There is No Place like Home
Driving to work early morning through Halifax, it is evident that the need to support homelessness in Nova Scotia (NS) remains. The Canadian definition of homelessness according to Gaetz et al. (2012) is, “Homelessness describes the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.” Although this has been a priority for government at all levels for at least a decade, the data shows that homelessness numbers are remaining constant in Nova Scotia and increasing in specific vulnerable groups such as youth and aboriginal populations. A vulnerable group can be defined as, “groups and communities at a higher risk for poor health as a result of the barriers they experience to social, economic, political and environmental resources, as well as limitations due to illness or disability (NCCDH, 2018). Many individuals fit into more than one of these populations putting them at greater risk. Despite many efforts, homelessness is still an issue that has an effect on many other resources such as health care and the correctional system. Many factors contribute to both individuals and families not be able to find affordable or adequate housing. These include a shortage of government funded structures, how services are dispersed, cost of housing and substance abuse. Much of the population of Nova Scotia resides in the urban center known as the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and many of the strategies aimed at addressing homelessness have been have concentrated within this area with municipal programs and extra funding. This only perpetuates the homelessness issue in rural parts of NS where economically these areas are seeing a decline in jobs and an increase in housing costs.
Federally, the government of Canada started the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) in 2006 aimed at the prevention and reduction of homelessness across the country. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities in all provinces and territories (www.canada.ca, 2017). This initiative was evaluated and renewed in 2008 for another five years due to the continued need for the program and again in 2013. The focus of the HPS in 2013 took a ‘Housing First’ approach. Housing first is a recovery oriented approach to homelessness that involves moving people who experience homelessness into independent and permanent housing as quickly as possible, with no preconditions, and then providing them with additional services and supports as needed (Gaetz et al, 2013). The thought behind this approach is that if people have safe and secure housing they are more successful at addressing other issues they may face. Traditional methods had people ready themselves to be fit for independent housing first. “The housing first model is simple: provide housing first, and then combine that housing with supportive treatment services in the areas of mental and physical health, substance abuse, education and employment” (Pathways to Housing Website), Looking at the table below we can see how the HPS has had a national impact on the approach to homelessness. Both provinces use the housing first approach currently however Alberta adopted this philosophy many years before NS. In Nova Scotia, the HPS program operates through community-based advisory boards - for HRM (the Community Advisory Board), and for rural Nova Scotia (the Rural and Remote Advisory Board). These bodies are comprised of diverse groups of shelter and service providers, federal and provincial government representatives, the faith community, and people with first-hand experience of homelessness.
Homelessness in NS did not become a key issue provincially until 2011 with the adoption provincial affordable housing strategy. This strategy introduced Housing Nova Scotia replacing previous government departments. Housing Nova Scotia (HNS) entered into a 3-year agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) called Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 (IAH Agreement) involving more than $60M. The Agreement was cost-shared 50:50 by the government of Nova Scotia and its housing partners, and the government of Canada. Over the three years of the agreement, the funds were invested to help over 7,400 low-to-moderate income families, seniors, and individuals, persons with disabilities, vulnerable individuals, and victims of domestic violence access safe affordable homes. (HNS, 2014). In 2014, the Agreement was extended for five years - the 2014-19 IAH Extension Agreement. It made available $102M in cost-shared 50:50 funding for housing. In the first two years of the Extension Agreement, HNS’ investments have helped over 5,100 low-to-moderate income households in need to access healthier and safer homes.
Housing Nova Scotia and the Provincial Department of Health and Wellness have adopted the Housing Strategy for Nova Scotia, in Spring 2013 as there strategic plan towards developing a Housing First Approach. The Housing and Homeless Partnership was created shortly after which includes nine organizations including Housing Nova Scotia. It is under this partnership and with stakeholder contributions the housing First approach has been implemented as one of the solutions to find Nova Scotian’s safe and affordable housing.
Halifax Housing First is an important approach to help move people experiencing homelessness with complex mental health and addictions challenges along with chronic health issues, out of long-term homelessness and into homes. Phase one aims to house 50 - 60 of Halifax’s most chronically and repeatedly homeless individuals.
Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) Housing First is a team based housing first approach developed at the North End Community Health Centre. They have the capacity to support up to 60 individuals who have experienced homelessness for long periods of time (on average 5+ years). The MOSH team consists of a team lead, five intensive case managers, a primary health care nurse, and peer support. Through a partnership with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, our team includes a mental health occupational therapist and a mental health nurse. Additionally, through a partnership with the Mi’Kmaw Native Friendship Centre our clients have access to culturally appropriate, intensive support.
Emergency and temporary housing is also key to combatting homelessness. Shelter Nova Scotia is the main organization that provides these services. They have two facilities for men and women experiencing homelessness, a supportive housing program for men and women moving from shelter living to community living, an apartment complex for men transitioning out of shelter life, a Community Trustee Program for individuals in the community and two Community Residential Facilities that help men and women make the change from prison living to community living.
The Homeless Hub (2017) points to three main ways to address homelessness:
Prevention
Emergency Response
Housing Accommodations, and Supports
The programs and support are present in Nova Scotia to address number 2 and 3. Housing First is just in phase one however and will need continuous support. What isn’t addressed as well is the prevention of homelessness. “Giving people barrier-free housing and support is a crucial step, but we also need to build more affordable housing, work against growing income inequality and poverty, and provide appropriate support and care around mental and physical health issues.” (Homeless Hub, 2017). This includes eviction prevention programs, support for survivors of domestic violence and discharge planning from hospitals and correctional facilities. Housing Nova Scotia’s goal was to end homelessness by 2019. To reach that goal prevention needs to become a key priority.
Comparing the work being down to target this vulnerable population in Nova Scotia compared to Alberta is shown is below.
Comparison:
Looking at the information collected from both provinces it appears that the current strategic direction of addressing homelessness is similar. This is likely partly due to the fact that the Housing First philosophy is supported at the federal level of government. Alberta is however ahead of Nova Scotia in using the housing first approach by many years and programs are better funded. Alberta appears in many case studies when researching the topic and their positive results helped drive the current direction at many levels.
References
Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (2015). HALIFAX HOMELESS POINT IN TIME COUNT: A Survey of People Living on the Streets & Shelters. Retrieved From:
http://housingandhomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/We-Are-Here-The-HRM-Point-In-Time-Count-Web-Updated-Version.pdf
Gaetz, S, Scott, F., Gulliver, T. (2013) Housing First in Canada: Supporting Communities to End Homelessness. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.
Gaetz, S.; Barr, C.; Friesen, A.; Harris, B.; Hill, C.; Kovacs-Burns, K.; Pauly, B.; Pearce, B.; Turner, A.; Marsolais, A. (2012) Canadian Definition
of Homelessness. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.
Housing and Homelessness Partnership Website. http://housingandhomelessness.ca/
Housing First – MOSH http://housingandhomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/MOSH-Housing-First-Backgrounder.pdf
Housing and Homelessness Partnership. Homeless Needs Assessment Summary. Retrieved From: http://housingandhomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Summary-Halifax-Housing-Needs-Assessment.pdf
Housing Nova Scotia. Business plan 2018-2019 Retrieved From: https://housing.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/HNSBusinessPlan1819_0.pdf#overlay-context=Publications
Housing Nova Scotia. Accountability Report 2018- 2019 Retrieved From https://housing.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/HNSAnnReport2017.pdf
Housing Nova Scotia (2013). Housing Strategy for Nova Scotia - Building Community and Affordability for Nova Scotia Families. Retrieved From: https://housing.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/Housing_Strategy.pdf
National Housing Strategy. (2016) Canada’s National Housing Strategy: A place to call home. Retrieved From: http://housingandhomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Canada-National-Housing-Strategy.pdf
Navigator Street outreach Program https://navigatorstreetoutreach.ca/
NCNS Rural Aboriginal Homelessness Program http://ncns.ca/ncns-rural-aboriginal-homelessness-program/
Government of Canada (2014). Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Community Plan 2014–2019. Retrieved From: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a65f576aeb625ade6b35818/t/5a662e1b652dea6d3daa9c6d/1516645919751/Community+Plan+2014-2019+-+Approved.pdf
PovNet (2018) http://www.povnet.org/regional/nova-scotia/issues/homelessness
Shelter Nova Scotia www.shelternovascotia.com
The Homeless Hub (2018) – Nova Scotia http://homelesshub.ca/community-profiles/nova-scotia/halifax