David Gourlay’s Post

Housing First principles just make sense. 1. Access to secure housing (unconditional) 2. Choice and self-determination (agency) 3. Focus on recovery (supports) 4. Human-centred approach (meet people where they are at) 5. Social inclusion and community (connection) Thanks Deirdre Freiheit for always sharing important reminders.

📣 ONTARIO! Listen up. What’s happening right now is truly terrifying. I get it. People want homelessness to go away. It’s a visible sign of how broken our system is, and it hurts to see it! But here’s the thing: only thing will end homelessness. Housing. 🏡🏠🏢🏗️🏙️ Of course, we will need additional healthcare and other supports, but that alone won’t end homelessness if there isn’t enough housing. At least 13 municipalities are now asking the province to undermine democracy and criminalize homelessness. This won’t do a damn thing to house anyone. It will be an extremely harmful and expensive waste of tax dollars. The cheapest thing is to simply house people. Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness offers consulting on how to end homelessness in a human rights based, housing-focussed approach. Any community that’s serious about wanting to get rid of encampments should contact us. Please resist the call to criminalize the victims of bad housing policy, and join the call for evidence based solutions. If you’re in Ontario, please sign and send a message to your city Council: https://lnkd.in/gpm_g69m

Let's be honest: We're facing increasing challenges in the fight against homelessness here in Omaha and in pretty much every place I have traveled across this country for the past year. This crisis is especially hard on our older adults. I encourage you to read this article by the Urban Institute. It provides a critical warning: the rise in aged homelessness could create a public health crisis. With sustainable housing solutions, we can avoid leaving our most vulnerable populations behind. The data is clear. We need urgent, systemic change in how we address homelessness at every level of government. Housing is about more than just a roof over our heads - it's a necessary part of our health and well-being. Read more about the potential crisis and how we can mitigate it through focused policy and community action.

**Evaluation Snapshot Ahead ▶** The Northern Territory has the highest rate of homelessness in Australia, at almost twelve times the national average, with an overrepresentation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to ongoing systemic and structural racism. There is a dire need for increased investment in social, affordable and culturally appropriate housing delivered alongside integrated housing and support models. We commissioned an evaluation of the Integrated Homelessness Supported Accommodation Program (IHSAP) to help us understand what's working, what's not working, and how we can improve. Ultimately, we want to ensure we are delivering the best possible service to the people and communities we serve. IHSAP is a collaboration of service providers located at a re-purposed accommodation facility providing temporary accommodation and support services to people who are homeless in Darwin, NT. The facility is funded by the Northern Territory Government and managed by Yilli Rreung Housing Corporation (Yilli). Mission Australia provides case management and coordinates specialist supports for residents of the facility, including child and family support, mental health and alcohol and other drugs programs. The evaluation found: ✔ Consistent demonstration of good practice, including a strong partnership approach and culturally safe service design and delivery. ⛔ The biggest barrier was the lack of permanent housing options for people to move into. ⚠ A range of opportunities to strengthen the cultural safety and impact of the service, including incorporating culturally appropriate assessment tools. Evalution by Insight Consulting Australia and Sand Palm Consulting. SNAPSHOT AVAILABLE NOW: https://lnkd.in/gDmXk-6t 📄 Sue Budalich Paul Royce Ana Aitcheson Marion Bennett

https://lnkd.in/gADejk2D Addressing homelessness effectively requires more than band aid solutions at the city level. It requires a comprehensive approach that integrates all levels of government and sectors with housing, mental health services, supportive services, and community support. St. Catharines has admitted to spending millions of dollars on trying to manage the homelessness problem within the city. Spending millions of dollars on band aid solutions such as the $500,000 self-cleaning public restroom (which has likely cost over a million dollars to be kept operational) has not only been proven to not be an effective measure in other communities but a huge waste of tax dollars. Many local politicians have expressed frustration with the current governance model and have requested change. The current governance model here in Niagara does not support an effective approach to the homelessness issue. Homelessness is an issue across Niagara and not just St. Catharines. Band aid solution carried out independently by various lower tier municipalities does little to effectively impact on this challenge. Niagara needs to come together as one and approach the province as a team to develop a solution.  #timeforchange

