New Homelessness Resource Center Articles

Successes & Challenges of Feminist Arts-based Research with Street-involved women - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

2012-02-21T03:00:40

Homelessness is often seen as a “male” issue, which has often led to social service resources being directed at men. However, there is a growing number of women living in sub-standard housing or on the streets. Although similar causes of homelessness exist between men and women, such as poverty and a lack of affordable housing, women’s homelessness is largely a result of fleeing situations of domestic abuse. Although art is one of the earliest forms of communication, it has not been used much in social science research. Arts-based research is strongly related to therapy and because feminist researchers work in collaborative, participatory and social-change oriented ways to better the lives of women, feminist arts-based approaches to research offer a female-friendly approach to knowledge gathering.

2.30 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - February 17, 2012

2012-02-21T01:42:59

2.30 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - February 17, 2012

Tags: newsletters

International Homelessness Policy Review - A report to inform the review of homelessness legislation in Wales

Fitzpatrick, Suzanne; Johnsen, Sarah; Watts, Beth — 2012-02-16T12:21:16

As part of this review of the homelessness legislation in Wales, the research team undertook a targeted review of relevant UK and international literature, as well as an in‐depth analysis of a selection of other countries with promising approaches that may provide useful lessons for Wales (England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and US). The findings of the review are presented under eight key themes: 1. Legal rights; 2. ‘Staircase’, ‘Housing First’, and ‘normalising’ approaches; 3. Access to housing for homeless people; 4. Homeless prevention; 5. Family homelessness, single homelessness and rough sleeping; 6. Governance and the role of NGOs; 7. Policy implementation, evaluation and monitoring; and 8. Costs and benefits

Organization: Welsh Government

Tags: homelessness

Risk indicators associated with injection drug use in the Aboriginal population

Lemstra, Mark; Rogers, Marla; Thompson, Adam; Moraros, John; Buckingham, Robert — 2012-02-16T12:13:49

In 2009, the incidence of positive HIV tests in the Saskatoon Health Region, Canada, was 31.3 per 100,000 population when the national average was only 9.3 per 100,000 population. A majority of the positive HIV tests were of Aboriginal cultural status with a majority of those associated with injection drug use (IDU). The main objective of the study was to determine the risk indicators independently associated with higher rates of IDU in the Aboriginal population in comparison to other cultural groups. It appears that there is no another study with a similar analysis. From September 2009 to April 2010, 603 current IDUs were interviewed; which represents 76.6% of the known Saskatoon IDUs. In our study population, 88.1% of the current IDUs were of Aboriginal cultural status despite making up only 9.2% of the general population. Comparing Aboriginal IDUs to non-Aboriginal IDUs, our study found that Aboriginal injection users were more likely to be female and younger, less likely to receive paid income and were more likely to attend a Residential School or had a parent or grandparent attend a Residential School. If exposure to Residential Schools is ignored, Aboriginal IDUs were also more likely to use sex trading as a source of income and witness death or experience permanent separation from a parent during youth. Our study has identified a limited number of risk indicators independently associated with higher rates of IDU in the Aboriginal population. More specifically, Residential Schools are having a significant generational impact on current IDU, which might explain higher HIV incidence rates within the Aboriginal population.

Journal Name: AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV

Tags: Drug

Prospective validation of a predictive model that identifies homeless people at risk of re-presentation to the emergency department

2012-02-16T11:59:30

Journal Name: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal

Tags: homeless

Subjective Quality of Life Among Individuals who are Homeless: A Review of Current Knowledge

Hubley, Anita M.; Russell, Lara B.; Palepu, Anita; Hwang, Stephen W. — 2012-02-16T11:04:04

The purpose of this article was to review the current literature on subjective quality of life (SQOL) in individuals who are homeless, with a focus on differences in SQOL (a) between homeless individuals and the general population, (b) based on housing situation, and (c) associated with demographic characteristics (such as age and gender), physical and mental health, and external variables such as service program type. A literature search was conducted of the online databases PubMed and PsycInfo for relevant studies published from January 1981 to August 2011. Although this review showed that individuals who are homeless tended to have lower levels of SQOL compared to the general population or housed individuals, it was also evident that our current understanding of the relationships between SQOL and various demographic, health, and other variables is based on very limited information. More information about the relationships between various characteristics and experiences of individuals who are homeless and SQOL is clearly needed to aid researchers, service providers, and policy-makers in addressing the needs of this population and examining the effectiveness of interventions to end homelessness and improve health among homeless individuals.

Journal Name: Social Indicators Research

Tags: homeless

A cluster analysis of service utilization and incarceration among homeless youth

Kort-Butler, Lisa A.; Tyler, Kimberly A. — 2012-02-16T11:01:46

Our paper examines service usage (e.g., shelter) as well as a typology of individuals who are most likely to use groupings of services among 249 homeless youth. Our results revealed that the majority of homeless young people have used food programs (66%) and street outreach (65%) on at least one occasion within the past year. Cluster analysis of services revealed four distinct groups: (1) basic survival service use, characterized by above average shelter, food, and outreach service use, but below average on counseling, substance abuse/mental health services, and incarceration; (2) multiple service use, which included above average use of all six services; (3) incarceration experience, characterized by above average incarceration experience, but below average use of all other five services; and (4) minimal service use, which included slightly above average use of counseling, but below average use of all other services. These findings have the potential to provide important information that may assist with targeting services to homeless youth.

Journal Name: Social Science Research

Routine exposure to blood within hostel environments might help to explain elevated levels of hepatitis C amongst homeless drug users: Insights from a qualitative study

Neale, Joanne — 2012-02-16T10:56:47

Although homelessness is a risk factor for HCV infection, there is a lack of research exploring the relationship between living in a hostel for homeless people and blood-borne viruses. The tendency to focus on risky injecting practices and HCV has also eclipsed the transmission risks potentially posed by spilt and dried blood. (Authors)

Journal Name: International Journal of Drug Policy

Invited Commentary: Seeking a Coherent Strategy in our Response to Homeless and Street-Involved Youth: A Historical Review and Suggested Future Directions

Kidd, Sean — 2012-02-16T10:52:31

This invited commentary seeks to encourage a critical dialogue about youth homelessness that might assist in re-energizing a field that seems increasingly stagnant with a research body focused primarily on analyses of risk, hopelessly inadequate policy frameworks in most cities, diminishing funds for services, and decreasing media attention. Reviewing major trends in research and public responses to youth homelessness in the past century, I propose that there exist three major culturally-bound dimensions from which we construct our understanding of and responses to youth homelessness. These dimensions, which are considered in a transactional framework, are the scope of responsibility, the location of moral responsibility, and the amount of agency attributed to the youth. In this review I highlight the manner in which our historically binary and uncritical understanding of these dimensional characterizations of youth homelessness has led to major lapses in the effectiveness of our collective efforts to address this problem. I highlight gaps in the existing body of research literature and provide this framework, arguing that a strategic and cohesive response is vital if we are to move from reiterations of risk and hackneyed calls for prevention strategies to the generation of meaningful solutions.

