Sylvie Guibert and Catherine Mass é Human Resources Development Canada

1. Canadian Evaluation Society Vancouver - June 2003National Homelessness Initiative: Evaluation Findings and Policy Renewal • Sylvie Guibert and Catherine Massé • Human Resources Development Canada

2. Presentation Overview • The National Homelessness Initiative • The NHI Evaluation: Methodology and Findings • Impact of Findings and Policy Renewal

3. The National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) • With the NHI’s launch in December 1999, the Government recognized that a concerted federal response was needed to address this growing, visible social problem • A unique community-focused approach was adopted to facilitate community action and ownership • Addressing locally identified needs

4. Homelessness Initiative - $753 M Key Federal Players Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative $10 M Other (Planning, Research, etc.) $9 M Shelter Enhancement Program $43 M Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) $59 M Youth Homelessness Component $59 M Supporting CommunitiesPartnership Initiative (SCPI) $305 M ResidentialRehabilitationAssistanceProgram $268 M

5. FederalDepartments & Agencies Non - Profit Groups PrivateSector Provinces & Territories Municipalities Working Together at the Local Level Communities

6. Evaluation Approach • Timelines • Evaluation conducted between Fall 2001 and Fall 2002 • Scope • HRDC components (SCPI, Youth, Aboriginal Homelessness, Research) + overall NHI coordination • Implementation issues • Early outcomes • Main method • Case study approach (20 out of 61 SCPI communities) • Case selection • Communities reflect variation among all SCPI communities

7. Evaluation Approach (cont’d) • Sources of evidence for case studies • Review of documents (community and project-level) • Review of project-level data • Key informant interviews

8. Findings • Results on implementation • HRDC components were coordinated, but more inter-departmental coordination is required • SCPI provided an appropriate balance between flexibility and accountability • Community planning is a valuable exercise • Limited initial terms and conditions resulted in delays in allocating funds to Aboriginal and Youth projects • Research results are still pending

9. Findings (cont’d) • Results on early outcomes • SCPI enhanced existing capacity in most communities • HRDC funding built upon existing funding • Funds were allocated to a wide variety of projects but work remains to address transitional needs • Success factors • Community control over funding allocation • Flexible terms and conditions • Requirement for community planning • HRDC regional and local staff

10. Impact of Findings • The use of evaluation results • Benchmark government and community progress • Report back to stakeholders on local progress • Identify “lessons learned” on community-based program delivery • Inform policy and program renewal

11. Renewed Program Policy • The findings of the evaluation were critical in • Guiding the development of renewed program policy • Determining roles and responsibilities of other federal departments in the NHI • Contributing to the recently announced federal Budget allocation of $405 million for a three-year extension of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI)

12. Extended NHI The extended NHI, responding to evaluation findings, includes • A stronger focus on transitional and supportive interventions, as well as prevention • A requirement for demonstrated Youth and Aboriginal representation in community planning and decision-making • The provision of strategic direction, clear guidelines and a streamlined template to help communities to update their community plans • An extension of the Research and the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) components for an additional three years • Clearer roles and responsibilities for senior management in federal departments and in the regions, ensuring a cohesive and coherent federal approach to addressing homelessness.

13. The evaluation report will soon be available on the Internet at: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/hrdc.main • For further information, contact: • Catherine Massé, Evaluation Manager • Evaluation & Data Development • Human Resources Development Canada • Section 3D, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage • Gatineau (Hull), QC K1A 0J9 • catherine.masse@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca • Tel : 819-953-8094 Fax : 819-953-7887 • Sylvie Guibert, Manager, Business Planning and Evaluation • National Secretariat on Homelessness • Human Resources Development Canada • 165 Hotel-de-Ville Street • Gatineau (Hull), QC K1A 0J9 • sylvie.guibert@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca • Tel: 819-997-9917 Fax: 819-994-4211