1

2

Steering Committee Members

•Chair:Kelly Holmes,ResourceAssistanceforYouth,Inc.

•Phil Chiappetta,RossbrookHouse

•Marie Christian,VOICES:Manitoba’sYouthinCareNetwork

•Tammy Christensen,NdinawemaaganagEndaawaadInc.

•Paywapan Colomb,EAGLEUrbanTransitionCentre

•Marion Cooper,CanadianMentalHealthAssociation,Manitoba,andWinnipeg

•Karen Ferris,YouthAgenciesAlliance

•Randy Flett,YouthAdvisor

•Kirby Fults,MaMawiWiChiItataCentre

•Sean Gander,NewDirectionsforChildren,Youth,Adults,andFamilies

•Shohan Illsley,The595PreventionTeam

•Jamil Mahmood,SpenceNeighbourhoodAssociation

•Diane Redsky,MaMawiWiChiItataCentre

•Jason Romanyshyn,YouthMentor

•Kelly Schettler,MacdonaldYouthServices

•Mike Tutthill,RainbowResourceCentre

Ex-Officio Steering Committee Members

•BrandonNeighbourhoodRenewalCorporation

•EndHomelessnessWinnipeg

•ManitobaHousing,DepartmentofFamilies

•SocialPlanningCouncilofWinnipeg

Community Researchers

•Christina Maes Nino,ProjectCoordinator,SocialPlanningCouncilofWinnipeg

•Maria Godoy,Research,ResourceAssistanceforYouth,Inc.

Research and Facilitation Support

•Markus Beveridge

•Isidora Draskovic

•Laura McDonald

•Olena Ptukha

Facilitation of Roundtables

•LAHRKConsulting

Design

•RelishNewBrandExperienceInc

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Theplanwouldnotbepossiblewithouttheactiveparticipationofhundredsofyouthwhosharedtheirstories,hopesandrecommendations.

Thank you for courageously sharing your wisdom.

ThedevelopmentofthisplanfirstbeganinthecollectiveimaginationoflocalleadersinWinnipegwhohavebeenworkingfordecadestoprevent,reduceandendyouthhomelessness.TogetherwiththegeneroussupportofTheWinnipegFoundationandtheGovernmentofManitoba,thevisionofasharedstrategywasrealized.

AspecialthankstoEndHomelessnessWinnipeg,theNationalLearningCommunityonYouthHomelessness,AWayHomeCanada,andtheCanadianObservatoryonHomelessnessforyourguidanceandsupport.

Thisdocumentisdedicatedtoallpersonswhohaveexperiencedorarecurrentlyexperiencinghomelessness.

HereandNow:WinnipegPlantoEndYouthHomelessness

ISBN:1-895752-85-x

October2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 ABOUT THE PLAN

5 A MESSAGE

7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

9 BACKGROUND

20 DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN

23 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

41 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN/FRAMEWORK

43 CONCLUSION

44 APPENDICES

45 END NOTES

4

OUR STORY ThestoryofthisplanbeginswiththeexperiencesofyouthonthestreetsofWinnipeg.Forthevastmajorityhomelessness was not a choicebuttheresultofstructural,system,andfamilybreakdowns.Youthhomelessnessisacomplexsocialissuewithdireconsequencesforyouth,ourneighbourhoodsandcommunities.Yet,weknowtodaythatyouth homelessness is preventable.

Localyouth-servingagencieshavebeencooperatingtoaddresstheneedsofyouthfordecadesandbeganworkingonacollaborativemodelthatbuildsonthestrengthsandknowledgeofallstakeholdersinthefallof2014.

THE CONTEXTGlobally,thestrategyisnestedintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.Nationally,theplanjoinsinsolidaritywithdozensofcitiescurrentlydevelopingandimplementingplanstoendyouthhomelessnessacrossCanada.Locally,thefollowingdocumentaspirestoembodygrowingcommunitymobilizationeffortsthatseektounderstandandaddress the enduring legacy of colonization and the meaning of reconciliationinWinnipegandManitoba.

OUR INTENTIONThisplanintendstoserveasaguideforgovernment,fundersandcommunitymemberscommittedtoendingyouthhomelessness.Bysettingacommondirectionthatisgroundedintheprinciplesofreconciliationwepointtonewpolicy,funding,andprogramdevelopment,principlesandpriorities.

Thestrategyisintendedtobealivingdocument,onethatisregularlyrevisedtoguaranteerelevancetotheemergentandchangingneedsofyouthinourcommunity.Thisisonlythefirststepofacollectivemovement.

The time is now.

ABOUTTHE PLANThegoalofHereandNow:TheWinnipegPlantoEndYouthHomelessnessistodevelopthesharedvision,actionframeworkandgroundingprinciplesneededforeffectivesystems’integration,policyandprogramalignment,andcollaborationbetweenallcommunitystakeholders.Togetherweseektoreduceandendyouthhomelessnessthroughacommunity-sanctionedstrategythatprovidesyouthandtheirfamilieswithwhattheyneedtothrive.

5

MynameisSavannah.Iamtwenty-nineyearsoldandIwasborninWinnipeg,Manitoba.

IwasinvolvedinthePlantoEndYouthHomelessnessinWinnipeg.Iwenttofocusgroups,consultationsandworkshops.Ievendidsurveys.

Youaresousedtobeingtoldthatsomethingishappeningandthenitisnot.Iwassoproudtobeapartofitandthenitcametrue.DuringtheplanIfeltveryinvolvedandimportant,itwasrewardinginitself.

Iknowaboutyouthhomelessness.Iknowthatitisnotachoice,itaffectsyourself-esteemandyourworth.Youdonotfeellikeyoubelongandsometimesyoustandoutmorethanothers.

Youcanmakebadchoiceswhenyouarehomeless,likeprostitutionandcrime.Youhavepressureswhenyouareonthestreetsandyoulearntododrugs.

Youthhomelessnessisnotsafe.Ifyouarenewonthestreetsit'slikeabigsignonyourforeheadthatyouarenewandvulnerable.

Also,youthhomelessnessinWinnipegisgettingbiggerandbigger.Whenyouarehomeless,youcangounderabridgeandthereare15peopleandyouarenotalone.Onthestreetsyouhaveasenseofbelongingandpeoplegettoocomfortablethere,sotheydon’twanttoleave.

Weneedaplantoendyouthhomelessnessbecausewedeservetofeellikeweareworthsomething,worthgettingoffthestreets.

Weneedtomakeyouthfeelliketheyarevalued,andgivepeoplethechoicetogetcleanandgethousingwhentheyareready.

Wewanttofeelacceptedinsociety.