Journal Name: Journal of Youth and Adolescence

QNI Opening Doors Project - improving health for homeless people and families

Fitzpatrick, Joanne — 2012-02-16T10:50:16

This paper looks at homeless health issues and specifically the Opening Doors project being delivered by the Queens Nursing Institute. The paper starts by looking at the subject of homelessness generally, before moving onto the specific health issues and service provision. It then describes the Opening Doors project which is open to nurses and other health professionals working with homeless people and families with particular reference to substance misuse. The project aims to improve the healthcare of the client group by providing resources that practitioners can then apply to their daily work. The paper details the outline of the project, aims, achievements and outcomes to date, along with nurse's views on the issues of working with this client group and two case studies from services that are a part of the project to show the type of work that is being done.

Journal Name: Community Practitioner

Do great local minds think alike? Comparing perceptions of the social determinants of health between non-profit and governmental actors in two Canadian cities

Collins, Patricia A. — 2012-02-16T10:36:44

Cities are important sites for intervention on social determinants of health (SDOH); yet, little is known about how influential local actors, namely workers in municipal governments (GOVs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), perceive the SDOH. Capturing and comparing perceptions between these groups are important for assessing how SDOH discourse has permeated local actors’ thinking—a meaningful endeavour as local-level health equity action often invokes inter-institutional partnerships. This paper compares SDOH perceptions between CBO workers in Hamilton, Ontario, with politicians and senior-level staff in GOVs in Vancouver, British Columbia, based on two studies with surveys containing identical questions on SDOH perceptions. Overall, there was high comparability between the groups in their relative ratings of the SDOH. Both groups assigned high levels of ‘influence’ and ‘priority’ to ‘healthy lifestyles’ and ‘clean air and water’ and lower levels to ‘strong community’ and ‘income’. Given the importance of a shared vision in collaborative enterprises, the comparability of perceptions between the groups found here holds promise for the prospect of inter-institutional partnerships. However, the low rating assigned to more structural health determinants suggests that more work is needed from researchers and advocates to effectively advance a health equity agenda at the local level in Canada.

Journal Name: Health Education Research

Factors Associated with Antiretroviral Medication Adherence among HIV-Positive Adults Accessing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in British Columbia, Canada

2012-02-16T10:00:42

Background: Among those accessing treatment, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV into a chronic and manageable condition. However, high levels of adherence are required to derive a sustained, long-term clinical benefit. The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of adherence based on prescription refill among persons on HAART in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: This study utilizes data collected between July 2007 and January 2010, as part of the Longitudinal Investigations into Supportive and Ancillary health services (LISA) cohort, which is a study of HIV-positive persons who have accessed antiretroviral therapy (ART) in British Columbia. Participants were considered optimally adherent if they were dispensed ≥95% of their prescribed antiretrovirals. Results: Of a total of 566 participants, only 316 (55.8%) were optimally adherent to HAART. Independent predictors of optimal adherence were increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-2.33), male gender (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.07-2.64), and being enrolled in a comprehensive adherence assistance program (AOR = 4.26, 95% CI: 2.12-8.54). Having an annual income <$15 000 (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31-0.72) and both former and current injection drug use (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.29-0.73 and AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20-0.58, respectively) were independently associated with suboptimal (<95%) adherence. Conclusions: We found that women and people who inject drugs are at increased risk of being suboptimally adherent to HAART. Optimal adherence remains a significant public health and clinical goal in the context of rapidly expanding access to HAART.

Journal Name: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC)

We are visible: technology-mediated social participation in a Twitter network for the homeless

Koepfler, Jes A.; Hansen, Derek L. — 2012-02-16T09:53:20

This paper examines patterns of follow relationships in the @wearevisible ego-network on Twitter -- a project encouraging homeless individuals to "sign up, speak out, [and] be seen" online. A content analysis of the public profiles in this network identified eleven social roles: homeless individual, homeless advocate, celebrity, do-gooder, service provider, non-profit generalist, social media enthusiast, support organization, social worker, librarian, and researcher. A cluster analysis and visualization of the connections between individuals enacting these roles showed that self-identified homeless individuals were well-connected to each other and showed potential for developing stronger ties with a broad range of different user types. The results from this case study suggest opportunities for rethinking health and human services in a technologically-mediated social context, as well as inspiring future research to study this population online.

Journal Name: iConference 2012

Survey findings on characteristics and health status of clients treated by the federally funded (US) Health Care for the Homeless Programs

2012-02-16T09:47:59

For almost two decades, the US Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Program has funded clinics across the country for homeless populations. Between October and December 2003, for the first time ever, a nationally representative sample of the almost 200 HCH clinics with a response rate of approximately 71% (the HCH User Visit Survey) was created to examine the health status of its users (n = 1017). This study employed the HCH User Visit Survey's cross-sectional data set to evaluate health indicators of individuals using HCH Services with the US population, and compare individuals who reported they routinely used HCH clinics ('usual' HCH users) to those who did not ('non-usual' users). HCH users had poorer health status than the US population (44.0% versus 12.3%, respectively). Usual HCH users had similar healthcare status compared to non-usual users, but were more likely to be uninsured, non-English speakers, and walking or taking public transportation to their medical appointments. Usual versus non-usual HCH users were also more apt to have slept in cars, buses or on the streets in the week prior to the survey (14.8% versus 4.3%, respectively). This study shows that the HCH clinics are serving homeless individuals who have a variety of complex health and psychosocial needs, and its most frequent users are those who experience the most barriers accessing care.

Journal Name: Health social care in the community

Studying the values of hard-to-reach populations: content analysis of tweets by the 21st century homeless

Koepfler, Jes A.; Fleischmann, Kenneth R. — 2012-02-16T09:36:06

This paper describes a content analysis of a corpus of 5,313 tweets from 32 individuals collected during a three-week period in March/April 2011. The corpus comprised two study groups: Group H -- Twitter users who self-identified as homeless or formerly homeless in their Twitter profiles, and Group NH -- a random, stratified sample of Twitter users who did not self-identify as homeless and who shared similar Twitter characteristics with those in Group H. The study uses the Meta-Inventory of Human Values for Informal Communication (MIHV-IC) to study value expression in tweets. Two rounds of inter-coder reliability testing demonstrated the challenges of reliably detecting human values in tweets. Analysis of categories with substantial inter-coder agreement indicated significant differences between the two groups for helpfulness and wealth. This approach provides a promising opportunity for detecting the values of hard-to-reach populations such as the 21st century homeless.

Journal Name: iConference 2012

Psychache and Suicide Ideation among Men Who Are Homeless: A Test of Shneidman’s Model

Patterson, Allisha A.; Holden, Ronald R. — 2012-02-16T09:26:42

Suicide ideation among the homeless is 10 times more common than in the general population. Cognitive theories of depression and hopelessness propose to explain suicidality; however, as yet, none of these fully account for the phenomenon. Shneidman has suggested a theory of psychache or unbearable psychological pain to explain suicidality. This theory has found support among low-risk populations but has not been extensively tested within a high-risk population. The current research assessed the utility of psychache among men who are homeless (N = 97). In support of Shneidman’s theory, analyses revealed that psychache was a stronger predictor of suicide ideation than was depression, hopelessness, or life meaning. Suicide is a compelling societal issue. In Canada in 2007, there were 3,611 deaths by suicide (10.2 per 100,000; Statistics Canada, 2010). For the United States in 2009, suicide was the tenth leading mortality cause with 34,598 deaths (11.9 per 100,000; National Institute of Mental Health, 2011). As a precursor to suicide, suicide ideation occurs in 3% of the population (Kessler, Berglund, Borges, Nock, & Wang, 2005), and suicide ideation in the homeless is 4 to 10 times more common (Fitzpatrick, Irwin, Lagory, & Ritchey, 2007). Therefore, suicide and suicide ideation for individuals who are homeless constitute considerable public health issues.

Journal Name: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS): Request for Applications

SAMHSA — 2012-02-15T11:56:01

To advance the goal of increasing the adoption of recovery supports, SAMHSA recognizes the importance of empowering peer-run organizations/recovery community organizations to promote peer-delivered recovery supports and services. SAMHSA's Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) is therefore pleased to announce the 2012 BRSS TACS Peer-Run Organization/Recovery Community Organization Awards. (Authors)

Organization: Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS)

Tags: peer programs; recovery; Peer-run organization; recovery community organization; recovery oriented care

European Network of Homeless Health Workers (ENHW) Issue No 14 - Winter 2011-2012

2012-02-14T02:26:20

Organization: FEANTSA

Tags: homeless

Rental Housing Debate

Pomeroy, Steve — 2012-02-13T09:17:26

No room to rent in Ottawa. We hear why the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is sounding the alarm over a lack of rental units. And we ask a local social housing organization why they propose a different solution to the problem. This morning Robyn Bresnahan spoke with Steve Pomeroy, the author of a new report "The Housing Market and Canada’s Economic Recovery" by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities saying Ottawa has one of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada and Ray Sullivan the executive director of the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation.

Organization: CBC Ottawa Morning

The “Working Poor” in the Toronto Region: Who they are, where they live, and how trends are changing

Stapleton, John; Murphy, Brian; Xing, Yue — 2012-02-13T09:05:02

The number of working poor in the Toronto Region increased by 42% between 2000 and 2005, according to a new study from the Metcalf Foundation. This group accounted for more than 70,000 adults in the city of Toronto and more then 113,000 in the region overall. Toronto’s working poor live in a region with the highest cost of living in Canada, and the second most expensive housing market in the country. While past reports have looked at working poverty on a national level, this report, The “Working Poor” in the Toronto Region: Who they are, where they live, and how trends are changing, is the first to look at working poverty in the Toronto Region. “Across the Toronto Region, many people are working in jobs where they remain poor. The people serving you at a food counter are often struggling to put food on their own table,” said the report’s co-author, John Stapleton.

Organization: The Metcalf Foundation

The Six Dimensions of Promising Practice for Case Managed Supports to End Homelessness

Milaney, Katrina — 2012-02-09T04:24:53

Journal Name: Professional Case Management

Tags: homelessness

Join the Graduate Steering Committee & Graduate Network on Homelessness

2012-02-09T03:21:57

Are you a graduate student who is interested in homelessness research? Would you like to network with other researchers who share those interests? PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS IN ADVANCE

Organization: Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN)

Edmonton Area Community Plan on Housing and Supports: 2011 - 2015

2012-02-09T03:17:34

Housing is a foundation for individual and family safety, security and stability. While the Edmonton area is widely regarded as one of the most livable and affordable metropolitan regions in the country, thousands of people in Edmonton and other municipalities in the region struggle to find and keep adequate, affordable housing. It is estimated that there are approximately 47,000 households in the Edmonton area that are paying too much for their housing relative to their incomes or living in housing that is not suitable for their needs or in need of major repairs. The shortage of affordable housing in the Edmonton area not only places considerable stress on many households, it also detracts from the quality of life the region offers and constrains the region’s competitiveness in attracting people to support its growing economy. A portion of those in the community facing challenges finding and keeping suitable, affordable housing are homeless. Although considerable progress has been made in reducing the incidence of homelessness in Edmonton in recent years, there are still many in the community without homes. The most recent homeless count in Edmonton conducted in Fall 2010 identified 2,421 homeless individuals. Although the decline of 600 from the homeless count two years earlier is worthy of celebration, the community is committed to drive this number down further. Both A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years, the Government of Alberta’s ten year plan to end homelessness and A Place to Call Home, Edmonton’s ten year plan to end homelessness, have the goal of ending homelessness by 2019. There is a strong tradition of community-based planning around issues of affordable housing and homelessness in Edmonton and the community is recognized for its leadership in collaborative action on these issues. The Edmonton Area Community Plan on Housing and Supports: 2011-2015 is the third community plan to be developed by the community over the past decade. However, it is the first community plan to address housing and support needs in the broader Edmonton area, which includes not only the City of Edmonton, but also the other municipalities in the region.

Organization: Community Plan Committee

Project-Based Housing First for Chronically Homeless Individuals With Alcohol Problems: Within-Subjects Analyses of 2-Year Alcohol Trajectories

2012-02-09T01:56:15

Objectives. Two-year alcohol use trajectories were documented among residents in a project-based Housing First program. Project-based Housing First provides immediate, low-barrier, nonabstinence-based, permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless individuals within a single housing project. The study aim was to address concerns that nonabstinence-based housing may enable alcohol use. Methods. A 2-year, within-subjects analysis was conducted among 95 chronically homeless individuals with alcohol problems who were allocated to project-based Housing First. Alcohol variables were assessed through self-report. Data on intervention exposure were extracted from agency records. Results. Multilevel growth models indicated significant within-subjects decreases across alcohol use outcomes over the study period. Intervention exposure, represented by months spent in housing, consistently predicted additional decreases in alcohol use outcomes. Conclusions. Findings did not support the enabling hypothesis. Although the project-based Housing First program did not require abstinence or treatment attendance, participants decreased their alcohol use and alcohol-related problems as a function of time and intervention exposure.

