Vibrant Communities

1. Vibrant Communities 6th Annual Conference Ontario Business Improvement Area Association Safe Streets – Friendly Streets: Community Approaches to Keeping Your Downtown Safe & Welcoming March 27th, 2006 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Fairmount Chateau Laurier

2. Homelessness: A Solution-Focused Approach Care or Cure Managed Problem or Solution

3. Homeless People and Stereotypes • People are homeless because they choose that lifestyle • Homeless people are drug addicts and alcoholics • Helping the homeless will create a culture of dependency • Homeless people are lazy and refuse to work

4. Homeless People and Stereotypescontinued • Homeless people are involved with petty criminal activities • Most homeless people come from somewhere else • All panhandlers are homeless • Once homeless, always homeless

5. Million Dollar MurrayArticle by Malcolm Gladwell • Ex-marine, 6 feet tall, heavyset, “Smokey” • Chosen drink was vodka • Story develops his character and relationship with authorities • Treatment programs, but reverted to drinking once on the street again • In 6 months more than $100,000 spent (hospital bills, treatment costs, doctor’s fees, etc.) • Author looks at U.S. literature that found 80% of homelessness did not stay homeless

6. Overview of Selected Panel Study Findings • Approximately 30% of the total sample came to Ottawa homeless • Less than 5% of the total sample were homeless greater than 5 years or more • 76% of participants were housed at the time of the 2 year follow up (families 97%, single men 47%) • Much higher risk of physical injury among panel study participants and much greater use of emergency room services • Much greater use of hospitals and convalescent homes

7. Youth: family problems Families: financial difficulties Adults: financial difficulties (adult females are frequently victims of abuse) For all groups, childhood stressors were high (over 30% spend time in out of family care; for male youth this was approximately 60%) Reasons for Homelessness

8. Housing First Strategies • Housing First is,… the direct provision of permanent, independent housing to people who are homeless • Portable supports – can involve money management skills, case management for medical care, medication adherence, nutrition, etc. • Harm Reduction: an approach aimed at reducing the risks and harmful effects associated with substance use and addictive behaviours for the person, the community, and society as a whole, without requiring abstinence.

9. Why Housing First? • Do we take an intentional solution-focused approach • Technical Assistance program from the Downtown Associations describe Calgary as in a Care versus Cure dilemma • Why problems like homelessness might be easier to solve than to manage

10. What About Solutions? • A national strategy • Cooperation among all levels of government • An intentional action plan • Full assessment and implementation planning

11. Skills – offer your professional skills directly to community agencies Energy – use your energy to write letters or approach politicians on behalf of those experiencing homelessness Money – use your money to provide material assistance to community agencies Time – spend your time on committees and/or coalitions working to develop strategies to end homelessness Inform – most importantly, continue to inform yourself, your family and community! Donate – offer supplies, equipment, or financial assistance to community agencies You Can Help

12. Reference Material • http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/crcs/eng • http://www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca