to help people get their own home.

If you require help, please contact our Coordinated Access Team, details HERE.

Part Two: Finding Someone a Home

Think back to the last time you were looking to rent an apartment or house. What were the steps you took and what resources did you need?

Consider all of the information you were asked to provide on an application form:

• Government-issued ID
• Current address
• Phone number
• Proof of income
• Credit check
• References from current and past landlords
• Damage deposit and first month’s rent

Now imagine looking at a rental application form if you are experiencing homelessness. There are many things people generally take for granted in the housing process that are major barriers for someone in that situation.

Thanks to the efforts of the Housing Support participant and Housing Outreach Worker (HOW) up to this point, most of these items will have been procured or addressed.

The next steps involve:

• making appointments to meet with prospective landlords to view available suites 
• submitting applications
• signing a lease
• a move-in inspection
• setting up tenants’ insurance
• setting up utility accounts and booking hook-ups
• sourcing furniture from Find and perhaps finding a way to move whatever belongings they may already have

These steps are time consuming. They are also exceedingly difficult to take for someone sleeping outdoors, or fleeing an abusive partner with their children, or recovering in a hospital and unable to leave. A HOW is a source of support, encouragement and guidance at times when they are most needed.

Read Part One: Outreach

Read Part Three: Move-In Day

By: Brandon Kelm

Access to housing — ensuring everyone has the safety, security and autonomy of a home of their own — is about equity in opportunity, choice and rights.

If you require help, please contact our Coordinated Access Team, details HERE.

What does it mean to help someone experiencing homelessness find a home? How do they begin that journey? How long does it take? What is a Housing Outreach Worker (HOW) and how do they help facilitate this journey out of homelessness?

This three-part series will take a closer look at the process of empowering an individual to transition out of homelessness and into a home: 

1. What happens after someone has reached out for help? 
2. What is involved in finding them a home? 
3. What does a move-in day look like for someone leaving homelessness behind?

Access to housing – ensuring everyone has the safety, security and autonomy of a home of their own – is about equity in opportunity, choice and rights. For someone experiencing homelessness, the process of finding a home often means implementing significant changes in order to move forward on that path to safety, security and autonomy. 

Sometimes, with strategic intervention and support, the risk or experience of homelessness can be mitigated or brief. However, being without a home can also become a chronic or complicated situation and the journey out of homelessness then involves overcoming numerous barriers.

A HOW works as a guide and source of support to help someone experiencing homelessness navigate through the Housing Support process. They also act as a coach and cheerleader, reminding those they work with of their inherent value and capacity for change, while empowering them to move forward and to keep taking that next step. 

Part One: Outreach – connecting with those experiencing homelessness

Imagine … 

… waking up in a tent in the river valley in January

… being ushered out of a shelter with all of your belongings at the crack of dawn

… recovering in a hospital with nowhere to go once you are discharged

… trying to escape an abusive relationship with your children

A person’s priorities in situations like that tend to be narrowly and understandably focused on survival – How will they stay warm? Where will they find food? Where will they sleep tonight? 

When someone doesn’t have a home, how do they initiate and navigate the process of finding one? 

After the first initial step of reaching out to Coordinated Access for help, the process of finding housing can seem like an insurmountable series of hurdles for someone experiencing homelessness. Securing a home usually requires having a current address, income, ID, contact number, reference, etc. Consider how overwhelming that process must feel to someone who isn’t in possession of or doesn’t have access to any of those things. Where does someone in that situation even begin to make such a drastic change, and how can they sustain that change once they’ve made it?

This is where a Housing Outreach Worker (HOW) comes in. Successfully housing someone experiencing chronic homelessness, or someone in a complex situation, begins with outreach. It can be a time-consuming task, one that is an active partnership between that individual and a HOW. 