Journal Name: American Journal of Public Health

Study of stress, housing program use, and nursing usage among homeless in Chicago

Cheung, Henry Christian. — 2012-02-09T01:55:15

Homelessness places people at risk of stressors that translate into stress and subsequently affect their health. Using Neuman Systems Model as a framework to identify modalities for nursing intervention among stressors and health problems of homeless people, this study compared stress levels among homeless people from three different homeless housing program types, investigated variables that predict the presence of stress among homeless, identified the degree of self-reported contact homeless people had with nurses, and measured to what extent nurses are preferred as health care providers by homeless people. This was accomplished through a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of data from the evaluation study for the Chicago Plan to End Homelessness. Instruments utilized included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and BPTSD-6. The sample size was 398 participants aged 18 years or older who were English speaking and clients of a homeless housing program in Chicago. The data was analyzed using ANOVA, multiple regression, odds ratios, and chi-square tests. The results of the study suggested that there were no differences in stress between participants of housing program types, and the variables prompting further assessment of stress in homeless patients included living with an adult child, availability of family and friends, psychiatric problem perception and burden, and PTSD. The results of the study also suggested that nurses were second to physicians in being seen as well as preferred by homeless participants.

Veterans First: Innovations in Jail Diversion

Evans, Wendy Grace — 2012-02-07T04:02:11

The Veterans First Jail Diversion Program in Rio Rancho, New Mexico gives veterans an opportunity to enter a supervision program providing clinical support, intensive case management, support from peer specialists, and housing support. All employees in the program are veterans. This program provides vital support for veterans who often struggle to reintegrate into their communities and families, providing therapeutic options over incarceration.

Organization: Homelessness Resource Center

Tags: feature; veterans; incarceration; diversion; trauma; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; PTSD

“If I Can Get One Person Off the Street Today”: The Power of Peer Specialists

Evans, Wendy Grace — 2012-02-07T03:56:54

Greg is a peer specialist at Community Connections, in Washington, D.C. He works to share his own story, strength, and knowledge to help others who are struggling with homelessness, mental illness, substance use, family problems, and incarceration. This is his story.

Organization: Homelessness Resource Center

Tags: feature; peer specialist; consumer-involvement; recovery

A Holistic Approach: Trauma-Informed ACT Teams

Evans, Wendy Grace — 2012-02-07T03:52:28

Dr. Sam Bauman works for Community Connections, the largest not-for-profit mental health agency serving men, women, and children in Washington, D.C. The organization’s mission is to provide innovative and compassionate mental health, addictions, and residential services for D.C.’s most vulnerable citizens. He describes how their trauma-informed model of Assertive Community Treatment produces positive outcomes for the people they serve.

Organization: Homelessness Resource Center

Tags: feature; Assertive Community Treatment; ACT; trauma-informed care; www.m2kinq.com

Project LINK: We Relentlessly Pursue

Evans, Wendy Grace — 2012-02-07T03:41:32

Cheryl A. Bushman leads a Life Resources Group for Project LINK, a program at Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County in Texas. She uses her own lived experience to connect with people in recovery from chronic homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse. Project LINK uses the evidence-based practice of PACT to expand intensive treatment and supports within permanent supportive housing.

Organization: Homelessness Resource Center

Tags: feature; recovery; life skills; Program for Assertive Community Treatment; PACT; Assertive Community Treatment; ACT

2.29 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - February 6, 2012

2012-02-07T09:21:48

2.29 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - Febuary 6, 2012

Tags: newsletters

Canadian Housing Observer 2011

2012-02-06T03:33:16

The Canadian Housing Observer presents a detailed annual review of housing conditions and trends in Canada and of the key factors behind them. It is an ideal resource for housing planners; researchers; policy makers; home builders; mortgage and real estate professionals; and municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal housing specialists.

Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

Iqaluit: Canada’s most expensive rental market

2012-02-06T02:56:55

If you pay rent in Iqaluit, this news will come as no surprise: Iqalummiut paid the highest rents in the country last year. In 2010, Iqaluit renters paid an average of $2,265 a month in the private rental market for a two-bedroom apartment in Nunavut’s capital, according to the latest figures from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. That’s ahead of Yellowknife renters, who paid $1,486 a month and renters in Toronto – the country’s largest city – who paid $1,123. (Data was not available for other Nunavut communities.) The national housing agency’s newly-released housing report didn’t offer statistics on housing prices in Nunavut, but pegged home ownership across the territory at 22 per cent, compared with 68 per cent Canada-wide.

Journal Name: http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca

Homelessness in Calgary Down for the First Time in 20 Years

2012-02-06T10:54:03

The Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) is pleased to report the 2012 homeless count shows an 11.4 per cent decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness since 2008. If the historical trend since 1992 had continued, Calgary would have as many as 4,200 people homeless in 2012. Instead, the 2012 homeless count enumerated 3,190 people experiencing homelessness, compared with 3,601 people in 2008. "These results show the 10 Year Plan is working," said Tim Richter, President and CEO, CHF. "The hard work of front-line agencies, as well as government and donor support has turned the tide of homelessness in Calgary." "The decline in the number of homeless people in Calgary is great news," said Dave Hancock, Minister of Human Services. "My ministry will continue to support the tremendous work of our community partners to ensure more homeless people have the chance to have permanent housing with supports to reclaim their lives of dignity, hope and independence." The homeless count was done on January 18, 2012, with a count of people sleeping outside (rough sleepers) and data gathered from 85 facilities. The 2012 homeless count reclassified emergency, short- and long-term facilities, removing permanent housing facilities from the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2012 counts to provide a better representation of people who are actually homeless. The homeless count was sponsored by Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLP. "As a long-term partner with the CHF, Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP is committed to supporting the initiatives that have contributed to this new benchmark for decreasing homelessness," said Craig Hill, senior partner with BD&P. "The ongoing corporate community investment in these social programs will continue to define Calgary as a better place to live for all citizens." Winter homeless counts get a better sense of the number of people in emergency shelters, while summer homeless counts get a better snapshot of rough sleeping and shelter use in warm months. The CHF plans to conduct a summer homeless count. A full report based on the January homeless count will be available in April 2012. The homeless count results align with data showing that Human Services' short-term supportive and emergency shelter bed use has declined since 2009. This trend led to the closure of 189 beds by the Salvation Army in 2011. In addition, analysis of Housing First program data is showing it is more effective to provide housing with support to people experiencing homelessness, compared with helping people through emergency shelter and institutional responses. A sample of 270 people who were housed showed that after 12 months 92 per cent retained their housing. As well, their use of public systems went down by about 40 per cent. Notably, emergency room visits and days in jail decreased by about 50 per cent and interactions with police were down by 60 per cent. This data comes from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), which was implemented by the CHF with 23 agencies. Another 20 agencies are expected to join HMIS over the next two years. Using new research from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work, the CHF also estimates that the number of Calgarians at risk of homelessness is much smaller than previously assumed. New estimates suggest about 14,000 households are at imminent risk of homelessness, compared with the common belief that 72,000 Calgary households were at risk. "We've learned that homelessness doesn't happen to anyone: it happens when a predictable combination of risk factors is present, and a number of protective factors are absent," said Richter. "With a better understanding of who is at risk of homelessness, we can better focus homelessness prevention programs and poverty reduction efforts." Despite a number of positive signals and housing more than 3,500 people since the 10 Year Plan began, a number of challenges remain. "To some extent we are fighting an uphill battle in a growing economy: we have people moving to Calgary for work and there is a lack of affordable housing," said Richter. A 2011 School of Public Policy study led by Drs. Ron Kneebone and Herb Emery at the University of Calgary indicates Calgary is the centre of homelessness in Alberta, driven by migration to a strong labour market and a lack of affordable housing. The study indicates 63 per cent of all shelter users in Alberta are in Calgary, compared with 28 per cent in Edmonton. In 2011, 9,563 people moved to Calgary from other cities and provinces. The number of rental units in Calgary declined from 36,174 in 2009 to 34,814 in 2011. Migration is also impacting family homelessness. Early data indicates there are more Aboriginal and immigrant families moving to Calgary in need of housing and support. At the same time, there is a lack of affordable housing for families requiring two- or three-bedroom units. These trends mean CHF must develop regional partnerships, especially with nearby Aboriginal communities, and engage with government in regional planning. The 10 Year Plan targets an end to homelessness by January 29, 2018. Ending homelessness means that an individual or family will stay in an emergency shelter or sleep outside for no longer than one week before moving into a safe, decent and affordable home with the support needed to sustain it. The CHF leads the implementation of the 10 Year Plan in partnership with the many homeless-serving agencies, the private sector, government partners, the faith community, other foundations and all Calgarians to end homelessness in Calgary once and for all. Calgarians wishing to contribute by making donations or volunteering are encouraged to visit the CHF website: www.calgaryhomeless.com.

