Presentation on Housing First RainCity ACT Team

Presented by: Barbara Baumgartner, Housing First RainCity ACT Team

February 2013

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At Home/Chez Soi In 2008 the Federal government invested $110million to the Mental Health Commission of Canada to undertake At Home/Chez Soi, a 5-year research demonstration project on homelessness and mental illness. At Home/Chez Soi is: delivering on the ground impact in 5 communities: Vancouver,

Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Moncton proving an intervention to break the cycle of dependence among

the highest cost users of existing systems: chronically homeless people living with mental illness

providing the results & metrics required to invest with confidence in reducing homelessness

social innovation in action

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People in the Study

• 2210 participants nationally (1240 in Housing First, 970 in control group)

• 490 participants in British Columbia (290 in Housing First, 200 in control group)

• Histories reflect high levels of need and high engagement with criminal justice and emergency services

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At Home Model of Housing First • Primary goal to provide permanent, stable housing in private market

• Combines housing with outreach services and supports to help access existing community services

• Participants contribute 30% of their own income

• Develops independence based on individual choice

• Provides access to typical rental housing

• Promotes integration within the community

• Government is not the landlord – shifts the infrastructure costs to the private sector

• Builds community partnerships: police, health and social services, landlords

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Vancouver Demonstration Project

HIGH NEED

(N=290) MODERATE NEED

(N=200)

Housing First + Assertive Community Treatment

Team (90)

Congregate Housing

(Bosman) + On-Site Team

Supports (100)

Usual Care (100)

Housing First + Intensive Case

Management Team (100)

Usual Care (100)

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At Home Models of Support Assertive Community Treatment •Multi-disciplinary team including psychiatrist, nurse practitioner and nurses •Client/staff ratio of 10:1 Intensive Case Management •Team based approach with primary case managers •Connecting people to primary health, mental health and addiction services •Client/staff ratio of 16:1 Bosman Hotel •Multi-disciplinary team including family doctor, psychiatrist and nurses •On-site services and supports

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• Over 900 people currently housed in adequate, affordable, suitable settings

• Stable living conditions contribute to a shift from the frequent use of inappropriate and expensive services

• Housing First has the potential to provide system-wide cost offsets. • Canada can (and is) implementing Housing First

• Benefits cross a range of sectors (health, social services, criminal justice)

Interim Report Findings

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Local Interim Results

Strong support for continued investment in Housing First:

• After 12 months, participants in intervention groups in Vancouver have been stably housed over 70% of the time while those in usual care were stably housed 20% of the time

• The majority of Housing First participants reported integrating into their new neighbourhoods

• There have been fewer emergency department visits • Crime has decreased and public safety improved • Individuals who have not been well-served by our current approach, are

being successfully housed in adequate, affordable, and suitable settings

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Qualitative Findings - Themes from 18-month

follow-up: • People less preoccupied with safety or survival concerns on a

typical day • People experience more control over interactions with others • People experience changes in significant relationships

Early Findings

Sunshine ________________ This young lady always brightens my day with her youthful spirit. Caring, sharing and willing to learn, she can be a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

3M 6M 9M 12M

Preliminary National Data Shows Housing Stability Improving

Intervention TAU

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What next?

• With the help of funding from the federal government the provincial government is now finalizing plans to continue to fund housing and comparable support after the At Home/Chez Soi project ends in March

• Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is committed to supporting participants in their transition from the research project

• The At Home/Chez Soi teams are working with the Health Authority to find the best ongoing support options for participants

• Participants will continue to be housed after March 2013 and will be provided with supports

• A one-year lease extension has been signed for the Bosman Hotel

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Thank you Visit: www.mentalhealthcommission.ca Follow us on:

The views represented herein solely represent the views of the presenters. Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.