For a HOW this means going out to locate and meet with a Housing Support participant where they are, wherever that may be. It means going to their camp in the river valley at 6:30 a.m. in -30 degree weather and driving them to various appointments. It means finding them in one of several day access centres when they haven’t been able to charge their phone or access wifi to check their messages or email. It means bringing the process to them, removing the barriers that could impede or derail their progress. A HOW’s work and workspace have to be mobile and adaptive – a backpack and a laptop, their vehicle, an empty table at a day access space, etc.

A HOW (with the collaboration of community outreach teams) will make multiple trips to wherever the participant is located and assist them in getting to multiple appointments to:

• secure monthly income
• apply for government issued ID
• go to apartment viewings and complete rental applications
• set up utility accounts and schedule hook-ups (power, internet, etc.)
• pick out some basic furniture for their new home at Find

For someone experiencing homelessness this means placing a significant amount of trust in their HOW and the Housing Support process. They are making a choice to shift their focus from simply surviving to putting in the considerable effort it takes to make massive changes. They are choosing to have faith that all of the extra effort and the time they put into this process will ultimately be worth it.

Read Part Two: Finding Someone a Home

Read Part Three: Move-In Day

Throughout our engagements, many people wanted to know more about the experiences of people who have lived in supportive housing. We have collected some stories from a group of people living in four different permanent supportive housing developments. Names have been changed to protect people’s privacy, but no other details have been changed.

Harris

Harris grew up in New Brunswick, but moved to Alberta to work in a machine shop around 30 years ago. In 2001, he lost his job, and with few connections and resources, he found himself homeless shortly thereafter. He spent almost 7 years living in encampments in the river valley and struggling with addiction.

In 2014, Homeward Trust’s Pathways to Housing program staff met Harris and helped him access a place in supportive housing. He has experienced significant health challenges in recent years and has lost much of his mobility, but the supports and access to medical care available in supportive housing keep him comfortable. 

It took awhile for Harris to adjust to living in housing. After so many years sleeping outside and being constantly on alert, he struggled to feel secure in his apartment, and for the first year he always kept his things in a backpack by the door, afraid he’d be forced to leave. But in the five years he’s lived in supportive housing, he’s become adjusted, and likes the security of knowing he’ll have a safe place to sleep at night. 

Harris describes himself as a private person, but he enjoys the camaraderie of supportive housing, and having a place where he can put his things and enjoy some privacy. Because of his disability, he doesn’t go out much, but he likes to drink coffee from his favourite mug and watch black and white movies with other residents during the day, particularly Westerns. He’s also developed an interest in gardening and is looking after many plants in his apartment.

In terms of services, Harris gets help with accessing disability-friendly transportation when he needs to travel, grocery shopping, managing his AISH cheques, and taking his medication. He is still in recovery from drug use, but he is able to access weekly group therapy sessions to talk about addictions and recovery, and he makes use of the treatment programs that are available through the housing and medical staff.

When asked what he wishes people outside of supportive housing knew about this type of facility, Harris said he would want people to understand that residents are just trying to get help, and that the dignity and safety they get from being housed is really important. For the future, he plans to continue living in supportive housing and getting treatment for his health issues and addiction. 

Darren

Darren is 24 years old. He lives with Fetal-Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), but he didn’t get an FASD diagnosis until he was an adult. In the past, he had a hard time maintaining independent housing or living with family. He became connected with supportive housing through his social worker. While he has never been homeless, his worker felt he would benefit from the structure, support and community of supportive housing. His rent in supportive housing is paid through his AISH payments. 

Darren has been living in supportive housing for three years. For most of that time, he’s lived with his roommate Eric, who has become a good friend, and together they have a cat. On a regular day, Darren likes to visit the gym and the nearby library, and volunteers with a local community youth organization, where he is working with the staff to develop an anti-bullying program. He has previously worked part-time in retail positions when seasonal work was available; now he is working on building his resume with the help of the supportive housing staff. 

Darren said that moving into supportive housing has been “liberating” for him. He has people to help him manage his emotions and day to day tasks when he needs support. He has found a small community of people who understand his experience with FASD. Darren said that in his life, he’s found that “there are times in life when yourself isn’t enough, and sometimes it’s as simple as having someone there to help.” That help has allowed him to maintain housing and develop independence.