Journal Name: Calgary Homeless Foundation

State of Homelessness in Calgary: 2012 Report

2012-02-06T10:49:36

KEY FINDINGS

Organization: Calgary Homeless Foundation

Behavioural interventions for preventing HIV infection in homeless or unstably-housed adults

Egbewale, Bolaji E.; Uthman, Olalekan A.; Odu, Olusola O.; Adekanmbi, Victor — 2012-02-02T11:23:09

The terms “homeless” can refer to variety of situations, such as runaway, throwaway, unaccompanied, street, and systems youth). Homeless adults constitute one of the most-at-risk of HIV because they are usually engaged in different HIV risky sexual behaviours (Baybuga 2004; de Carvalho 2006). Owing to their high personal and social risks, usually marked by human rights abuses, victimization and violence, they are more prone to HIV acquisition and transmission (Ribeiro 2001; Boivin 2005). In addition, they are less likely to seek HIV prevention counseling, test and care (Naranbhai 2011). Homeless adult do not have adequate access to social and health services, including health education, because they are marginalized and underserved (Snell 2002; Baybuga 2004).

Journal Name: Intervention Protocol

Prevalence and Risk of Homelessness Among US Veterans

2012-02-02T11:15:02

Understanding the prevalence of and risk for homelessness among veterans is prerequisite to preventing and ending homelessness among this population. Homeless veterans are at higher risk for chronic disease; understanding the dynamics of homelessness among veterans can contribute to our understanding of their health needs. Methods We obtained data on demographic characteristics and veteran status for 130,554 homeless people from 7 jurisdictions that provide homelessness services, and for the population living in poverty and the general population from the American Community Survey for those same jurisdictions. We calculated prevalence of veterans in the homeless, poverty, and general populations, and risk ratios (RR) for veteran status in these populations. Risk for homelessness, as a function of demographic characteristics and veteran status, was estimated by using multivariate regression models. Results Veterans were overrepresented in the homeless population, compared with both the general and poverty populations, among both men (RR, 1.3 and 2.1, respectively) and women (RR, 2.1 and 3.0, respectively). Veteran status and black race significantly increased the risk for homelessness for both men and women. Men in the 45- to 54-year-old age group and women in the 18- to 29-year-old age group were at higher risk compared with other ages. Conclusion Our findings confirm previous research associating veteran status with higher risk for homelessness and imply that there will be specific health needs among the aging homeless population. This study is a basis for understanding variation in rates of, and risks for, homelessness in general population groups, and inclusion of health data from US Department of Veterans Affairs records can extend these results to identifying links between homelessness and health risks.

Journal Name: Preventing Chronic Disease

The Housing Market and Canada’s Economic Recovery

Pomeroy, Steve — 2012-02-02T09:03:56

A healthy housing sector, able to meet a broad range of needs, is a vital part of the economic and social wellbeing of any community. Whether they are recent college graduates, new immigrants, or senior citizens, Canadians at various income levels and stages of life have different housing needs. Local governments have been implementing an array of initiatives to increase and preserve the supply of rental and affordable housing. Providing tax exemptions, addressing intensification and redevelopment, streamlining approvals, and exploring alternative development standards, municipalities are doing their part; but they can’t do it alone. FCM's report, The Housing Market and Canada’s Economic Recovery, is calling on the federal government to provide low-interest loans to finance new rental construction; reform the tax system to prevent the demolition of existing rental housing; and provide incentives to lower rental costs through better energy efficiency.

Organization: Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Engaging the Reluctant? Service Learning, Interpersonal Contact, and Attitudes toward Homeless Individuals

Knecht, Thomas.; Martinez, Lisa M. — 2012-02-01T12:39:56

This article examines the extent to which service-learning courses affect students' attitudes and opinions. Elsewhere, we used a pre/postsurvey field experiment to demonstrate that volunteering with a homeless person tends to erode the stereotypes held by the domiciled—a confirmation of the venerable contact hypothesis. Here we use the same research design to assess whether students in service-learning courses exhibit a similar type of opinion change after spending a day with a homeless person. We find that even with limited contact a significant number of service-learning students came away from their time with homeless individuals holding fewer stereotypes and with a more nuanced perspective on the causes and consequences of homelessness. Nevertheless, working with a homeless person did have a negative effect on some students and contact generally failed to change students' views on public policy.

Journal Name: Americal Political Science Association

Tags: homeless

Next Step Financial Achievement

2012-01-30T12:53:58

This video follows the personal stories of three individuals who struggled with very low income. Heather, Kelly and Bernice share their experiences with the Next Step financial achievement program and talk about the difference it has made in their lives. In this one year journey, they discovered that in spite of very low income, they could take charge of their personal finances, achieve goals and better manage their lives. The Next Step financial achievement program is sponsored by More Than A Roof Foundation. It is regularly made available to low income tenants of More Than A Roof Housing Society.

