Mobilizing Local Capacity to End Youth Homelessness In Canada Program (MLC)

1. Mobilizing Local Capacity to End Youth Homelessness In Canada Program (MLC)

2. Why MLC? • 20% of homeless in Canada are between 16-24 • Need for YOUTH SPECIFIC focus • Focus on TRANSITION to adulthood and well being • Re-framing role of Family/natural supports as solutions rather than problem • No coordinated nation-wide effort-network • Organizations are operating in isolation

3. Why MLC? • Paradigm shift from Responding to Ending youth homelessness • Upstream • Eva’s Initiatives commitment to development of innovative responses and long-term solutions • Canada can learn from successes in other countries to improve our approach to homelessness

4. Bold New Initiative… … to significantly change course of youth homelessness in Canada Innovative: • National program grounded in communities • Builds on community strengths • Catalyst for change rather than prescribed program. Flexible.

5. MLC Goals • Local Communities Feel Well Supported • Communities have Plans to Prevent, Reduce& EndYouth Homelessness • YH on public agenda – awareness of issues • YH on agenda of decision makers • A system committed to Prevent, Reduce & EndYH • Measurable Reduction in YH.

6. Program Partners • Eva’s Initiatives – National Initiatives Program • National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness (LC) • Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) • Catherine Donnelly Foundation (CDF) • Canadian Homelessness Research Network The Homeless Hub (research partner)

7. National Initiatives Program 2013 Revised: September 2013 Eva’s Initiatives’ provides support and advice to organizations and community. Our Awards Program recognizes organizations that are focusing on ending youth homelessness. A collaborative forum working to build capacity within the youth serving sector and raise awareness of youth homelessness in Canada. The focus of the program is toenhance the capacity of communities to reduce, prevent and end youth homelessness, while raising awareness nationally.

8. Two Components • Intensive Work with Select Communities • National Movement to Prevent, Reduce & End (PRE) Youth Homelessness

9. Program Length • Program to run 2012 to 2017 • 2012 – 2014 Pilot Years • 2014 Transitional Year

10. Community Component • Support the Development of Strategic Community Plans to Prevent, Reduce & End Youth Homelessness. • Support the Implementation & sustainability of Strategic Community Plans to Prevent, Reduce & End Youth Homelessness. For 2014!!!! • Additional Catalyst Component - Less intensive support for more communities across Canada. (e.g. share tools and resources as developed) For 2014 !!!

11. Current MLC Communities • Add 2 small/medium sized communities per year – geographic representation • Year 1 – Kamloops BC, Kingston ON • Year 2 – Saint John NB, Wellington County (rural plan) • Year 3 – TBD Spring 2014 • Solutions based on: Local needs, strengths, innovation & collective vision for ending youth homelessness National and International research and promising practices

12. Coming of Age • Support from Homeless Hub since early 2013 • Findings from report – access early, began to build into our process • ‘Coming of Age’: • Provided framework and a ‘menu’ for communities to begin to think about what elements could be included in plan. • Break down into manageable pieces – E.g. Prevention, Early Intervention, Shelter Diversion, System of Care etc • Provides a common language to talk about and plan strategies • Big Benefit!!!! - Provides descriptions and contacts for examples of what works from around the world. E.g. Host Homes – Minnesota, UK or Family Reconnect – Eva’s, CBGC, Australia

13. What Happened • Paradigm shifts • Adolescent development – transition to adulthood and well-being. • Families/natural supports & education system part of solutions • Communities adopted Systems + Prevention lens. • Increased capacity for community-based Research - PIT Counts, Focus groups. • Community Awareness of Issues • Diverse stakeholders to work together for first time or to work together in new ways • First two community plans to be released spring of 2014, two more Fall 2014

14. What Surprised Us • Youth engagement – became focus for community: • Public engagement occurred earlier than expected • Youth brought creativity and energy • Examples • YAHh Kamloops– media – regular & social, Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1F-YFBeWmo • public events. • YOL Kingston – wrist band “Youth Homelessness – Admit it Exists”, Community Forum – Mayor

15. Challenges • Systems Integration – community plans but prov/fed ministries impact pathways into homelessness for youth • Child Welfare, Criminal justice, Health/Mental Health, Social Services • YH -Fusion Policy Issue – Complexity requires more time to get it right – worth it to take time with the process • Community resource alignment - challenge to align the communities funders and resources around plans

16. National Movement to End YH • Cultivating a national alliance of stakeholders across sectors to mobilize for systems alignment & policy change • Youth Homelessness on agenda of decision makers • Youth Homelessness on public agenda • Working to align interested funders with our national vision to Prevent, Reduce & End youth homelessness

17. Contact Information http://www.evasinitiatives.com • National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness • Mobilizing Local Capacity to End Youth Homelessness Program National Community Development Coordinator • Mary-Jane McKitterick mjmckitterick@evas.ca 416) 364-4716 • Director, Eva’s National Initiatives Program • Melanie Redman mredman@evas.ca 416-364-4716