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Interventions to Improve the Health of Homeless In the City of Lethbridge

Interventions to Improve the Health of Homeless In the City of Lethbridge. For the Alberta Harm Reduction Conference February 14 & 15, 2006 By Diane Randell Danielle Tkachenko Judy Cross Child. Overview. Background Describe Program Framework Example of Program. Goals.

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Interventions to Improve the Health of Homeless In the City of Lethbridge

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  1. Interventions to Improve the Health of Homeless In the City of Lethbridge For the Alberta Harm Reduction Conference February 14 & 15, 2006 By Diane Randell Danielle Tkachenko Judy Cross Child

  2. Overview • Background • Describe Program Framework • Example of Program

  3. Goals • Housing programs are critical to achieving the inherently worthwhile goal of ending homelessness • Interventions such as coordinated treatment and support programs that are specifically adapted to the needs of the homeless are urgently needed.

  4. Definitions • Homelessness and Those at Risk • No home or either living outdoors or in an emergency shelter. • Living in a home that does not meet the Alberta housing act regulation • Lack of secure tenure and personal safety • Lack of social and economic self sufficiency

  5. Social Determinants of Health • Definition • Social • Economic • Mental

  6. Housing Support Services

  7. Mayor’s Declaration • Homelessness in Lethbridge is not acceptable. • Social Housing In Action is challenged to find the ways and means to “End Homelessness” in Lethbridge. • ‘Bringing Lethbridge Home’

  8. Affordable Supported Rental Affordable Permanent Housing Emergency Transition Support Services Chronic Homeless Shelter & Resource Centre Parkside Step Up Scenic Apartments McGill Projects Emergency Shelter for Families M.U.S.T. Women’s Transition Home Bridging & Loan Fund Single Resident Occupancy Project Youth Shelter “A Place To Call Home” Family Transition Home Harbour House (3 Beds) Revolving Fund Youth Housing Men’s Transition Home Demonstration Projects Demonstration Projects Second Stage Housing Shelter, Transition & Resource Centre Executive Committee Public Process & Communication Affordable Housing Structure & Research Steering Committee City Council

  9. Economics of Homelessness • Shelter = $45,000 dollars per year • Housing = $17,000 per year

  10. Resource Centre • Model of “One Stop” Delivery • Coordinated programs specifically adapted to the needs of the homeless • An example of a Community Based Harm Reduction Program

  11. Community Based Harm Reduction Program An Effective Process: • Define the community being targeted • Identify and involve potential partners • Be familiar with the principle of harm reduction • Learn more about the targeted population • Identify and define needs • Develop an action plan • Implement your initiative • Be prepared for resistance

  12. Define the Community being Targeted • Address the problems • The target: homeless and those at risk of homelessness • Definition of target population • Description of geographical area

  13. Identify and Involve Potential Partners • Community Members and Partnerships • Members from the target population

  14. Be Familiar with the Principle of Harm Reduction • Resources and experts • Partnerships with other agencies

  15. Learn More About the Targeted Population • Concerns • Issues

  16. Identify and Define Needs • Needs of your program • Needs of your target population

  17. Develop an Action Plan • Goals and objectives • Services provided • M.U.S.T. • Inter-Agency Collaboration • The Right Ticket • Life Skills Program

  18. Alberta Human Resources & Employment TRAC Youth Outreach Canadian Mental Health Association HIV Connections Mental Health Program AADAC Lethbridge Shelter & Resource Centre Pharmacy Rep – London Drugs Dr. Gaulin Chiropractor Outreach Nursing Services Aboriginal Health Program, Population Health Southern Alcare Manor AISH Office Canadian Outcomes Institute 5th on 5th Youth Services Foothills Detox Alberta Brain Injury Network Native Women’s Transition YWCA Native Counselling Services of Alberta St. Vincent De Paul Lethbridge Soup Kitchen Salvation Army Catholic Charities Wood’s Homes Job Links Employment Centre John Howard Society Resource Centre Team Agencies

  19. Implement your Initiative • Resource Centre Team Meetings • Service provision at the Resource Centre • Reviewing Effectiveness • Future Initiatives and Vision • Art • Photography • Beading • Soup Kitchen

  20. Number of Contacts

  21. Demographic Breakdown

  22. AADAC Referrals

  23. Outreach Nursing Services

  24. Resource Centre

  25. Be Prepared for Resistance • Community, professional and client barriers • Practical strategies on working through barriers • Benefits of program • Success stories

  26. The most significant predictor of treatment success: The presence of empathetic, hopeful, continuous treatment relationships in which integrated treatment and coordination of care can take place through multiple treatment episodes. The system of care needs to be welcoming and accepting of people as they are, not just accessible.

  27. A Place to Call Home

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