Organization: More Than A Roof Housing Society

Tags: housing

RS-01 – Affordable Rent and Home Ownership Limits for Calgary (Revised 2012 January 16)

2012-01-26T02:19:16

Tags: housing

FF-04 – Affordable Housing in Calgary (Revised 2012)

2012-01-26T02:11:58

This document provides summary information on housing affordability, adequacy and suitability in Calgary. More detailed information can be found in The City of Calgary's Research Briefs on housing need and in Research Summary RS-01 - Affordable Rent and Home Ownership Limits for Calgary

Organization: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Research Unit

Tags: housing

FF-01 – City Definition of Affordable Housing (2012)

2012-01-24T02:48:46

For Calgary City Council, "affordable housing adequately suits the needs of low- and moderate- income households at costs below those generally found in the Calgary market. It may take a number of forms that exist along a continuum" including various rental options through to entry-level home ownership. Affordable housing projects are targeted to households with 65% or less of median household income in Calgary (City of Calgary, 2002: 18), meaning households with a before-tax income of less than $44,000 per year (Statistics Canada, 2007). Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has determined that for housing to be affordable, a household should not spend more than 30% of its gross income on rental shelter costs (CMHC, 1991: 4). Affordable housing initiatives in Calgary are therefore targeted to households with a gross annual household income below $44,000 that are spending 30% or more of their gross household income on shelter costs.

Organization: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Research Unit

Tags: housing

Youth on the Street and Youth Involved with Child Welfare: Maltreatment, Mental Health and Substance Use

Goldstein, A. L.; Amiri, T.; Vilhena, N.; Wekerle, C.; Thornton, T.; Tonmyr, L. — 2012-01-24T11:46:08

Adolescents who are homeless face a variety of adverse outcomes and are at risk for concurrent mental health symptoms and substance use. Many come to the streets with a history of maltreatment, and have left home to escape dysfunctional environments, only to find themselves exposed to additional violence on the streets. Youth involved with child welfare* face similar challenges and many are at risk of homelessness due to a lack of resources when transitioning out of the child welfare system. Existing research indicates that concurrent mental health symptoms and substance use, particularly among adolescents, is poorly understood and very challenging to address.

Organization: Child Maltreatment Section, Public Health Agency of Canada

Housing Subsidies and Homelessness: A Simple Idea

O'Flaherty, Brendan — 2012-01-24T11:24:02

Reducing homelessness is an indisputable social good, and housing subsidies offer one way to do so. However, subsidies come in many different varieties and are intricately bound up with economic and social policies. This paper, written by one of North America’s leading urban economists, cuts through the tangle and argues that the simplest approach is the best. The ideal way to deter people from harmful acts is to reward them for abstaining. Thus, to combat homelessness, governments should offer housing allowances to people for every night they are not homeless. This optimal homelessness-reducing home allowance (OHRHA) is open to adjustment to suit individual circumstances and the effects of homelessness on different demographics. It is meant to reduce homelessness by aligning individual and societal incentives, forcing people to bear the consequences or realize the benefits that their actions impose on others. The author explores methods for financing OHRHA, examines means for tailoring it to meet the diverse needs of the homeless and discusses the policy’s effect on urban housing markets, all while comparing and contrasting the proposal to existing homelessness-reduction measures in Alberta, Canada and the US.

Organization: University of Calgary; The School of Public Policy

Tags: homelessness

Trouble For Rent

2012-01-23T10:05:32

Leaky roofs. Mouldy walls. Broken doors and windows. Would you want to live in such a place? Probably not. But some tenants of one of Canada's largest landlords have had to endure those conditions for years. Now, Marketplace is exposing renters' horror stories about a multimillion-dollar company that just hasn't seemed to care. In "Trouble for Rent," Tom Harrington meets tenants of a national rental company and uncovers a disturbing history of unhealthy homes, poor maintenance and corporate callousness. On hidden camera we hear what tenants are told when shopping for a new apartment and with the help of experts we put apartments to the test. What we find is troubling so we go looking for answers from the people at the top.

Organization: CBC Marketplace

Tuberculosis among drug users and homeless persons: impact of voluntary X-ray investigation on active case finding

2012-01-23T09:53:16

Illicit drug use and homelessness are major contributors to the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among inhabitants of major cities. Objective The primary objective of this study was to establish a sustainable low-threshold chest X-ray screening programme for pulmonary TB among illicit drug users and homeless persons and to integrate this into the existing public health programme for active case finding. A secondary objective was to estimate the coverage of the programme, assess other risk factors and determine TB rates and treatment outcome in these two groups. Methods Illicit drug users and homeless persons were asked to voluntarily participate in an X-ray screening programme. The coverage of the intervention, total number and characteristics of cases and the follow-up of treatment were assessed. Results A total of 4,529 chest radiographs were made from 3,477 persons, of whom 66% were homeless and 34% were illicit drug users, between May 2002 and April 2007. Coverage for screening once every 2 years ranged between 18 and 26%. Thirty-nine TB cases (14 drug users, 25 homeless persons) were identified, representing 8.7% of the total case load of 448 notified cases of pulmonary TB in Frankfurt during this period. Among the drug users, human immunodeficiency virus coinfection (10/14) seemed to play a key role in the development of TB. The case-finding rate of 861/100,000 radiographs (1,122/100,000 persons) is as high as that in routine contact investigations (1,078/100,000). Among all individuals with TB, 76% completed treatment. Conclusion A novel targeted TB screening approach with voluntary radiographic examination of illicit drug users and homeless persons can be integrated into the existing public TB prevention programme and provides a high case-finding rate.

Journal Name: Infection

The Utility of Mentoring Homeless Adolescents: A Pilot Study

2012-01-23T09:46:48

Despite the intuitive appeal and popularity of mentoring programs, mentoring has shown only limited success for positively impacting children’s psychosocial functioning. Furthermore, we were not able to identify a study that examined the potential utility of mentoring for homeless adolescents. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of mentoring among a group of homeless adolescents who were also receiving substance abuse treatment. Methods: This pilot study examined the impact of mentoring among homeless adolescents (n = 90) between the ages of 14 and 20 years who also received substance abuse treatment. A longitudinal design was used in which adolescents were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and following the completion of treatment at 6 months postbaseline. Results: Findings showed that adolescents with a history of physical or sexual abuse attended more mentoring sessions. Also, mentoring in addition to treatment was associated with a decrease in problem consequences associated with substance use. However, more mentoring with fewer treatment sessions was associated with an increase in internalizing behaviors. Only these two outcomes were associated with mentoring. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: While not providing resounding support for mentoring, this study suggests that examining the mentor/mentee relationship may be a fruitful line of future research given that significant variability among the mentor/mentee pairs was noted for some outcomes of interest.

Journal Name: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Childhood Obesity and Dental Caries in Homeless Children

Chiu, Sheau-Huey; DiMarco, Marguerite A.; Prokop, Jessica L. — 2012-01-23T09:42:56

Childhood obesity and dental caries are increasing epidemics, especially among children who are living below the poverty level. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and caries in homeless children. Methods A secondary data analysis with a correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 157 children was recruited from a homeless shelter. Results Pearson’s and partial correlations were used to explore the relationships among age, BMI, and caries. Most of the children were girls and were African American. Slightly more than half of the children were overweight (19.7%) or obese (30.6%) and had caries (50.3%). Significant positive correlations between age and BMI (p = .03) as well as between age and caries (p = .003) were found. As BMI increased, so did caries (p = .08). Discussion Consistent with reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homeless children had higher BMI and caries rates than the national averages. Although a definitive conclusion between obesity and dental caries cannot be drawn, these two health issues are important areas for all pediatric health care providers to address at every visit.

