Delegation To Examine Housing First
By 250 News
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 04:37 AM
Prince George, B.C.- A delegation of a dozen people from Prince George is preparing to head to Victoria and Portland Oregon to get details on Housing First.
Housing First is an initiative to end homelessness. It centers on providing homeless people with housing quickly and then providing the other services they need.
Housing First programs share critical elements:
· There is a focus on helping individuals and families access and sustain permanent rental housing as quickly as possible and the housing is not time-limited;
· A variety of services are delivered primarily following a housing placement to promote housing stability and individual well-being;
· Such services are time-limited or long-term depending upon individual need; and
· Housing is not contingent on compliance with services – instead, participants must comply with a standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully.
The Mayor, three Councillors and reps from various departments at City Hall will be among those who will take the trip that will look at two such programs, one in Victoria, the other in Portland.
Manager of Leisure Services, Tom Madden says Housing First has proven to be a successful strategy to help people overcome homelessness “Housing First has been tremendous for Portland which is a city that continues to be a leader in many areas of life style. Portland is continuously listed as one of the favoured places to live.”
Madden says the idea to explore the Housing First program came from a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in 2007. Those involved in assisting the homeless indicated the Columbus hotel fire really drove home the need for a better plan on housing. “We need an overall strategy, from emergency shelters to long term, the whole spectrum” says Murry Krause who is with the Central Interior Native Health Society.
Madden says it was coincidental that the Columbus hotel fire, which left 6 people without housing, happened just before plans for the Housing First research were developed “ It certainly adds to the desire to see how Housing First might fit our community, and gave more impetus to move forward.”
The trip will likely take place at the end of September or early October. The delegation will spend two days in sessions in Portland learning more about how Housing first benefits the community. The sessions will include discussions with social agencies, the police and City of Portland reps.
Mayor Colin Kinsley says he is looking forward to taking a large delegation to the two communities “I think it will show that we are serious about doing something to end homelessness.”
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Posted by: Eagleone on September 2 2008 5:34 AM