Weneedaplanbecauseweneedtobesafe.Wecanmakethestreetssaferfortheyouththatareonthestreets,reducesuicide,andgetyouthoffthestreetsifweworktogetherwiththisplan.

Iimagineadaywhendrugdealerswon’thavepreytotakeadvantageof.

Ihopethatthisplan:

a. Buildsconfidenceandself-esteeminyouth

b. Givesyouthasenseofbelongingand

c. Givesyouthasenseoftrustandsafety

Iknowthatwhenyouhaveahouse,youhaveabase.Icouldn’tgotoschoolbecauseIdidn’thavearoofovermyheadandIwashungry.Eventhoughmyschoolhadafoodprogram,Icouldnotgetagoodnightsleeptofocusforthenextmorning.HavingahousewasthebaseIneededtoaccomplishmygoals.

Ihopethatthisplanwillreduceyouthhomelessnessandmaybesomedayendit.

A MESSAGE

7

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

PURPOSEEveryday,thereareatleasttwohundredyouthinWinnipegwithoutaplacetocallhome.Homelessnesshasdevastatingeffectsonsociety,communities,andmostimportantly,youththemselves.Despiteinnovativeresponses,strongresearch,andasectorthatworkstogetherthroughthetragedyofhomelessness,wehavenothadthesupport,alliances,orsharedvisionrequiredtoendyouthhomelessness.Bysettingacommondirection,Here and Now: The Winnipeg Plan to End Youth Homelessnesswillguidepolicy,funding,programdevelopment,andcollectiveactionpriorities,groundedintheprinciplesofreconciliation,towardsacitywhereallyouthhaveasafeplacetoliveandthrive.

OVERVIEW

Mission Topreventandendyouthhomelessnessbyimplementingacommunity-sanctionedstrategythatensuresyouthandtheirfamilieshavewhattheyneedtothrive

Vision Acitywhereallyouthhaveasafeplacetoliveandthrive

Teachings Love• Respect• Courage• Honesty• Wisdom• Humility• Truth

Principles 1. Understandyouthholistically,aspartoffamiliesandcommunities.

2. Youthhavearighttoleadthedevelopmentoftheirownplans,andtobesupportedduringandaftertransitions.

3. Buildonwhatisworking.

4. Youthself-identifywhattheywantandneed.

5. Youthhomelessnessisnotacceptable,andweallhavearoleinpreventingandendingit.

Values Respect•Inclusion•Choice•Youth-Centred•YouthVoice•Reconciliation• EquityStrength-based•Holistic•CulturallyCompetent•EvidenceandResearchInformed

8

PROCESS

COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

GuidedbythewisdomandexpertiseoftheSteeringCommittee,theprocessofdevelopingtheplanwasdesignedto:

1. Listen to the voices of youth;

2. Deeplyunderstandtheexistingsystemandservicesforyouthexperiencingandatriskofhomelessness;

3. Identifypotentialsolutionstothecausesofyouthhomelessnessandtoopportunitiestocoordinatepathwaysoutofit;

4. UnderstandthepresentdayrelationshipsbetweencolonialismandyouthhomelessnessandidentifydecolonizingstrategiesbasedinIndigenousworldviews;

5. BuildcommunityconsensusonprinciplesandvaluesthatarefoundationalforthesesolutionstobeimplementedinWinnipeg;and

6. Begintomobilizeallsectorstowardspreventingandendingyouthhomelessness.

AlloftheactionstrategiesaresignificantandrequiredifwearetoendyouthhomelessnessinWinnipeg.Wealsoneedtostartonthemostimpactfulactivitiestobeginpreventingandreducingyouthhomelessnessimmediately.Basedoninputfromyouthandcommunitystakeholdersthefollowingfouractionstrategieshavebeenprioritizedforthefirststepsofimplementation:

1. Access Priority:Developanetworkofregionalhubsopen24/7byincreasingthecapacityofexistingyouth-servingagencies.

2. Prevention Priority: Createaninterdepartmental“ZeroDischargeintoHomelessness”strategy,startingwithacoordinatedprovincialpolicydirection,thatsupportsyouthtransitioningfromanytypeofprovincialgovernmentorgovernmentfundedcare.

3. Housing Priority: Developincreasedsupplyoftransitionalhousingprogramsforyouth.

4. Supports to Thrive Priority: EncourageEmploymentandIncomeAssistance(EIA)toincreasethestabilityofincomesupportsforyouth.”

1 2 3 4Youth have immediate access to the supports needed to prevent, alleviate and respond to homelessness.

Youth and their families struggling with risk factors of homelessness are identified and supported.

Youth have access to a full range of housing, and housing with support options, based on need and choice.

All youth with experience of homelessness have the supports they need to maintain housing and thrive.

•Establishacoordinatedaccessstrategy

•Improvecollaborationamongstakeholdersbypromotingcommunication

•Removebarrierstoaccessacrossyouthservingagencies,governmentagencies,andsafespaces

•Establishacentralizedpublicinformationresource

•Fosterresilienceamongfamiliesandcommunities

•Preventnewcomeryouthhomelessness

•Adoptandimplementschool-basedpreventionstrategies

•Ensureyouthingovernmentcaredonotexitintohomelessness

•SupportIndigenousyouthmigratingtoWinnipeg

•Decolonizesystemsandapproachestoserviceprovision

•Re-envisiontheemergencyresponseforyouth

•Increasethesupplyanddiversityoftransitionalhousingoptions

•Developafullcontinuumofpermanenthousingandsupportsforyouth

•Fosterresilienceamongyouthexitinghomelessnessthroughholisticandongoingsupports

•Addresssystemicbarrierstoyouths’housingstability

•Enhancethecapacityofinformalandcommunity-basedsupports

•Embedhealingintosupportsandsystemsforyouth

PREVENTION HOUSING & SUPPORTS

SUPPORTS TO THRIVE

ACCESS

The following strategies and objectives are grounded on the principles and values of the plan:

9

BACKGROUNDDEFINING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

YOUTHDefining‘youth’isadifficulttaskbecausethereisnoconsistentlegalorsocialstandard.AccordingtotheUnitedNations

‘youth’ is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness of our interdependence as members of a community. Youth is a more fluid category than a fixed age-group.1

Whileweacceptthefluidityofthedefinitionof‘youth’,forthepurposesofthisstrategya‘youth’isdefinedasanypersonbetweentheagesof15and29yearsold.Inrecognitionofthebarrierstoaccessthatcanoccurfromimplementingafixedagecategory,thisplanadvocatesforbetterintegrationofadultandyouthservices.