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Health Care

Mobilizing homeless youth for HIV prevention: a social network analysis of the acceptability of a face-to-face and online social networking intervention

2012-01-23T09:39:49

The objective of the study is to use social network analysis to examine the acceptability of a youth-led, hybrid face-to-face and online social networking HIV prevention program for homeless youth.Seven peer leaders (PLs) engaged face-to-face homeless youth (F2F) in the creation of digital media projects (e.g. You Tube videos). PL and F2F recruited online youth (OY) to participate in MySpace and Facebook communities where digital media was disseminated and discussed. The resulting social networks were assessed with respect to size, growth, density, relative centrality of positions and homophily of ties. Seven PL, 53 F2F and 103 OY created two large networks. After the first 50 F2F youth participated, online networks entered a rapid growth phase. OY were among the most central youth in these networks. Younger aged persons and females were disproportionately connected to like youth. The program appears highly acceptable to homeless youth. Social network analysis revealed which PL were the most critical to the program and which types of participants (younger youth and females) may require additional outreach efforts in the future.

Journal Name: Health Education Research

A Prospective Study of Childhood and Adolescent Antecedents of Homelessness among a Community Population of African Americans

2012-01-23T09:36:44

Much is known about contemporaneous correlates of homelessness from studies of homeless individuals. However, few studies have prospectively examined early antecedents and prevalence of homelessness in community populations. We use data from a 35-year study of a community population of African Americans to examine relationships between homelessness and prior structural, family, school, and behavioral influences. Nearly 22% of males and 16% of females reported homelessness between ages 15 and 42, providing a rare estimate within an African American urban community population. In bivariate analyses, lower school bonds, depressed mood, violent behavior, and running away in adolescence are predictive for both males and females. Teen parenting and angry mood are unique influences for females, while for males, poor first grade classroom conduct and adolescent substance use are unique risks. In multivariate analyses, poor classroom conduct and weaker school bonds predict homelessness among males, while teen parenting does so for females. Running away before age 15 is strongly predictive of later homelessness for both males and females. These results reveal the relative influence of multiple, interrelated early risks on homelessness and confirm our hypothesis that factors linked to other poor outcomes also relate to homelessness, underscoring another benefit to early prevention efforts.

Journal Name: Journal of Urban Health

Homelessness down but seen rising anew: report

Simpson, Ian — 2012-01-19T11:44:49

U.S. homelessness slipped 1 percent from 2009 to 2011, but the sluggish economy left more poor people struggling to pay for housing and just a step away from shelters, an advocacy group said in a new study on Wednesday. The drop to 636,017 homeless people last year could prove short-lived, since it was likely due to $1.5 billion in federal aid that will run out this year, the National Alliance to End Homelessness said in its report. "The fact that homelessness dropped in the middle of a downturn is counter-intuitive," Nan Roman, the Alliance's president and chief executive, told a news conference. The federal aid, part of an economic stimulus package, "seems to have worked," she said. The Alliance, which groups public, private and non-profit organizations, said the biggest decrease in homelessness was among veterans, with the number falling 11 percent to 67,495 in 2011. The overall decline in homelessness, however small, may not last long. Current trends point to the number of homeless people rising about 5 percent through 2013, Peter Witte, a researcher who compiled the study, told reporters. In one indicator of possible trouble, the number of poor households that spent more than half their incomes on rent -- defined as "severely housing cost burdened" -- rose 6 percent to 6.2 million, the report said. The number of people living "doubled up" with friends, relatives or others jumped 13 percent to 6.8 million. "Doubling up" is the usual step before people move into shelters, Witte said.

Journal Name: Reuters

The State of Homelessness in America 2012

2012-01-19T10:57:31

The State of Homelessness in America 2012 examines homelessness between 2009 and 2011, a period of economic downturn in the nation. The report shows that despite the bad economy, homelessness decreased by 1 percent during this period. The decrease was likely due to a significant investment of federal resources to prevent homelessness and quickly re-house people who did become homeless. The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) was a $1.5 billion federal effort to prevent a recession-related increase in homelessness. It was built upon ground-breaking work at the federal level and in jurisdictions across the nation to improve the homelessness system by adopting evidence-based, cost effective interventions. In 2010, its first year of operation, it assisted nearly 700,000 at-risk and homeless people. This report provides evidence that it was successful in achieving its goal of preventing a significant increase in homelessness. Despite the fact that the number of homeless people was essentially unchanged between 2009 and 2011, there is much reason for concern. As this report points out, economic and demographic indicators linked to homelessness continue to be troubling. Homelessness is a lagging indicator, and the effects of the poor economy on the problem are escalating and are expected to continue to do so over the next few years. The resources provided by HPRP have run out in many communities and the program will sunset entirely in the fall of 2012; despite the need and proven effectiveness these resources have not been replaced. Debt and deficit reduction at the federal level have begun to shrink assistance available to the most vulnerable. In the year since the data in this report was collected (January 2011), there have already been reports that the number of homeless people is increasing. So while holding the line on homelessness between 2009 and 2011 was a major accomplishment of federal investment and local innovation, the failure to sustain this early recipe for success threatens to undermine progress now and in the future.

Organization: National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

2.28 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T12:18:53

2.28 The Homeless Hub Newsletter - January 18, 2012

Tags: newsletters

Poverty: A Huge Cost to Our Health-care System

Yarema, Megan — 2012-01-17T09:57:24

Today the premiers meet with the federal government to discuss the future of the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and Canada Social Transfer (CST) which support provincial health and social systems. The transfers are critical funding streams that can improve the dismal welfare rates, long hospital wait times, and limited child care spaces that plague all provinces. As governments are expected to do more with less, it is important to talk about addressing poverty. Poverty equals poor health and costs society billions of dollars each year, making it a key component of any conversation on health and social programs. Poverty and health go hand-in-hand. People in poverty are more likely to use the health care system because of physical and mental health issues or illness, and be more likely to face an early death. Stress, poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and unstable social environments are a few reasons for this. Known as the social determinants of health, these issues can lead to increased pressure on the health care system. Current healthcare spending that is associated with poverty is estimated at approximately 20 per cent. This fact demonstrates the weight that socio-economic disparities have on health systems and the importance of discussing both the future of the CST and CHT together. While the debate on the future of the CHT has garnered media attention in the past few weeks, little commentary is surfacing on the funding of the CST, which directly impacts programs that benefit people with low-income.

Journal Name: Huffington Post Canada

Impacts of a Peer Support Program for Street-Involved Youth - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

The Homeless Hub — 2012-01-12T03:55:35

Homelessness is a growing problem in urban centers, and Aboriginal people are overrepresented within the homeless population in Canada. Youth are the most vulnerable group of homeless people, largely at risk for gang recruitment, prostitution and exploitation. Violence and abuse at home is often the reason youth leave home and become street-involved, and their victimization continues on the street. In the absence of positive role models, street-involved youth often turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with negative experiences. Research has shown that street-involved youth benefit from interventions designed to improve their adaptive coping skills.

