ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT ON HOUSING AND SUPPORTS
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Streets to Homes is a pilot program based on the “Housing First with Supports” model, which aims to move 120 people directly from homelessness to permanent market housing and provide customized supports to help them stay there. The program secures housing, integrates services, and improves coordination to effectively deliver services to people with mental health and substance use issues who are experiencing homelessness.
What is Housing First with Supports?
- Pioneered in New York in the early 90s by service organization Pathways to Housing.
- Based on the premise that housing is a right, and that everyone is ready to be housed regardless of his or her circumstances and behaviours.
- Does not require clients to abstain from drugs/alcohol in order to be housed.
- Provides clients with the unique supports they require in order to stabilize and progress after being housing.
- Is now also being applied in Canadian cities like Toronto and Calgary.
To qualify for Streets to Homes, potential tenants must:
- Have been homeless for at least 12 months in the past two years.
- Have an observable mental health or substance-use challenge.
- Accept the supports and terms of the program.
Benefits of the program:
- The stabilizing effect of housing reduces a client’s use of law-enforcement and emergency medical services (Report on Housing and Supports, 2010).
- Because of the unique tailoring of supports to each client, Streets to Homes programs in other cities have seen the vast majority of their housed clients stay housed, making S2H an excellent long-term solution.
- Landlords are frequently reluctant to rent to individuals newly off the streets because of a perceived risk to their property and financial interests. Streets to Homes mitigates these risks by paying rent directly to landlords and having the financial resources to pay for the repair of any potential damages.
Streets to Homes is a collaborative effort on the part of the Coalition and eight partner organizations. To learn more about the program, please contact one of our partners:
Housing and Social Development - Homelessness Intervention Project
BC Housing - Management Commission
Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA)
Our Place Society
Pacifica Housing
Salvation Army - Shelter Program
Victoria Cool Aid Society
Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Community Members are invited to donate to the Streets to Homes Pilot Program through the Sun Star Fund "I'll Match" campaign through the Victoria Foundation.
The Coalition is grateful for the funding for the Streets to Homes Program provided by VIHA, the City of Victoria, the United Way of Greater Victoria and BC Housing. A special thanks to the Sun Star Fund and the Hugh and Helen Mogensen Fund, both through the Victoria Foundation.
