I'm looking at Housing First programs, and it seems like a lot of good work is being done in Canada. The Globe and Mail of Toronto, ON publishedthis story on Thursday, March 21. According to it, research on the Canadian "At Home" Program has had promising results:
"With the proper supports, many mentally ill homeless people are able to not just stay off the streets, but also get the rest of their lives in order." - Heather Scoffield, The Canadian Press
Just last week, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s spring budget included funding for a homelessness eradication program that is shifting towards a Housing First focus, so most of the buzz on Twitter about Housing First has been from Canada these days.
Ottawa renews 5-year funding for Affordable Housing & Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Emphasis on #housingfirst www2.macleans.ca/2013/03/21/ott…
— Ian Gerbrandt (@IanGerbrandt) March 21, 2013
What are the core principles of #HousingFirst? Does it really work? ow.ly/jhRRP
— Homeless Hub (@homelesshub) March 21, 2013
Hopeful about the budget investment in housing We need to insure that comprehensive social &health supports r present in any #HousingFirst
— John Lee (@JohnLeeGSC) March 21, 2013
Housing First initiatives have gotten more and more attention lately. Studies have been showing for years that the models work to decrease homelessness, and that they save money in the long run. Canada's government just ran what Scoffield calls the world's largest study on Housing First, and since the results were promising, it looks like policymakers there are getting on board.
-Alisa
-Alisa
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