However,wealsorecognizethatage matters.Thereisanotabledifferencebetweentheneeds,circumstances,anddevelopmentofa15yearoldcomparedtoan18or27yearold.Further,someyouthmayalsoexperiencedevelopmentaldelays.2Inordertobesuccessful,programresponsesmustbetailoredtothespecificdevelopmentalandcognitiveneedsofyouthwithinthisbroadage-range.

HOMELESSNESSConsistentwithayouth-centredandholisticapproach,theWinnipeg Plan to End Youth Homelessnessadvocatesforacomprehensivedefinitionofhomelessness.BorrowingfromtheUnitedNationsSpecialRapporteurontheRighttoAdequateHousing,weadheretoathree-dimensionalhumanrightsdefinition:1)homelessnessastheabsenceofahome;2)homelessnessassocialexclusion;and3)youthexperiencinghomelessnessasholdersofhumanrights.

Homelessness as the Absence of a HomeAccordingtotheCanadianDefinitionofHomelessness,thehomelessnesstypologyincludesexperiencesofbeing:

1. Unsheltered,orabsolutelyhomelessandlivingonthestreetsorinplacesnotintendedforhumanhabitation;

2. Emergency Sheltered,includingthosestayinginovernightsheltersforpeoplewhoarehomeless,aswellassheltersforthoseimpactedbyfamilyviolence;

3. Provisionally Accommodated,referringtothosewhoseaccommodationistemporaryorlackssecurityoftenure;and

4. At Risk of Homelessness,referringtopeoplewhoarenothomeless,butwhosecurrenteconomicand/orhousingsituationisprecariousordoesnotmeetpublichealthandsafetystandards.3

Further,researchsuggeststhatyouthmorecommonlyexperiencehiddenhomelessness.Thismeansbeing‘provisionallyaccommodated’onfriends’couchesandwithfamilymembersneverknowingiftheywillbekickedoutthenextday.4

Itiscriticaltonotethatyouthmovefromthesedifferentcategorizationsofhomelessnesstoprecarioushousing,andevenstablehousing,thenbacktohomelesssituations,sometimesinrelativelyshortperiodsoftime.Thisisevidentthroughpoint-in-timecounts,aswellastrajectoriesyouthdescribedintheSystemPathwaysintoYouthHomelessnessresearch.5Aswithfixedage-groupdefinitions,rigidcategoriesofhomelessnesscannotbeappliedtoexcludeyoungpeoplewhoarestruggling.

Homelessness as Social ExclusionImportantly,homelessnessisnotonlythelackofadequatehousingbutisalsodefinedbysocialexclusion.6Socialexclusionreferencesthestigmatizationandmarginalizationthatsubjectsyouthexperiencinghomelessnesstomultipleformsofsocialdiscrimination.

Homeless Youth as Right HoldersYouthwithexperiencesofhomelessnessareequalmembersofoursociety.Theyareresilientastheystruggleforsurvivalanddignity.Youthexperiencinghomelessnessarecentralagentsandactiveparticipantsofthesocialtransformationneededfortheimplementationofresponsestoyouthhomelessness.

10

DEFINITION OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESSForthepurposesofthisdocument“YouthHomelessness”referstothesituationand

experienceofyoungpeoplebetweentheagesof15and29whoarelivingindependentlyofcaregiversanddonothave,orhavetheimmediatemeans/abilitytoacquire,

stable,safeorconsistentresidence.

ThefollowinginfographicpresentsdataregardingyouthfromtheWinnipegStreetCensus2015.8Theresearchprojectisa‘momentintime’studyintendedtogatherinformationabouttheextentandnatureofhomelessnessinWinnipeg.Despiteitsmethodologicallimitations,itprovidesuswithimportantdemographicinformationtoimprovedecision-makingandinformstrategies.

TheWinnipegStreetCensuspointstotheneedforpreventativeapproachestoendinghomelessness.

18yearsoldwasthemostcommonagethatindividualsfirstbecamehomeless;70%ofthoseexperiencinglong-term(10+years)homelessnessfirstbecamehomelessasayouth.

OnoneinOctober,2015,26.5%ofallpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesswereyouth,betweentheages16-29.Forthoserespondents:

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN WINNIPEGTheGovernmentofCanadaestimatesthathomelessnessaffects150,000Canadianseveryyear,including65,000youth.YouthareconsideredtobethefastestgrowingsegmentofthehomelesspopulationinCanada.7

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN WINNIPEG

#1

family conflictbreakdownand/or violence

REASON WHY YOUTH BECOME HOMELESS 48%

Are Female

30%Moved to Winnipeg

in the last year

+ 16%Recieve EIA

Disability Assistance

41%Recieve Employment & Income Assistance

(EIA)

84% Indigenous

23%LGBTQ2S*Homeless for

6+ months

35% Grew-up on

68%Spent time in care of CFS

reserve

73%Had no formal

income

32%

11

Inthisstudy,wewereinformedbyanecologicalperspective,whichemphasizeshowpovertyandhomelessnessareinfluencedbytheinteractionbetweenpersonsandtheirphysicalandsocialenvironments.9Thefollowingsectiondescribeshowstructural,systemic,familyandindividualfactorsshapethepathwaysbywhichyouthbecomehomelessness.Thesenestedstructuresinteractwithoneanothertocreatetheconditionsforyouthhomelessness.

STRUCTURAL FACTORS

Colonialism

ItisimpossibletodiscussyouthhomelessnessinWinnipegwithoutaddressingthehistoricalandcontemporaryprocessesofcolonization.ColonizationreferstothecomplexsetofdiscriminatoryandoppressivepracticesthatoriginatedfromtheWesternexpansionintoNorthAmerica.10ThesepracticesestablishedunequalpowerrelationswithIndigenouspeoplesthatcontinuedthroughthedevelopmentofthemodernstateofCanada,includingthecreationofreserves,relocationtoremoteareas,andtheestablishmentofresidentialschools.11Theintroductionofsystemsofeducation,justice,health,andchildwelfarehaveresultedinacycleofdeprivation,povertyandunemploymentforIndigenouspeoplesinCanada.12

Thesuffering,poverty,andsystemsbreakdowndescribedbelowandexperiencedbyIndigenouspeoplesstemfromtheprofoundlydestructivelegacyofcolonization.Effectivedecolonizationofthestructuresofoursocietyrequiresreconciliation.