For the future, Darren is hoping to get his anti-bullying program off the ground. He would like to enroll in school to finish his GED through Norquest and eventually hopes to become a social worker so he can give back the support he has received. While he doesn’t see himself moving out of supportive housing soon, he is hopeful that eventually he will feel secure and prepared enough to manage living on his own when he is ready. 

Leslie

Leslie left home in northern Saskatchewan when he was 13 years old — more than 50 years ago now. He had 50 cents in his pocket when he left, but he also took with him a knowledge of Cree and a strong respect for Indigenous ceremony. He struggled with addiction over the next several decades, travelling across Canada and falling in and out of sobriety.

Around four years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment in Red Deer. He lost the ability to walk, and was not expected to live, but he worked every day to walk again and reconnect with Indigenous ceremony. In the midst of his cancer recovery, he was invited by an Indigenous elder to come live in a supportive housing facility in Edmonton that is centered around Indigenous culture and traditions. 

For Leslie, the biggest impact of supportive housing has been that it has given him hope. He told us that “a little bit of hope can break a cycle”, and that the feeling of safety and stability he’s found in housing has been critical to his health recovery. The staff and residents participate in ceremony together, and that process has helped Leslie to gain a stronger sense of hope and self-worth, to ground himself in the community, and to take on a leadership role within the housing facility. Today, he has regained his mobility and is cancer-free. 

As he ages, and after experiencing significant health challenges, one of the things that Leslie thinks about in his supportive housing is death with dignity. In supportive housing, he’s seen other residents pass away, from old age or from illness, but they’ve been surrounded by staff and friends who help them pass comfortably and with dignity, and in some cases have helped them to reconnect with family before passing. Leslie said that this kind of dignity and respect isn’t available for people who pass away while living on the streets. 

Today, Leslie is an active part of his community. He goes to garage sales and community events, and sells his painting, rattles and drums at craft sales in the area. He wants to continue staying in supportive housing and building the connections he has made with staff, other residents, and with his family. 

Steven

Years ago, Steven was working in Halifax for the federal government. He had a family and a job, but he was also living with undiagnosed and untreated schizophrenia and depression. When he started to struggle, he lost his job, and things progressively fell apart. For years afterwards, Steven was homeless and worked as a general labourer on construction sites across Canada, including in Edmonton.

Steven said it was particularly difficult to be homeless in Edmonton. He got into trouble with police for loitering in transit shelters to stay warm, and once got gangrene from untreated frostbite. Throughout all of this, Steven’s schizophrenia went undiagnosed, making it difficult for him to access the services he would need to get on his feet.

Eventually, the police who picked Steven up for loitering asked for a psychiatric evaluation, at which point he received a diagnosis and was placed in a medical facility, where he received treatment for a year and a half.

Steven was then referred to a supportive housing facility focused on individuals living with schizophrenia. Steven described supportive housing as “a stable, predictable environment,” which has been important for his mental wellbeing over the past four years. The community provides him with a good balance between socialization and privacy — he can go to his apartment when he feels overwhelmed or spend time with other residents in the common areas when he wants the company.

Steven likes the concerts and events that the staff sometimes host in the building for residents and the surrounding community, but other than that he doesn’t like to go out very much. He told us he doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. Sometimes he likes to go for walks or even occasionally make interesting purchases at Value Village.

For the future, Steven is hoping to stay in supportive housing. The help he receives in supportive housing, like medication management, assistance in managing his finances, and social support is important to him, and to maintaining a good quality of life.

When asked what hWhen asked what he would like people outside of supportive housing to know about his experience, Steven said that while he knows his life story and day-to-day life might not be the same as a typical person, he feels safe and comfortable after many years of struggle, and is happy where he is.

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By: Jasmine Salazar

PSH Profile: Iris Court

Community members living with a severe mental illness like schizophrenia are at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness. Some behaviours and symptoms can threaten a person’s ability to live independently or maintain housing if they are not able to access support to manage them. For these individuals, permanent supportive housing provides what they need to have a safe and supported place to call home.

