Saskatoon's strategies to combat homelessness receive federal funding
- EFN Staff | February 03, 2017
Funding to help reduce homelessness in Saskatoon communities is being provided by the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) program for Housing First and housing placement projects from 2016-2018.
Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) who administers HPS funding and the Saskatoon Homelessness Action Plan is hopeful that these investments into coordinated housing placement and support programs will create the shift we need to start seeing a reduction in homelessness in our city.
“An additional $1 million was invested by the federal government this year, allowing us to fill gaps with additional front-line workers and also ensure successful programs are well supported,” says Shaun Dyck, Executive Director of SHIP. “Between the HPS investment, the United Way support, and private donations, there are 17 Housing First and Housing Placement positions that did not exist 5 years ago,” says Dyck. “We anticipate that we are close to a point where most people who find themselves homeless can access support to find appropriate housing, which is a big part of the Saskatoon Homelessness Action Plan.”
Related:
- United Way, partners launch Saskatoon's Housing First program
- Food programs for Saskatoon's homeless receive financial boost
The HPS program will generously provide nearly $700,000 from 2016/17-2017/18 in funding for the following projects to expand the direct support offered for people who are facing homelessness through a coordinated system, and to ensure the existing programs are sustainable. This is in addition to the $1.3 million that was already committed to these programs until March 2018.
1. The Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (SIMFC) will receive an additional $95,857 in multiyear funding (2 years) for a new Housing First staff position.
2. White Buffalo Youth Lodge will receive $259,294 in multi-year funding (2 years) for a new Housing First for families staff position and to extend the project until 2018.
3. The Lighthouse Supported Living Inc. will receive $177,138 in multi-year funding (2 years) for a new Case Worker position and to extend the project until 2018.
4. Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service will receive $109,954 in multi-year funding (2 years) towards the sustainability of their existing Journey Home Housing First program.
5. The YWCA Saskatoon will receive $26,808 over 2 years to compliment a private donation for a Family Worker position, helping families move quickly out of shelter.
6. SHIP is receiving $30,000 to directly support Housing First participants to financially bridge into housing.
Each of the agencies providing front-line support are working in collaboration to create a coordinated system of support. The expanded team of 17 Housing First and Housing Placement staff also work closely with other community agencies that provide case management, housing providers and health services to ensure that people who experience homelessness find the support they need.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support each one of the six organizations,” said the Honourable JeanYves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “Their projects will go a long way to help put an end to homelessness in Saskatoon. Every segment of our society must be treated with dignity and respect and be given the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Our government is committed to addressing the needs of Canada’s homeless population and to helping Canadians lift themselves out of poverty.”
“Our Home Fire Housing Team now has 8 staff providing support to people experiencing homelessness, as part of the coordinated system,” says Bill Mintram, Executive Director of the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre. “The relational focus of our project, rooted in Indigenous knowledge and healing through community connection, is changing lives. We are now at a point where the waiting list for support at Centralized Intake is almost addressed and we can see a year or two ahead when this will be reflected in the Point in Time count. All of the initiatives together are taking a bite out of homelessness. We are grateful for the support that HPS continues to provide in funding these positions.”
"The demand for support from the case worker was so great that the expansion to a second position was necessary,” says Don Windels, Executive Director of the Lighthouse Supported Living Inc. “These two positions are making an impact, ensuring that the stay in emergency shelter is brief and that either individuals are referred to Centralized Intake or helped immediately to find housing. We are thankful for the continued support of the HPS program.”
“When we started the Housing First for families project, we had no idea that the demand for support would be so high, but there are a lot of families who are part of the hidden homeless population,” says Heidi Gravelle, Director of White Buffalo Youth Lodge. “Many families who come to our centre are homeless due to poverty and family conflict and all that encompasses one when they are most vulnerable. We intervene with a holistic approach to case management that is based on the First Nations teachings of the Medicine Wheel, including physical, spiritual, mental and emotional support.”
“The Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service is very pleased and grateful for this new partnership with the federal Housing Partnership Strategy,” says Rita Field, Executive Director. “The success of Journey Home and the Housing First model relies upon system wide collaboration and adequate resources to live out the city-wide homelessness action plan. This funding will strengthen our ability to create practical change and help our most vulnerable citizens.”
“YWCA Saskatoon is so pleased to be working collectively with our partners at SHIP to assist us in sustaining our newly created Family Outreach Worker,” says Shannon Zook, Executive Director of the YWCA Saskatoon. The Family Outreach Worker is crucial in supporting women and children that have been living in our crisis shelter move into their forever homes in the community.