To the [Truth and Reconciliation] Commission, “reconciliation” is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. For that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgment of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.13

“Iwasn’ttaughtaboutmyculture,thatwouldhavebeenahugehelp.”—Youth

“[Weneed]moreculturalawarenessgroups:drumgroups,traditionalmedicineteachingstohavemoreofasenseofcommunity,sothatyoudon’tfeelaloneinthestruggle.”—Youth

Discrimination

•Discriminationonthebasisofsex,age,sexualorientation,race,andgenderidentityisintricatelylinkedwithinequity,povertyandthesocialexclusionthatplacesyouthatriskofhomelessness.AccordingtotheCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights,‘discriminationmaycausepoverty,justaspovertymaycausediscrimination’.14

Poverty

•TheincomegapinManitobaiswidening.Overthelasttwentyyears,theaverageannualincomesofthewealthiestManitobafamilieshaveincreasedby$51,929,whilethelowestincomefamilieshavegainedonly$4,937(inconstantyeardollars).15

•IndigenouspeoplesinWinnipeghavealmostdoublethepovertyratethanthegeneralpopulation(17versus10percent).Further,unemploymentratesarealmostthreetimeshigher.

•IndigenousmigrantstoWinnipegareparticularlyvulnerable,sincetheirincomesremainbelow$10,000peryear15monthsafterarrivalinthecity.16

Housing Affordability

•Homelessnesshasitsrootsinhousingmarketdynamics,andparticularlyinthedifficultyinobtainingaffordablehousing.17

•NearlyoneinfivehouseholdsinWinnipegpayover30%oftheirincomeonsheltercosts,meetingthedefinitionofcorehousingneed(22%).

•Renterhouseholdsareatincreasedrisk,37%ofthempaidmorethan30%oftheirincomeinrentin2011(34,191households).

PATHWAYS TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

12

SYSTEMIC FACTORSSystemsintendedtosupportthehealthydevelopmentofchildrenandyouthtendtooperatefromauniversalapproach.Thislimitstheirabilitytobeflexiblewhenrespondingtoyouthwithcomplexexperiencessuchastrauma,mentalhealthorcognitivechallenges,oranabsenceofsupportiveadultstoassistinnavigatingthesesystems.Youthwiththeseexperiencesarealsomorelikelytobeconnectedwithmultiplesystems,whichfacedifficultiescoordinatingwitheachother.Homelessnessoftenoccursasyouthtransitionfromorbetweenthesesystemswithoutthemeans,skills,orsupportsneededforsuccess.

Child and Family Services (CFS)

68.2% of youth experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg spent time in the care of CFS18

•Manitobahasoneofthehighestratesofchildreninstatecare.Thereare10,501childrenincareinManitoba.19

•Indigenouschildren(FirstNations,MetisandInuit)incareaccountforcloseto87%ofallchildrenincare.20Foravastmajorityofyouth,andparticularlyIndigenousyouth,childwelfareinvolvementisaprofoundlynegativeexperience.21Manyyouthexperiencehousinginstabilitywhileincare,includingrunningawayandplacementbreakdowns.22

•Anestimated500youthleavethecareofManitobaChildandFamilyService(CFS)everyyear.23YouthexitCFScarelargelyunpreparedforlifeasanadult;theyleavecarewithoutahigh-schooleducation,employmentexperience,ortheessentiallifeskillsrequiredforindependentliving.24

“IagedoutofCFS,theygaveme400dollars,paidonemonthofmyrentandsaid‘haveanicelife’.Yougofromhavingemotionalandcommunitysupport,likecheckinguponyouandcaringaboutyou,tonothing.” —Youth

Justice

Over half of youth experiencing homelessness have been in jail, a youth detention centre, or prison25

•Individualsleavingprisonsareatanincreasedriskofhomelessness,whilesimultaneously,thoseexperiencinghomelessnessareatanincreasedriskofincarceration.2627

Health, Mental Health and Addictions

Almost 60% of youth experiencing absolute homelessness spend a night in a hospital in a given year28

•AstudyfromLondon,Ontariofoundthat167of1,588(10.5%)individualsweredischargedfrompsychiatricwardswithnofixedaddresswithinasingleyear.29

•TheWinnipegStreetHealthReportfound50%ofyouthexperiencingabsolutehomelessnessinWinnipegwerediagnosedwithamentalillness.30

Education

Between 63-90% of homeless youth have not graduated high-school despite being of age to have done so31

•Lowschoolperformance,loweducationalattainmentandschooladjustmentproblemsarepredictiveofhomelessness.3233

•WhileManitoba’sstudenttrackedhighschoolgraduationratefor2014was87%,Indigenousstudentshadagraduationrateof54.5%.34

Employment and Income Assistance

46.7% of youth who are homeless in Winnipeg receive their income from EIA, general or disability assistance. However, 32% have no formal source of income35

•Youthovertheageof18canbeeligibleforEIAiftheyareunabletoworkorfindwork.However,incomeassistancewasdescribedbyyouthtobeoneofthemostdifficultsystemstonavigate.36

•Further,whenreceivingincomesupportsyouthareoftenunabletocomplywiththerequirementsincluding:completingforms,attendingappointments,meetingdeadlinesandmore.Withoutinterventionfromadvocates,manyfailtocomply,arecut-offfromassistance,evicted,andreturntohomelessness.37

13

FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL FACTORSFamilyandindividualfactorsleadingtohomelessnessareintricatelyconnectedtostructuralandsystemicfactors.Therelationshipbetweenfamilyconflictandyouthhomelessnessiswelldocumented.3839Familyconflict,breakdownorviolencewasthemostfrequentlycitedreasonforindividuals’firstexperienceofhomelessnessinWinnipeg,thisisconsistentwithfindingsacrossCanadaandinternationally.40Difficultfamilysituationsassociatedwithyouthhomelessnessinclude:

•Abuse. Youthmayleavehometoescapeabusivefamilysituations,includingsexual,physical,oremotionalabuse.Youngwomenandgirlsaremorelikelytohavebeenvictimsofsexualabuse.41

•Neglect.Otherfamilyrelatedfactorsmayincludeneglect,continuousarguments,andparentalcontrolissues.42

•Exposure to domestic violence.43

•Parental substance use.44

•Rejection of Gender and Sexual orientation. Importantly,manyyouthleavehomeduetofamilyconflictovertheirgenderand/orsexualorientation.Hence,LGBTQ2S*youthareoverrepresentedinthehomelessyouthpopulation.45

•Teen Pregnancy.Teenmothersaremorelikelytobecomehomelessasaresultoffamilyconflict.4647

Childrenwhoexperiencetrauma,chronicfearandabuse,sufferfromlong-termdevelopmentalandemotionalconsequencesthatpreventthemfromformingpositiveattachmentsandsocialnetworks.48