Everyday at APAP we see the devastating impact of homelessness in all its forms. From visible rough sleepers to the invisible families in temporary accommodation. Homelessness has many complex causes. Yes, substance misuse and mental health are issues. But poverty, low wage employment and an unaffordable (often unreliable and unsuitable) private rented sector housing market are often the bigger-picture-culprits. Today is the long trailed budget. Homelessness and rough sleeping doesn't happen in a bubble, there are multiple factors (and failures) that lead to households losing their home. I hope that there is acknowledgement (and funding) announced today that seeks to address the issue in its full complexity. https://lnkd.in/eHxcpFdu https://lnkd.in/eKYsczxC #london #enfield #haringey #budget #budgetday #homelessness #roughsleeping #housingcrisis

https://lnkd.in/eZe2u8yE We all can blame the other political party that you do not belong to, but homelessness isn't going to solved by blaming one party or the next. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents need to come together to look at the causes of homelessness and work on fixing that. If there are not enough units let's look at ways to change zoning codes to allow more housing to be built, if its economic conditions let's look at funding more job training programs or if its more money for mental health services lets fund that. In today's climate we need to make tough decisions for the greater good. We cannot keep on pushing the can down the road. Unfortunately, in today's society we do things that are easy not what is hard, even though many issues surrounding poverty and homelessness need hard decisions to be made. Everyone needs to sacrifice from homeowners, businesses, and general public. I know people are going to comment to this post with something political and blaming someone, I get that, but before you comment provide a solution that both sides of the table will agree upon. If it's something radical that only one side will agree upon unfortunately in today's climate its Dead on Arrival.

The NSW Government's budget sets out a long overdue and welcome investment of $6.1 billion in social housing and a package of $527.6 million for homelessness services and temporary accommodation. Our latest blog sets out the funding announcements related to the homelessness sector and their implications. We hope that this is a useful resource for you in unpacking what the budget means for specialist homelessness services and the people they support. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gcafyUMd We will take the opportunities available through these budget investments to advocate for more supported, safe and accessible temporary accommodation, and resources for providers to deliver critical services and pathways into homes with the support to keep those homes. We will be calling on our members in the coming weeks to help inform recommendations to government about the best ways to spend the $527.6 million for homelessness services. If you'd like to become a Homelessness NSW and play an important part in our advocacy, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gNHeXjZx #homelessness #homelessnessnsw #nswbudget

Kudos to the Biden Administration for recognizing and funding efforts to combat homelessness (and the related Congressional committees). More needs to be done including stopping private companies from buying up homes for rental only options at higher prices. This investment of $3.16 billion thru HUD's Continuum of Care Program is but .05% of total federal spending but the impact is significant. Homelessness causes a myriad of related risks/issues, including health problems, illnesses, employment and educational gaps, and further societal costs so addressing actually improves lives and saves governmental funds. I watched a great program yesterday sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center titled "Mayors and Experts on Ending Homelessness" that offered important insights and examples of how to address (as discussed by the former mayor of Houston and the current mayor of Los Angeles) https://lnkd.in/ewm9qAmn https://lnkd.in/eS9VpYRQ

https://lnkd.in/ehuCx-7c In this article it is noted homelessness issues cost Niagara Falls over $500,000 in 2023. Yet another example of our upper and lower tier governments here in Niagara not working effectively together on a very significant issue which has an enormous impact on our community.   Recently St. Catharines Mayor also noted that 3% of the St. Catharines budget is going to an issue which is outside of the cities mandate. Addressing homelessness effectively requires more than band aid solutions at the city level. It requires a comprehensive approach that integrates all levels of government and sectors with housing, mental health services, supportive services, and community support. Many local politicians have expressed frustration with the current governance model and have requested changes in order to better deal with issues which affect our entire region. The current governance model here in Niagara does not support an effective approach to the homelessness issue. As we move into 2025 budget deliberations taxpayers need to stand up and push for better use of our tax dollars. All municipal leaders need to push to eliminate the myriad of duplicated services that are being offered between the upper and lower tier governments which is costing taxpayers millions upon millions of dollars with little impact to our community. Niagara needs to ameliorate these duplicated programs and come together as one and approach the province as a team to develop solutions to these issues. #timeforchange