“You don’t do well if you don’t have your basic needs met—period. It starts with having a home and a roof over your head,” explains Rubyann Rice, Provincial Executive Director at Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. “With schizophrenia, having a safe and secure place is absolutely critical.”

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA), in partnership with Homeward Trust, operates Iris Court, a permanent supportive housing facility in southeast Edmonton. Iris Court provides services within a congregate housing environment for people living with schizophrenia and other severe mental illness with a history or risk of housing instability.

Recovery is at the core of permanent supportive housing. On-site service offerings contribute to an individual’s overall health and well-being, with support staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other services offered on-site include three meals a day and snacks, fully furnished rooms, laundry facilities, medication monitoring and assistance with daily living, and opportunities to participate in a variety of support services, recreational activities, and community service referrals. 

Residents rely on the housing and supports provided by the SSA, but getting involved in and being a part of the broader community is vital for recovery from severe mental illness. In fact, neighbourhood integration is a key contributor to the success of any permanent supportive housing program. Homeward Trust, through its funding and oversight role for permanent supportive housing in Edmonton, requires operators to meet “good neighbour” expectations, which are set out in the development stage and include processes to engage the community to collectively address concerns. 

Iris Court prides itself on the positive interactions it has had with its neighbours, thanks to transparency and deliberate community consultations. 

When Bonnie Doon was selected as the location for the permanent supportive housing project, Rice had numerous conversations with residents, as well as a three-hour community meeting, which was open to the public, to answer any questions or concerns. 

“We informed them of our intentions, and we were completely transparent with them—transparency is huge,” she says. “We had a psychiatrist and a person living with the illness at the meeting to answer any questions. By the end of the meeting, the mood changed. We turned a corner.” 

At that meeting, Iris Court collaborated with community residents to develop a Good Neighbour Agreement which Iris Court adheres to today. 

“It’s still live—it can be adapted anytime based on issues that come up in the community,” she says. 

As part of that agreement, Iris Court offers an open-door policy for any concerns or complaints. 

Iris Court residents are active participants in their community and often engage in local community events, utilize services and businesses in the area, and help their neighbours. The community also actively engages with the residents and invites them to be a part of important community decisions. Recently, representatives from Iris Court were invited to participate in a consultation for a renewable energy project, adds Trueman Macdonald, Director of Housing at Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. 

“[Our residents] want to be a part of the community,” he reflects. “They are protective of their home, their community.”

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By: Jasmine Salazar

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a host of significant health, social, and economic challenges. Factors such as high rates of chronic health conditions, congregate sheltering and housing instability increases the risk of infection among people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, which are further compounded by the disruption of services due to a changing social and health service landscape. 

To ensure our community members experiencing homelessness had access to critical services and supports during the pandemic, Edmonton’s homeless-serving sector organized a response plan that coordinated community, health system and government efforts. Priority concerns were access to healthcare, safe spaces and continued supports, especially with many organizations forced to shut down their brick-and-mortar sites. The result was opening the Edmonton EXPO Centre as a centralized hub for critical services and supports via a daytime drop-in program as well as a 24/7 isolation shelter for those showing COVID-like symptoms. 

Part of the response involved mobilizing a medical station at the EXPO Centre—an effort that involved several health organizations, including HomeCare, Indigenous Wellness Clinic, Streetworks, Mint Health + Drugs, Primary Care Network and Mobile Integrated Healthcare Paramedics providing a range of health services under one roof. Services available included: wound care, foot care, STI testing, pregnancy testing, case management, medication inquiries and support, connecting to community health resources and other general health concerns

For our community members, this centralization of services meant that their immediate needs could be met more efficiently in a barrier-free environment. Since opening on April 28, 2020, the medical station has helped more than 1400 people. 

What are the benefits of working alongside each other this way, and how is this different than business as usual?