However,youthhomelessnessisnotmerelytheresultoffailureonthepartoftheyouthortheirparents,butratheritisthebreakdownoftheparent-childrelationship,whichisoftentheresultofcomplexsocialfactorssuchaseconomicstress,peerinfluences,andcommunityviolence.Indeed,whilenumerousprogramspreventingandreducingneglectandmaltreatment,oftenintheformofparentingprograms,someresearchsuggeststhatsimplyprovidingfamilieswithmoreincomeiseffectiveatreducingmaltreatmentrates.49

Indeed,whiletherearenumerousprogramsaimedatreducingfamilybreakdown,oftenintheformofparentingprograms,someresearchsuggeststhatsimplyprovidingfamilieswithmoreincomeiseffectiveatreducingmaltreatmentrates.50

•Child Welfare

•Justice

•Health, Mental Health & Addictions

•Education

•Employment & Income Assistance

•Abuse

•Neglect

•Exposure to domestic violence

•Parental substance abuse

•Rejection of gender or sexual orientation

•Teen Pregnancy

•Colonialism

•Discrimination

•Poverty

•Housing Affordability

STRUCTURAL

SYSTEMIC

FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL

14

INDIGENOUS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

AdvocatesandresearchershavedeclaredhomelessnessamongIndigenousyouthtobearapidlygrowingnationalemergency.However,Indigenousyoutharenotahomogeneouspopulation.Theyareagroupwithamultitudeofuniqueculturalbackgrounds,legalstatus,experiences,strengths,skillsandperspectives.Assuch,theyexperiencevariedlevelsofneed.Nonetheless,manyaresurvivorsofextremepoverty,racism,ormentalhealthissuesinfamiliesandcommunities,disconnectionfrombirthfamilies,violence,sexualabuseand/orneglectallofwhichcanbetracedtothesharedandcontinuedhistoryofcolonialism.

Importantly,IndigenousyouthexperiencinghomelessnessfrequentlymovebetweenWinnipegandFirstNationscommunities.Astudyof123IndigenousyouthinManitobaexperiencinghiddenhomelessnessrevealedthatparticipantshadmovedmorethanfourtimesinaneighteenmonthperiod.52Onethirdofthosemovesinvolvedtransitioningfromortoareserve.53YouthleaveFirstNationcommunitiesduetofamilyconflict,lackofopportunities(includingeducationandemployment),andtheconditionorabsenceofhousing.WhentheyarriveinWinnipeg,theyoftenlackthesocialsupportsandmeanstofindstablehousing,leadingtohomelessness.Sometimestheyreturntotheirhomecommunitiesandbeginthecycleagain.

Indigenousyouthhavedescribedexperiencingnotonlyphysicalhomelessnessbutalsospiritualhomelessness,a“crisisofpersonalidentitywhereinaperson’sunderstandingorknowledgeofhowtheyrelatetocountry,family,andAboriginalidentitysystemsisconfusedorlacking.”54

Comparedtohomelesspeers,Indigenousyouthexperiencemoredeprivation,discriminationandharassment.Anorganizationalevaluationof180youthatResourceAssistanceforYouth(RaY)55inWinnipeg,foundthatIndigenousyouth:

•Slept outdoors more often

•Were more likely to engage in panhandling, squeegeeing, and flagging for their main income

•Were more likely to report having been harassed by police or cadets

•Were more likely to report having been harassed by the public

•Were more likely to report having been ticketed for vagrancy or trespassing

ResponsestoIndigenousyouthhomelessnessmustnecessarilyberootedinacomprehensiveunderstandingoftheeffectsofcolonization.TheymustalsoberootedinanunderstandingthatIndigenouspeoplesholdrightsundertheCanadianconstitution,includingtherighttoself-determinationandself-government,andtherighttopracticeone’sowncultureandcustomsincludinglanguageandreligion.

The system has created [youth homelessness], and it isn’t working. It has never worked. Indigenous people need to restore our place in caring for our young people.

—Indigenous Leader Discussion

84%ofyouthexperiencinghomelessnessinWinnipegidentifyasIndigenous.AlmosthalfofFirstNationsyouthgrewupinaFirstNationscommunity.51

15

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS NOT ADULT HOMELESSNESS

Thecauses,conditionsandconsequencesofhomelessnessforyoungpeoplearedistinctfromthoseofadults,whichmeansweneedatailoredresponse.1

•Youthareatauniquestageofphysical,cognitive,socialandidentitydevelopment

•Youthhavelittletonoexperiencelivingindependently,lessworkexperienceandfewerlifeskillsthanadults

•Manyyouthcomefromenvironmentswheretheywereexposedtofamilyconflict,includingphysical,sexualandemotionalabuse,disruptionstoschool,neglectandpoverty

•Youthareparticularlyvulnerabletoexploitationandcriminalvictimization

•Youthundertheageof18havedistinctlegalentitlementsandrestrictions

•Youthareoftenservedbyuniqueinfrastructureswithinthejustice,health,educationandchildwelfaresystems

Becauseofthesedistinctionsyouthaccessservicesdifferently.Manydonottrustimpersonalgovernmentsystemsandadultservices,usingthemonlyasalastresort.2

Youthalsohaveuniquestrengths.

•Youthexperiencinghomelessnesshavemorefriendsandhigherfrequencyofcontactwithfamilyandfriendsthanhomelessadults.3

•Youtharemoreresilient.4Generallyspeaking,youthexperiencinghomelessnesshavehopefortheirfuture,dreamsthatmotivatethemandagreatercapacityforchange.Bychangingtheirenvironmentandcapitalizingonhealthyrelationshipswecanendthecycleofhomelessnessforgood.

WHY WE NEED A YOUTH PLANTheseareallimportantthemesthatemergedduringconsultationsforthestrategy.Youthtoldusthathomelessnessforcesthemintotheresponsibilitiesofadulthoodearlywithoutthesocialsupportsandtheskillstheyneedtothrive.

“Thereshouldbemoresupportafterthingsgook.”—Youth

Youthneedadifferentapproach.ThisiswhyitisimportanttoadoptaPositiveYouthDevelopmentframeworkwhichtakesthedevelopmentalneedsandstrengthsofyouthintoaccount.Changecanoccurbypromotingthe Five C’s: competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring.5Thisdevelopmentoftheserequiresthatprogramsinclude:(1)positiveandsustainedadult-youthrelationships,(2)youthskill-buildingactivities,and(3)opportunitiesforyouthparticipationandleadershipincommunitybasedactivities.6

“Inthatprogramtheyalreadyhadaplaceforyoutomovein.Ithadfurnitureandeverythingyouneed.ButI’dratherhavelearnedhowtodothatmyself,soIknowhowto.Iwantsomeonetositwithmeandteachmehowtogetaplace.”—Youth

PositiveYouthDevelopmentapproachesareconsistentwithIndigenousphilosophiesofchilddevelopmentsuchasTheCircleofCourage,whichpromotesgenerosity,belonging,mastery,andindependence.