Tags: youth

Closing the gap between EI and welfare

Monsebraaten, Laurie — 2012-01-03T04:29:53

Tiffany McDowell was thrilled to land a customer service position at an Oshawa technology firm last January, several months after her daughter’s first birthday. The job, which required no night work and was located on a bus route near her daughter’s babysitter, seemed like a perfect fit for the financially strapped single mom who had worked in a book store and a call centre before Alexandra was born. But her hopes of climbing out of poverty were dashed last July when IQT Solutions went bankrupt and McDowell discovered she didn’t have enough insurable hours to qualify for employment insurance. “It was a real blow to lose that job,” she says. “And without EI, I had no alternative but welfare.” McDowell, 25, is among a growing number of area workers who either aren’t covered by EI or don’t qualify and could benefit from a proposed “Jobseeker’s Loan” designed to bridge the gap between employment insurance and welfare, says social policy researcher Michael Mendelson. Last year, more than 700,000 unemployed Canadians were either not covered by EI or ineligible, he says. Across the GTA, only about one-quarter of unemployed workers received EI. Under Mendelson’s proposal, income-tested forgivable loans would be available in bi-weekly payments of almost $700 for six months. The loans would be repaid based on total earnings for the year the money was received — they would be completely forgivable for those with incomes below about $10,000 and fully repayable for those earning about $71,000. At about $51,000, recipients would have to repay half of the Jobseeker’s Loan. All adults looking for work would be eligible for the full loan of almost $9,000 every five years and it would could cost the federal government about $1 billion annually. “I hope people will explore it and think about it as an alternative to welfare, which is a very oppressive, paternalistic and stigmatizing program,” says Mendelson, who came up with the scheme with colleague Ken Battle as part of a larger review of EI released in November by the University of Toronto’s Mowat Centre. “It would fill a large hole in Canada’s income security system, at a reasonable cost,” he adds.

Journal Name: The Toronto Star

Cuts could close path out of homelessness

Kennedy, Brendan — 2012-01-03T10:02:37

As a proud Newfoundlander, David Oliver naturally turns to maritime metaphors to describe his life. So when he talks about the role the Downsview Dells men’s shelter played in his transformation from a homeless alcoholic who cycled in and out of jail to the proud, happy and life-loving man he is today, he can’t help himself. “The Dells was my ship to the mainland,” says the 41-year-old former construction worker, whose fridge-like frame would be intimidating if it were not attached to his goofy, disarming grin. “Without the Dells, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today … it saved my life.” Where Oliver is at today is a world away from where he was in September 2010, when he walked into the Salvation Army’s emergency shelter in Brampton after his latest — and he hopes last — stint in jail. Oliver was broken. He had used up the last of his family’s sympathy and had nowhere else to go. Today he’s coming up on 15 months clean and sober, having moved steadily from “the Dells” — a city-run shelter in North York for men battling addictions — to the graduated system of transitional housing provided by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, where residents earn more independence and responsibility the longer they stay clean. Oliver talks excitedly about launching a home-renovation business in the near future. He already has sleek new business cards — smartly designed with a cartoon caricature of himself in a yellow hard hat and blue overalls — which he uses as a motivational tool to remind him of his goals. “My next step has to be to step away from the system and let someone else come in behind me.” But if Mayor Rob Ford’s 2012 budget is passed as it is proposed, the path Oliver took to lift himself out of homelessness and addiction simply won’t be an option for those who follow him. For one, Downsview Dells — the life-saving ship to which Oliver attributes much of his recovery — may be sunk. It’s one of three small-but-specialized city-run shelters slated for closure to save a total of $1.9 million (closing the Dells alone will save $652,000). At the same time, the 11 houses St. Vincent de Paul rents from Toronto Community Housing — including Oliver’s current home — are among the 706 to be sold on the open market to help the city’s struggling housing agency work down a $650 million repair backlog. (The sale must still be approved by city council and the province.) On top of that, a major cut to the affordable housing budget means the city will build dramatically fewer rent-geared-to-income homes over the next few years, while the ever-growing affordable housing wait list breaks new records every month. (There are now more than 81,000 households on the list, another record.) The combination of cuts and the TCHC sell-off could create a perfect storm to worsen homelessness in the city, say housing experts, making success stories like Oliver’s much harder to come by, if not impossible. “It really is a one-two punch,” says Michael Shapcott, director of affordable housing and social innovation at the Wellesley Institute, a non-profit think-tank for urban health. “We’re choking off the housing options for low-income Torontonians, we’re shutting down the shelters that are a necessary part of the process to help people move from chronic homelessness into housing, and two of those sets of policies together really create a vicious loop.”

Journal Name: Toronto Star

“Breaking the Day Up”: Homeless People's Strategies to Adopt Urban Public Space

Wilkeneit, Katja — 2011-09-27T01:06:11

Homelessness is a widespread phenomenon in urban areas, particularly in large cities. Alongside other sciences, social anthropology has been concerned with homelessness and its many aspects characteristics and facets. Particularly in the USA many publications concerning homelessness have been published since this topic began to arouse public interest in the 1980s (Glasser and Bridgeman 1999: 1-2, Jencks 1994: 1, Gruber 2007: 4). Besides the causes of homelessness, homeless people's daily routine and way of living in certain local environments and the importance and the development of social networks have been studied (Glasser and Bridgman 1999).

Journal Name: Cultural Contrasts in Dublin: A Montage of Ethnographic Studies

USICH issues report to congress on a common Federal vocabulary to describe housing status

US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) — 2011-06-28T12:31:09

At the request of Congress, USICH hosted a day long forum in January to discuss the benefits, challenges, and next steps for creating and implementing a common federal vocabulary and data standard on housing status. Today, USICH has released a summary report to Congress based on the outcome of this meeting which included the active participation of 85 attendees from federal agencies, Congress, and advocacy groups as well as researchers, homeless service providers, and people who have experienced homelessness. The report to Congress released today describes the structure of the January event, summarizes the feedback received at that meeting, and reflects on what we think can be done to continue working towards a common vocabulary and data standard that will better inform our work to end homelessness. The meeting was requested by Congress to discuss a June 2010 report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled Homelessness: A Common Vocabulary Could Help Agencies Collaborate and Collect More Consistent Data.

Organization: U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

Tags: USICH; vocabulary; housing; GAO; Congress

HCH Research Updates

2007-03-28T01:32:55

Each quarter, research databases are searched for publications related to health care and homelessness. Many of the results from this customized search can also be found in a database on the HCH Information Resource Center website at www.bphc.hrsa.gov/hchirc/bibliographies. (Authors)

Organization: National Health Care for the Homeless Council

Tags: health; resource centers