Stephen, Alberta Health Services Homecare: Normally our programs work separately in the community—our teams usually work in their own silos. By being together under one roof we have been able to streamline processes and support each other in areas where we may not be as strong. Being together in one station has shown that our programs are much more complimentary to each other. 

Andrew, Mint Health + Drugs: Ability to think creatively to collaborate between different healthcare providers. It has been a unique situation to allow us to work together in a more holistic approach than usual.

Kelsey, Indigenous Wellness Clinic: We all have a different skillset that allows us to help the population to the fullest potential. We can collaborate effectively and work as a team to ensure the client receives the best care possible. 

Elaine, Community Paramedic: The inter-professional collaboration has been valuable since each practitioner brings a specialty to assist patients. Our multi-faceted team has been able to deliver quality patient-centred care during these times when accessing and navigating primary healthcare is extra difficult. We have learned a lot from each other, and how best our resources can be used in the future to collaborate.

Denise, Streetworks: We all have different scopes of practice so between all of us we can fill in any gaps in service that would exist if we were working here solo. 

Lanie, Primary Care Network: We can utilize each others’ resources to come up with a concise plan of care that will be the most effective in providing care to the patients. 

How has this collaboration helped maintain access to health care for community members experiencing homelessness in the context of pandemic?

Stephen: The pandemic has displaced many community members from where they normally access supports. Additionally, many of these sites had shut down or reduced hours. Coming together in the way we have has allowed us to provide short-term relief and support to help manage people’s medical concerns while they are away from their normal supports. We have been able to help a large volume of people maintain a positive health status in the community during the pandemic.

Andrew: The EXPO allows people to access all resources (social and medical) and allows for a patient-centered approach with services. Working together under one roof has been extremely positive and demonstrated what an interdisciplinary practice in the inner city could look like.

Denise: Through the partnerships formed here, continuity of care has increased because we can easily collaborate on care plans and performing front line medical care for people experiencing homelessness and facing multiple barriers to accessing health care. 

Elaine: Our specialties cater to most of our patients needs. We have been able to support patients with barriers to healthcare, especially during these times of pandemic.

Lanie: The collaboration has ensured that patients do not fall through the cracks or get forgotten about. But most importantly, it lets the community members know that through thick and thin they are not forgotten about and that their needs will be met during a pandemic. We are here to support them. 

Can you share a story of someone who was helped by receiving services from the medical station? 

Andrew: A patient came in with a lower limb infection with multiple skin lesions, redness, and swelling. The community paramedics conducted a culture swab and collaborated with an on-call MD. The RN and LPNs handled the wound care by cleansing the affected area then applying a dressing. Lastly, the pharmacy staff was able to assess the appropriateness of the prescription and initiate medication therapy. All of this occurred within a timely manner, without the need for the patient to travel to different health care settings and potentially delaying treatment. This perfectly depicts the benefits of inter-professional collaboration and most importantly, sets the gold standard for patient-centred care.

Kelsey: I saw a patient two months ago who was experiencing withdrawal from fentanyl use. I had helped him get an appointment to start OAT. I recently saw him again and he informed me that hadn’t used fentanyl for two months. 

What do you hope emerges from this collaboration?

Stephen: I hope this will facilitate an openness to future projects and collaborations with our community partners. This experience has shown its effectiveness. I hope we can carry that over to our community roles when we are no longer all under one roof.

Denise: We have built interprofessional relationships that allow us to collaborate across sectors more easily in the future after Expo. Ultimately better continuity of care will hopefully be possible within Edmonton’s inner city.

Andrew: We are grateful to have been part of such a unique and collaborative program, which demonstrated the synergy of interdisciplinary teamwork. I hope this partnership will serve as a catalyst for continued collaboration, and transitions into a site where participants are able to continue accessing housing, social and medical services.

Kelsey: I hope the partnerships will evolve, and that continuous communication and collaboration can continue. Now that we all know how we can integrate care for our clients, we can move forward to ensure that the inner city population has better access to care, is connected to the appropriate resources, and that overall we can prevent people from falling through the cracks. 