16

CIRCLE OF COURAGE

BELONGINGemphasizestheimportanceofindividualshavingasenseofconnectednesstosomeoneorsomething –families,clubs,churchgroups,etc.Apositivesenseofbelongingnurturesself-esteem,self-worth,andultimatelyequipschildrenwiththeabilitytodevelophealthyrelationshipswith others.

INDEPENDENCEfocusesonprovidingchildrenwithexperiencestodevelopautonomyandessentiallifeskills.Childrenandyouthlearntoacceptresponsibility.Theyareempoweredtounderstandhowtheirchoicesaffecttheirdestiny.

GENEROSITYisintendedtoprovidechildrenwithopportunitiestodemonstratealtruismandhelpingbehaviors.Childrenlearntounderstandthevalueofgivingbacktothecommunityandmakeameaningfulcontributiontosomeoneelse.

MASTERYreferstotheimportanceofchildrenandyouthdevelopingskillsthathelpthemproduceandexercisecompetence,achievement,andcontroloverself.Childrengainmasterybylearningnewskillsthroughdailylifeandenrichmentactivitiesinwhichtheirenvironmentprovidesthemwithmultipleopportunitiestotappersonaltalents.

Generosity

Mastery

Inde

pend

ence B

elongings

Brendtro,L.,Brokenleg,M.,&VanBockern,S.(1990).Reclaimingyouthatrisk:Ourhopeforthefuture.NewJersey:NationalEducationalServices

17

SHIFTING THE RESPONSEAswiththerestofCanada,Winnipeg’sresponsetoyouthhomelessnesshaslargelyfocusedonreactiveemergencyandcrisisresponsesystems.Whileemergencyresponsesarenecessary,bydefinitionemergencysystemsalonecannotreduceorendyouthhomelessness.

Toreduceandendyouthhomelessness,we must shift our collective responsetofocusonpreventionandearlyintervention.7

Withthisrecognition,communitymembers,serviceproviders,andfundersdevelopedthisplantoinformawayforwardforthesector.

Current Responses to Homelessness in Winnipeg

Whileresourcesdedicatedtoyouthhomelessnessarerelativelyfewcomparedtotheresourcesdedicatedtoadulthomelessness,existingresponsesinthecityarefocusedoncrisisandemergencyresponses.Sometimesemergencyshelter/crisisresponseleadstolongertermhousing,butnotconsistently.Preventioneffortsaresmallinscaleanddisconnectedfromemergencyservices,housing,andlong-termsupports.Long-termsupportsarenotavailableacrossallhousingprograms.Andsupportsforhealing,education,andemploymentareofteninaccessibletoyouthwhoarehomeless.

Thestrategiespresentedinthisplanfocusondevelopingacoordinatedandseamlessresponsethatbuildsuponexistingservices,whileshiftingemphasistowardspreventionandearlyintervention.Bydevelopingacommonagendaandthroughconstantcommunication,communityactivitiescanmutuallyreinforceeachother.

PREVENTION EMERGENCY HOUSING SUPPORTS

Shifting the Response: Systems Integration

PREVENTION EMERGENCY RESPONSE

HOUSING & SUPPORTS

SUPPORT TO THRIVE

Supportsforfamiliesandcommunities

School-basedpreventionSystemsexits

HostHomesRapidRe-housingFamilyReunification

Crisishealth,mentalhealth&addiction

HousingContinuumTransitionalHousing

(FoyerModels)PermanentHousing

withSupports

LifeSkillsEducationEmploymentHealing

PLANNED, SUPPORTED, AND HEALTHY TRANSITIONS

Public InformationCommunity Hubs

Street Outreach Community Hubs

Information Sharing

Street OutreachCommunity Hubs

Information Sharing

Public Information Community Hubs

Current System

Access

18

WHY INVEST IN YOUTH HOMELESSNESSYouthhomelessnessisseriousconcerninWinnipegaffectingthelivesofyouth,oursocialservices,andinterferingwithyouth’sabilitytoexercisetheirhumanrights.Aboveall,youthhomelessnessispreventable.

Issues Connected to Youth Homelessness in Winnipeg:

•Gangs

•MissingandmurderedIndigenouswomen

•Youthsuicide

•Childpoverty

•MigrationfromNorthern,remote,rural,andFirstNationscommunities

•Youthsexualexploitation

YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE VULNERABLE

Experiencinghomelessnesshasimmediateandenduringdetrimentaleffectstothehealthandlife-trajectoriesofyouth.Thelongerayouthspendswithoutasafeplacetocallhome,theworsetheircircumstances.6364Withoutacoordinatedandeffectiveresponsetohomelessnessyouthonthestreetsface:

1. Increased mental health issues and substance abuse

Alcoholanddrugdependencyaswellasmentalhealthconditionsaresignificantlyhigherforyouthexperiencinghomelessness.65Whilementalhealthandsubstanceabusemaypreempthomelessnessinsomecases,66homelessnessisassociatedwithadeteriorationofyouths’mentalhealthandincreasedormoreriskysubstanceabuse.67

2. Sexual exploitation and sexual violence

Youthonthestreetsarecoercedbyeconomiccircumstancesorexploitativeindividualstoexchangesexformoney,shelter,drugs,food,andotherbasicneeds.Researchsuggeststhatbetween25to27.5percentofyouthinsheltersreportbeingexploitedinthesextrade.68Further,homelessyouth,particularlywomenandgirls,commonlyreportbeingrapedandsexuallyassaultedandfearbeingsexuallyvictimized.6970

3. Worsening physical health

Youthexperiencinghomelessnesshavehigherratesofpregnancy,HepatitisC,BandHIVinfectionthantheirpeers.71Importantly,alongitudinalstudyofyouthwithpastexperiencesofhomelessnessfoundthatthehealtheffectsofhomelessnessareenduring,even8yearsaftergaininghousing.72

4. Criminal victimization

Youthonthestreetsaremorelikelytobethevictimsofcrimethanhousedyouth.73Theyarealsomorelikelytowitnessandexperienceviolenceandviolentcrimes.7475

5. Involvement in the criminal justice system

Homelessnessandprolongedhomelessnessinparticularhasbeenassociatedwithincreasesincriminalactivity.76Involvementisalsoassociatedtothecriminalizationofhomelessnessthroughtheenforcementoflawsthatrestricttheuseofpublicspacesandparticipationintheinformaleconomysuchassqueegeeingandpanhandling.77Theseresponsesfailtoaddresstheunderlyingcausesofhomelessnessandcontributetothecycleofincarcerationandhomelessness.

