Responding to Offender Housing NeedsResponding to Offender Housing Needs

H2H: A Model for Second Stage H2H: A Model for Second Stage Housing for the ‘Hard to House’Housing for the ‘Hard to House’Anita Desai, Research & Policy Advisor

Peer Mentoring: A Train the Trainer Peer Mentoring: A Train the Trainer ApproachApproach

Elizabeth White, Executive Director

St. Leonard’s Society of CanadaOctober 3rd 2013

21st Century Justice: The Economics of Public Safety

Vancouver, British Columbia

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St. Leonard’s Society of Canada is a membership based, charitable organization founded in 1967.

Mission : To provide a humane and informed justice policy and responsible leadership to foster safe communities.

Actions:Endorse evidence based approaches to criminal and social justicePromote socially responsible conduct throughout the justice system in an effective and ethical mannerConduct research and develop policySupport member affiliatesAdvance collaborative relationships and communication among individuals and organizations dedicated to social justice

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H2H: A Model for Second Stage H2H: A Model for Second Stage Housing for the ‘Hard to House’Housing for the ‘Hard to House’

Peer Mentoring: A Train the Trainer ApproachPeer Mentoring: A Train the Trainer Approach

What’s the Connection?

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Study of four Canadian cities by Pomeroy (2005) found the annual basic costs per person were:

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institutional responses

(prison/detention and

psychiatric hospitals):

$66,000 to $120,000

Supportive and

transitional housing:

$13,000 to $18,000

emergency shelters (cross

section of youth, men’s women’s,

family and victims of violence):

$13,000 to $42,000

affordable housing without

supports (singles and family):

$5,000 to $8,000Gaetz, Stephen (2012): The Real Cost of Homelessness: Can We Save Money by Doing the

Right Thing? Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press

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2009-10 Community Connections investigated CBRF capacity

to connect residents to mental health services

2011-12 Homes for the ‘Hard to House’ addressing the

housing needs of ex-inmates

2013 Homes for the ‘Hard to House’: Testing the H2H

Model pilot project underway

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Second Stage Housing defined as consisting of relatively private accommodations provided on a temporary basis along with intensive support services intended to facilitate the transition to permanent housing. It is more long term, service‐intensive and private than emergency shelters, yet remains time limited.

Homelessness is a manifestation of poverty at its most severe, and it is a visible outcome of a lack of affordable housing. Factors can include: high cost of housing, unemployment, low income and insufficient minimum wage rates, relational breakdown, mental health issues, addictions, victimization and abuse. (CHRN pan-Canadian definition, 2012).

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seen as a critical element to reintegration

offers a step towards independent living

provides essential support services to tenants

presents people with an opportunity to carry

forward the success they have built

addresses risk factors involved

returning to the community

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96% work with individuals who have a mental health disorder

10-30% of residents being discharged from a CBRF go to short term housing of 3 months or less.

Housing ranked most important need for clients at discharge

Most clients pay for housing from an income support program (welfare, disability, pension (CPP), Employment Insurance) or through employment

80% collaborate with community housing services; however, a clear lack of available housing is a contributing factor when trying to find people to long term homes

24% (N = 17) of survey respondents also operate SSH

65% of SSH programs surveyed stated 80-100% of their residents have criminal histories

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Client Needs - As identified by survey respondents:Safe, affordable and supported housingMental Health supportSubstance Abuse supportEmployment/Education opportunities

Important to note that these are integrated needs and success in one area cannot occur without success in the others.

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First and foremost is the need for safe, affordable housing. Other needs included:

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Goals: Increase knowledge on SSH in relation to

community corrections Assess the need for SSH for former inmates Create a tool for service providers that supports

the process of creating or improving transitional housing services

Outcomes: The H2H Model and Research Findings Report to support future work in SSH; New SLSC SSH Pilot Project

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What is the H2H Model? An educational resource for service providers

seeking to create or improve an existing SSH program

4 Main Principles Covers several key themes relevant to service

providers

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Four Principles:

Establish common values and objectives Strategize procedures for getting started Consider physical structure and support

components Learn from the experiences of others

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Montreal Findings To Date Baseline Data Collection Needs Assessment Strategy Designed Strategy Implementation (currently underway)

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The Strategy for Increasing Positive Outcomes Downtown: Decrease isolation and increase comfort

levels with being in/navigating the community through access to a nearby Senior’s Centre

East end: In-house peer mentoring program, geared toward substance use

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Successful community integration requires a basket of services.

Peer mentoring is well established in Canada Opportunities exist to expand peer mentoring

into new settings

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Limited presence in institutions Some community engagement Value confirmed

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Dr. Melissa Munn, Okanagan University 350 responses from individuals across all five federal

corrections regions: Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic, who were direct recipients of In-Reach services

~90% of participants found LifeLine positive 100% of community participants approved of the service

“LifeLine gave me hope and insight on doing my time and on working on getting out.”- Survey Participant

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Long-term impact Importance to stakeholders Potential for improvement

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Build on knowledge Build on existing relationships

and expertise

“I think this Concept (Lifeline/

Peer Mentoring) is one of the best

I have ever heard of and I have

loved being a part of it.”- Daryl Clark

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Empower Prisoners to Mentor Provide Helpful Tools Encourage Mutual Support

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How do we market Second Stage Housing for the ‘Hard to House’?

How do we build community engagement and community acceptance?

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Homes for the ‘Hard to House’: A Model for Effective Second Stage Housing

Reports available in hard copy or electronically via SLSC website

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy, with additional support from

Public Safety Canada and Correctional Service of Canada30

St. Leonard’s Society of St. Leonard’s Society of CanadaCanada208-211 Bronson AvenueOttawa ON K1R 6H5613.223.5170 or 1.888.560.9780research@on.aibn.com www.stleonards.ca www.facebook.com/SLSCanada