Lanie: I hope that more information on how to help and support those who suffer with mental health and drug addictions will be more readily available. With community members, first impressions are lasting impressions and it’s important to make that good first impression so they can continue to feel safe and comfortable to seek help when needed.

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By: Jasmine Salazar

Located north of downtown Edmonton, Westwood Manor is a 20-unit Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program operated by Mustard Seed. Many residents have experienced chronic homelessness with barriers that continue to jeopardize their physical and mental health and their ability to retain market housing. 

Permanent Supportive Housing, by definition, provides stable housing paired with wraparound support and care for people with multiple complex needs, including mental health, addictions, trauma and disabilities or physical ailments. At Westwood Manor, residents have access to 24/7 on-site staff and clinical supports to help them on their journey.

But it’s not just on-site supports that are key to the success of the program and its participants. Staff at Westwood Manor have made it a priority for residents to have a positive relationship with each other and their neighbours. Building community has proven to be vital component of recovery and key to the success of any Permanent Supportive Housing program.

Katie Bosse, Westwood Manor’s Housing and Property Manager, recalls a resident who was in and out of homelessness for a long period of time. She had young children that could not live with her due to the precarious housing situation, which also prevented her from seeing them. Moving into Westwood Manor provided her a stable home to reconnect with her children. During her 18-months at Westwood Manor, she was provided with the supports to address her addictions and mental health and improve her overall well-being that enabled her to graduate from the housing support program and move into market housing on her own.

“We really try to purposefully and intentionally create opportunities for community to form between our residents, our staff and the neighbourhood,” says Landon Hildebrand, Director of Housing and Clinical Operations at the Mustard Seed. “We see community as a cure de facto when it comes to working through addictions for the whole spectrum, and as a way to dissociate from previous social lifestyles and connections to addiction.” 

Residents participate in several activities together that establishes positive relationships including Sunday brunch, gardening, volunteering and attending community league events. 

The residents and staff at Westwood Manor are committed to demonstrating to their neighbours that they are a positive presence. This has been achieved through transparency and ongoing conversations with neighbours to build rapport. 

“We’re known in the community as a building that helps. We’ve had community members come knock on our door when they needed help, because they know we are a safe space and a helping place,” says Katie.

For instance, one resident shovels his neighbour’s driveways in winter. He’s been doing it since 2016 and the response has been very positive.

“He’s got some regulars,” Katie adds. “As soon as the snow falls, they call him up. Our neighbours are appreciative for his help.”

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is the cornerstone of Edmonton’s Updated Plan to End Homelessness.  The Plan calls for the construction of 900 units by 2024 to successfully address homelessness in our city. The City of Edmonton recently approved four new sites around the City for Permanent Supportive Housing which will house up to 150 people by the end of 2022. The location of PSH sites are based on proximity to public transit, amenities and community support based on public consultation and information sharing. There are currently 226 units of Permanent Supportive Housing throughout Edmonton. For more information about permanent supportive housing, click HERE.

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By: Brandon Kelm

The approach to ending homelessness in Edmonton, of actually moving people into appropriate forms of housing, has been as successful as it has been because of cross-sector collaboration in creating data-informed strategies. Working together with frontline agencies and all levels of government has been the key to housing nearly 11,000 people here since 2009, and has been a key factor in the effectiveness of Edmonton’s response to protect people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duncan Scott, Research and Evaluation Analyst at Homeward Trust, recently presented on this topic – Analytics in the Social Sector – during a Lunchalytics webinar. Lunchalytics is a monthly speaker series showcasing interesting and innovative work in the field of analytics (also presenting were Maria Savidov, Business Analyst, and Jakob Koziel, Research Analyst, both from Bissell Centre). Duncan is part of a hard-working and talented team of data analysts at Homeward Trust.

“The spirit of collaboration has been there for some time and is one of the reasons we have been able to house as many people as we have. COVID-19 has added extra layers of urgency, a need for more refined information and data that could be shared as efficiently as possible,” reflects Duncan. 