6. Increased mortality78

Accordingtoastudyofstreet-entrenchedyouthinMontreal,youthonthestreetsare11.4timesmorelikelytoperishthanotheryouthinthesameagegroup.79Thisincreasedmortalityislargelytheresultofdrugoverdosesandsuicide.80

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS COSTLY

Thehumanandfinancialcostofyouthhomelessnessislargebecausethevictimization,criminalizationandpoorhealthassociatedwithhomelessnessleadtoanincreaseinserviceutilization.81

InAustralia,thecoststothehealthandjusticesystemservicesduetoyoungpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesswasestimatedat$17,868peryouthperyear,withatotalcostof$773milliontotheAustralianeconomyeveryyear.82

WhilenoequivalentresearchexistsinCanada,thestudydemonstratesthehighcostofyouthhomelessnessinacomparablenation.Thisresearchhighlightstheimportanceofpreventionandearlyinterventiontooffsetthecostsofalifetimeofhomelessness.

By shifting our response towards prevention and rapid intervention, and focusing on youth, we can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of public resources.

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YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE

Lackofaccesstoadequatehousinghasbeenrecognizedasaglobalhumanrightscrisis.83Article25oftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(1948)recognizestherighttohousing:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Further,TheUnitedNationsDeclarationontheRightsofIndigenousPeoplesNo.169reaffirmstherighttohousingandanadequatestandardofliving,addingthatIndigenouspeopleshavetherighttoself-determinetheireconomic,socialandculturaldevelopment.84

Youthhomelessnesshasasevereimpactonyouths’abilitytosatisfyotherprotectedrightssuchas85:

•Therighttoenjoythehighestpossiblestandardofhealth

•Therighttopersonalsafety

•Therighttoaneducation

•Therighttowork

•Therighttonon-discrimination

•Therighttosocialsecurity

•Therighttofreedomfromcruel,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment

Therighttoadequatehousingisanintegralcomponentoftherighttoanadequatestandardofliving.86Asasignatory,Canadaisunderlegalandmoralobligationtopromoteandprotectthehumanrightsofallpeople.

Homelessnessimpactstheabilityofyouthtoenjoytheirhumanrights,assuchallCanadiancitizenshavearesponsibilitytorespondbecausehuman rights belong to everyone.

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?“Humanrightsarerightsinherenttoallhumanbeings,whateverournationality,placeofresidence,sex,nationalorethnicorigin,colour,religion,language,oranyotherstatus.

Weareallequallyentitledtoourhumanrightswithoutdiscrimination.Theserightsareallinterrelated,interdependentandindivisible.”

—Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights87

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LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

Winnipeg’ssystemofyouth-servingorganizationshasbeendevelopedinacrisis-orientedenvironment,respondingtochangingneedsandadaptingtotrendsinfundingandpoliticalpriorities.Theseareofteninformedbyhigh-profileincidents,commonlythetragicdeathsofvulnerablechildren.

Asacommunity,despiteinnovativeresponses,strongresearch,andasectorthatworkstogetherthroughthistragedy,wehavenothadthesupport,alliances,orsharedvisionrequiredtoendyouthhomelessness.

Community-basedorganizationshaveastronghistoryofworkingthroughcoalitionsandnetworkstotackledifficultissuesrelatedtoyouth.TheGangActionInteragencyNetwork,theAddictionsAgenciesNetwork,theSexuallyExploitedYouthCoalition,CommunityLedOrganizationsUnitedTogether(CLOUT),YouthAgenciesAlliance,andothergrassrootsgroupshavepursuedholisticstrategiesthatrecognizetheinterconnectionofchallengesaffectingyoungWinnipeggers.

In2010,apartnershipofresidentialcareproviders,community-basedorganizations,andtheUniversityofWinnipegorganizedasummitfocusedontherelationshipbetweenhomelessnessandCFScare.

DEVELOPMENTOF THE PLANThisledtoacommunity-basedresearchprojectonthepathwaysintohomelessnessforyouth,andpotentialpolicyleversavailabletopreventandendyouthhomelessness.System Pathways into Youth Homelessness(2014)foundthatsystemswithvariousresponsibilitiestocareforyouth,includingCFS,Justice,EIA,andHealthandMentalHealth,weremissingopportunitiestopreventandendhomelessness.AsecondsummitonCFSandYouthHomelessnesswasheldtoexaminetheresultsoftheresearchandfurtherrefinerecommendationsrelatedtostabilityandpreparationin,andtransitionsoutof,CFScare.

Throughoutthistime,theWinnipegPovertyReductionCounciloftheUnitedWayinitiatedandfacilitatedataskforceonaPlantoEndHomelessness.TheMentalHealthCommission’sAtHome/ChezSoiHousingFirstresearchprojectwasendingandtherewasnosystemorframeworkinplacetoretainandcoordinateHousingFirstservices.Duringthesixteen-monthprocessofdevelopingthelong-termplan,theyouth-sectorraisedimportantconsiderationsaboutthedistinctnessofyouth.

In2014,theFederalHomelessnessPartneringStrategy(HPS)shifteditsfundingapproach.Aportionof2014/15fundingwasdedicatedtowardsHousingFirstreadinesspilotprojectstobeginthetransition.

21

Beyondtherequirementthat65%offundsbemarkedforHousingFirst,therewasnomulti-sectoralplanforthehomelessnessandHousingFirstsystemthatwasbasedonWinnipeg’spopulationorexistingsystemofsupports.TwoofWinnipeg’smajoryouthservingagencies,RaYandMacdonaldYouthServices(MYS),facedmajorfundingcutsandhadtoreduceservicessubstantially.MeremonthsafterTinaFontaine’sbodywaspulledfromtheRedRiver,drop-inresourcesforyouth,whichhadbeenclosetoachieving24/7access,hadtolayoffstaffandclosetheirdoorsmoreandmoreoften.Theneedforayouthplanhadneverbeenmoreobvious.

