mckeon & drapal

8/18/2019 Mckeon & Drapal

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Catholic Health Alliance of Canada

WORKSHOP

Faith Communities Engagedto End Homelessness:

Becoming part of the solution

Bob McKeon, PhDAssociate Director, Office for Social Justice

Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton

Jana DrapalCoordinator, Social Justice

Diocese of Calgary


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10 YEAR PLAN TO

ELIMINATE HOMELESSNES

Calgary

Edmonton

Province of Alberta


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Housing First

In the past, homelessness was viewedas a problem to be managed - withshelters, drop-in centers and otheremergency supports. People had to beprepared for, or transitioned into,housing. They needed to deal withmental health problems, tackle addictionissue or find a job first.The Housing first philosophy turns thatapproach upside down. The first step isto find a homeless person their ownpermanent home. The next step is toensure he has the supports he needs to

be successful in that home. Because thebest place to tackle the underlyingissues that lead to homelessness is insafe, secure housing - not on thestreets.


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How it works

Becoming part of the program

Finding an apartment

Moving in

Settling in and determiningsupports

Graduating from Housing first


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Statistics have been taken from the CalgaryHomeless Foundation and the Point In-Time

Count in August 2012.

http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002

Calgary, AB.

http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002http://newsroom.calgaryhomeless.com/press-releases/correction-from-source-rise-in-calgary-s-homeless-201210250828919002


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August 2012 Count

Aboriginal People make up 21% of theoverall number of homeless

21% of Calgary’s Homeless arechildren (12 and under), youth(between ages of 13-17), and youngadults (between ages of 18-24)

Women represent 25% or one quarterof the homeless population

There were 198 homeless families on

August 15, 2012 (Summer count). OnJanuary 18, 2012 (Winter count) therewere 160 homeless families (18.8%less than 2008).


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At a meeting in early 2007, the KAIROS Calgaryworking group asked Dermot Baldwin of the Drop-In Centre how they could best help families. Hesaid, “Help develop affordable housing forfamilies. ”

Over the subsequent three years, KAIROSCalgary investigated building and operating itsown affordable housing project. It was determinedthat KAIROS Calgary did not have the financialcapacity or operational capability to do a projecton its own.

This led to KAIROS Calgary and the CalgaryHomeless Foundation discussing opportunities to

work together and leverage each other’s strengths. The purchase of Acadia Place by theCalgary Homeless Foundation in the fall of 2009brought together the two groups.


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www.acadiaplace.com


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Not only does this project involve a number ofchurches, but it also includes the Government of

Alberta, The City of Calgary and the CalgaryHomeless Foundation.

The Government of Alberta contributed nearly $6million toward the purchase of this building. As well,a number of the non-profit agencies that providedsocial supports to the tenants did so using programdollars from Housing and Urban Affairs, or nowcalled Human Services.

The City of Calgary contributed $541,000 toward

the purchase of this building as well.


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Acadia Place is a 58 unit family affordablehousing complex that provides housing andsupports to families at risk of or experiencing

homelessness.

KAIROS Calgary partnered with the CalgaryHomeless Foundation to reduce familyhomelessness in Calgary by fundraising toreduce the mortgage on the building, andtherefore keeping the building sustainable forfuture families in need and keeping rentsaffordable for families. More than $275, 000has been raised so far.

Church Volunteers are also involved onsite withfamilies through volunteer projects.


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Community Building

Christmas Adopt-A-Family program& Christmas Potluck

Church Volunteers organize Canada Day BBQ andgames. Two boys living at Acadia Place assist with

Playground Build.


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In collaboration with the CalgaryHomeless Foundation, whose role isProperty management & maintenance ofAcadia Place, the role of CUPS is toengage tenants and create a sense ofcommunity, to provide affordable housing

and develop tenant supports both withinthe building and extending out into thegreater community.

http://www.cupscalgary.com/


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Community Building

Creation of a Tenant Board and organizingPrograms for families, such as Healthy CookingClasses on a Budget, Financial Budgeting, etc.

Increase integration within the community byremoving barriers to access all that a communityhas to offer. For example, Martial Arts Classesoffered to children.

Opportunities are social and recreational,ensuring a healthy building and a stronginclusive community.

Onsite CUPS Community Developer working in

Resource Centre at Acadia Place to assistfamilies when they are struggling.


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CUPS is looking to potentially expandthe Faith Community model that hasbeen adopted at Acadia Place to theirthree other affordable housing locationsacross the city.

KAIROS has started to reflect onexpanding the Acadia Place project tothe wider community and making it

interfaith.


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http://coldestnightoftheyear.org/home

KAIROS is looking at doing the ColdestNight of the Year Walkathon next year inFebruary 2014 to raise funds towards

Acadia Place.

People from the Community will have anopportunity to walk the Streets wherehomeless service agencies are located,experience a little of what it feels like tobe cold outside, and learn abouthomelessness.

http://coldestnightoftheyear.org/walktv/vi

deo2013$1,636,379 reached!

goal $1,000,000 walkers 8,183teams 1,071 donors 38,332

distance 41,285 km today $600


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Tent City Edmonton 2007


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Congregational Workshops


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Year 4 Key Numbers1,664 permanent homes secured for 2,325

people who had been homeless.The vast majority secured housing in theprivate rental market.

86% of the people housed have retained their

housing.

55 newly constructed units have beencompleted.

The October 2012 Homeless Count found2,147 homeless Edmontonians – 29% fewerthan 2008 count before the launch of the YearPlan.

X After significant reduction in first 2 years of

Plan, shelter use increased in Years 3 and 4.

Government funding for homeless supportcontinues to increase.

X Government funding of new permanentsupportive housing units is falling behind.


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Measuring Success

Boyle McCauley Health Center’s Pathways toHousing measured the healthcare savings for68 clients after one year in the program:

DECLINE: COST SAVING

Use of emergency $45,430

Number of days $2,192,680

in hospitalTOTAL COST SAVING $2,238,110

Note: this figure does not include savings in justiceand elsewhere


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Thank you for taking time

to participate with us today

mckeon & drapal

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