The prospect of effectively eliminating homelessness in the very near future might seem a bit daunting, but the incorporation of real-time data into the plan to end homeless in Edmonton has helped shine a more discerning light on the problem, and has also actively informed a more strategic path towards solving it for good. 

Duncan, who has been with Homeward Trust for two and a half years now, has seen a significant evolution in the way data is collected and utilized in the local homeless-serving sector: increased access to up-to-date information for Housing Outreach Workers; interactive, public-facing online dashboards; and data being made available to interact with frontline operations in a more consistent way. The proof of the effectiveness of this approach is in the results–between March 1^st and July 12^th, even in the midst of a pandemic, 573 formerly homeless individuals have been successfully housed in Edmonton.

“We are able to use data to improve housing programs, to better identify individuals who may require a higher level of support to stay safely housed, and to minimize the cracks that people may have been slipping through before. We still have some work to do, and we also see more potential if we can continue to increase the sophistication of our data systems and improve efficiency in data collection, but the overall approach has been successful and there is more and more collaboration in the sector.”

Data System

COVID-19 has shown that housing really is the best front-line of defense against a major public health crisis, but individuals experiencing homelessness simply don’t have the ability to shelter in place. The emergency supports and services that had been offered at the Edmonton Expo Centre were a crucial part of the response effort. 

“We have noticed that a proportion of individuals who have met with housing workers at the EXPO Centre are new to Edmonton’s list of people requiring housing assistance,” Duncan mused, “The exact reasons for this inflow into homelessness are unclear at this time, and right now, we do have some slack in the system. But if spacing requirements [for physical distancing] are increased, the data shows the possibility that occupancy could outstrip existing emergency shelter capacity.”

Having the use of a large, adaptable and centralized space like the Edmonton Expo Centre was an important component in being able to effectively support this vulnerable population during this time, while also adhering to the physical distancing guidelines laid out by the Province of Alberta. 

“By continuing to collaborate within the sector, with all levels of government, with health and justice systems, among others, we can continue to take big strides towards ending homelessness in Edmonton during this public health crisis,” Duncan adds, “Data can point to what the potential barriers are, but it has also demonstrated just how solvable homelessness is. We will eventually move beyond COVID-19, and we can be ending homelessness while we do that, the recovery from this can be for everyone.”

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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 who 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.” 

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Services are being provided at the Edmonton EXPO Centre for Edmontonians experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, including pet friendly space and pet supplies. For more information on the supports and services available visit our COVID-19 Resources page.

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Pets can be an incredible source of emotional support, and this is certainly true for our community members that are without a place to call home. When COVID-19 impacted our community so profoundly, the good people at VCA Canada Riverbend Veterinary Hospital recognized that some very specific support was needed, and they stepped up to provide what help they could. 

“Homeward Trust does an exceptional job of caring for Edmontonians and we are always proud to support them. After the cancellation of Homeless Connect, we anticipated that our community partners may need supplies for their pet parents and we wanted to help.”

For those experiencing homelessness there is no shortage of stress and worry, and if they also have pets to care for that stress is further compounded. A big part of what the semi-annual Homeless Connect events provide is some relief of that stress while people begin to engage with needed supports, services and ultimately begin the process to move out of homelessness. VCA Canada Riverbend Veterinary Hospital regularly donates pet supplies to these events, but because of the restrictions necessitated by COVID-19 the spring event had to be cancelled. When they were made aware of the services and shelter being provided at the Edmonton Expo Centre, they reached out to Nestlé Purina PetCare who then provided an entire pallet of pet food and supplies.

“As a proud member of the Edmonton area community, we are happy to help support its citizens and their pets during this challenging time. As pet people, we know that pets and people are better together, and that’s never been truer than during times of crisis,” says Fiona Provan of Nestlé Purina PetCare.

On behalf of everyone delivering and receiving support at the Edmonton Expo Centre during this public health crisis, we want to extend our sincerest thank-you to both of these community-minded organizations for their generosity and thoughtfulness. 

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