housing first and youth
DESCRIPTION
"Housing First and Youth" by Stephen Gaetz from the workshop 4.6 Housing and Service Models for Homeless Youth at the 2014 National Conference on Ending Homelessness.TRANSCRIPT
Stephen Gaetz Director, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Professor, Faculty of Education, York University Toronto, Canada
Housing First and YOUTH
July 30, 2014
Can HOUSING FIRST work for youth?
The causes and experience of homelessness for youth are distinct . . .
Therefore so must be the solutions!
Research on Housing First for Youth
• Scott, F., & Harrison, S. J. (2013). Calgary,
Alberta: The Infinity Project. In S. Gaetz, F. Scott & T.
Gulliver (Eds.), Housing First in Canada: Supporting Communities to End Homelessness, (pp. 61-75). Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network.
• Forchuk, C., Richardson, J., Laverty, K., Bryant, M., Csiernik, R., Edwards, B., … Kelly, C. (2013). Service preferences of homeless youth with mental Illness:
Housing first, treatment first, or both together. In
S. Gaetz, B. O’Grady, K. Buccieri, J. Karabanow & A. Marsolais (Eds.), Youth homelessness in Canada: Implications for policy and practice, (pp. 95-109). Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.
1. Immediate access to housing with no preconditions.
2. Youth choice and self determination.
3. Positive youth development orientation.
4. Individualized and client-driven supports.
5. Social and community integration.
CORE PRINCIPLES
Housing First Framework
It is both
PROGRAM and a
PHILOSOPHY?
The Application of Housing First
HOUSING
What kind of HOUSING?
Youth need different Housing Options
Age appropriate models of accommodation for Youth?
Case Management
• Client driven
• Assessment
• Family reconnection
• Shelter diversion
Housing
Income/ Education
Health
Complementary
Supports
Youth
engagement
What kinds of SUPPORTS?
Help in obtaining housing
Housing retention
Rent supplements
Support when things go wrong
Aftercare
1. Housing
Supports
Trauma informed care
Mental Health
Substance use and addictions
Harm Reduction
Healthy Sexuality
2. Health and
Well-Being
Youthful age of clients
Landlord concerns and liability
Friends and maintaining housing
Program and staff acceptance
Community acceptance
Government of Canada
Issues re: Harm Reduction
Income supports
Training
Employment
Education
3. Income and
Education
Life skills
Adult support and mentoring
Family reunification
Anti-discrimination environment
Supporting young people with children
Advocacy
4. Complementary
Supports
Developing social relations
Community engagement
Cultural engagement
Meaningful activities
5. Meaningful
Engagement
Housing First
“For the first time in my life I am not living a program. I am living my life.” Youth participant in the Infinity Project, quoted by Kim Wirth, Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary
www.homelesshub.ca/housingfirstyouth
Housing First Framework for Youth report available at:
FOYER Report and Tool kit
Questions or comments?
www.homelesshub.ca