RaYconvenedameetingwithleadersfromyouth-servingorganizationswhowouldlaterformtheSteeringCommitteefortheplan.BasedonwisdomgainedthroughnationalrelationshipswiththeMobilizingLocalCapacityprogramofEva’sInitiatives,theydevelopedaproposalforayouth-centred,community-driven,andvalue-basedPlantoEndYouthHomelessnessinWinnipeg.AttheCanadianHouseandRenewalAssociation(CHRA)CongressinApril,2015,fundingtoembarkontheplandevelopmentprocesswasconfirmedfromtheManitobaGovernment.Shortlyafterward,theWinnipegFoundationcommittedfundingtoprovideresourcesneededtogenuinelyengagecommunitystakeholders,inparticularyouth,intheplanningprocess.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

ASteeringCommitteeofpartnerswasformalizedtooverseeandguidethedevelopmentoftheplan.SteeringCommitteememberswereinvitedtorepresenttheirorganizations,basedontheirexperienceworkingwithyouthwhoareatriskof,orexperiencing,homelessness.RepresentativesfromManitobaHousing,theBrandonNeighbourhoodRenewalCorporation,andEndHomelessnessWinnipegparticipatedintheSteeringCommitteetosupportalignmentandcoordinationacrossjurisdictionsandsectors.

Theprocessisgrounded in the voices of youthwithexperiencesofhomelessnessinWinnipeg,substantiated by the experience of practitioners,andinformed by research.

Extensiveyouthengagement,communityengagement,andresearchwereallpartoftheplanningprocess.Theengagementsweredesignedtodeepenunderstandingofexistingsupportsforyouthexperiencinghomelessness,discussthegapsinthesupportsystem,andbuildmomentum/commitmenttowards

endingyouthhomelessnessacrosssectorsbasedonsharedprinciples.Researchinformedalloftheengagementsessions,soparticipantsunderstoodyouthhomelessnessanddiscussedpotentialsolutionsbasedontheirownexperiencesaswellassolidevidence.

Youth Engagement

Youthengagementprioritizedadiversity of voices, continuous engagement,andwasgrounded in social justicewithaccessible,participatoryapproachessoyouthcurrentlystrugglingwithhomelessnesscouldprovidemeaningfulfeedback.Youthwhohadexperiencedhomelessnesswereapartofalmosteveryconsultation,includingmostSteeringCommitteemeetings,thevisioningsummit,mostoftheroundtables,andtheopenhouse.DetailsontheyouthengagementprocessisinAppendixA.

Overall, at least 100 youth who experienced homelessness participated in the development of this plan.

Community Engagement

Communityengagementwasdesignedtobuild on existing knowledge and capacity,recognizetheexpertise of practitioners,andbeopen and transparent withallstakeholders.DetailsonthecommunityengagementprocessareinAppendixB.

Overall, at least 200 community and government stakeholders representing 70 different agencies, departments, or associations participated in the development of this plan.

Research

Researchandanalysisofexistingdataonyouthhomelessnesshasbeenongoingthroughouttheplanningprocess.ItbeganwithsecondaryanalysisofdatafromtheWinnipegStreetCensus,whichallowedustounderstandtheextentandnatureofyouthhomelessness.ThiswasfollowedbyareviewofexistingCanadianstrategiesandplanstoendyouthhomelessness.Ascopingreviewwasconductedonthecausesandpromisinginterventionsofyouthhomelessnessinternationally,nationally,andlocally.Researchincludedcontinuousserviceandsystemmapping,andanalysisoflocaldata.ResearchfindingsweresubstantiatedbytheexperienceofthePlanningTeamandtheSteeringCommittee.

22

STARTING VISION

Youth Vision Meetingsandfocusgroups;TurnUpYourVoiceReport

Visioning Summit129peoplefrom58governmentdepartmentsandcommunityorganizations

ResearchRevieweddata/SurveyedresearchSystemmapping/Gapanalysis

Surveys

YOUTH PRIORITIES

Indigenous Youth Feast and Forum

VOICES Youth in Care Network

STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES

RoundtablesSixroundtableswithyouth,governmentandcommunitystakeholdersonthetopicsofAccess,Prevention,HousingSupply,HousingandSupport,SupportstoThrive,andSystemIntegration

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES’ PRIORITIES

Indigenous Leaders’ Discussion

REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING

Presentations and FeedbackAtEagleUrbanTransitionCentre,ResourceAssistanceforYouth,YouthAgenciesAlliance,EndHomelessnessWinnipeg

Open HousePublicopenhousewithyouth,government,andcommunitystakeholders

Steering Committee Review and Planning

Steering Committee Review and Planning

Steering Committee Review and Planning

Steering Committee Review and Planning

THE PLANNING PROCESSTheprocessisgroundedinthevoicesofyouthwithexperiencesofhomelessnessinWinnipeg,substantiatedbytheexperienceofpractitioners,andinformedbyresearch.

WHO PARTICIPATED?

•Over100youthwithexperiencesofhomelessness

•200communityandgovernmentstakeholders

•70differentagencies,departmentsorassociations

23

Thestrategicframeworkincludesthevision,mission,values,pillars,objectives,andactionstrategiesoftheplan.Theframeworkcanbevisuallyrepresentedthroughacircle,withyouthinthecentre.Noneoftheactionstrategiesshouldbeseeninisolationfromtheframework:thevaluesarelikethelacesofahanddrum,inorderforthedrumtomaketherightsound,allofthelacesinthebackendneedtobeinterwovenandtiedtogetherintherightway.Thisframeworkrecognizestheinterdependencethatexistsbetweenthosewhoexperience,careabout,andrespondtoyouthhomelessness,andempowersustoacttogetherasacommunity.

STRATEGICFRAMEWORK

YOUTH

VALUES

PILLARS

TEACHINGS

CommunitiesInclusion

Strength-based

Equity

Youth-Centred

ReconciliationEvidence and Researchinformed

CulturalCompetence

Choice

Youth Voice

Holistic

Love

Respect

Courage

Honesty

Wisdom

Humility

Truth

Supports to Thrive

Access

Prevention

Housing andSupports

PeersFamilies

24

Principles and Values

Love,Respect,Courage,Honesty,Wisdom,Humility,Truth

1.Understandyouthholistically,asmembersoffamiliesandcommunities.

• Weneedtobeholisticinourapproaches

• Servicesandsupportsshouldrespondtotheuniquenessofneighbourhoods,communities,andyouth

2.Youthhavetherighttoleadthedevelopmentoftheirownplans,andtobesupportedduringandaftertransitions.

• Transitionsshouldnotleadtohomelessness

• Thereneedstobesharedaccountabilityduringtransitions

• Endingyouthhomelessnessrequiresaplannedtransitionintohealthyadulthoodandinterdependence

3.Buildonwhatisworking.

• Allyouthhavestrengths

• Evidence and researchshouldinformourapproaches

• Localserviceprovidershaveexistingcapacity,profoundunderstandingoftheissues,andtrustingrelationshipswithyouth;buildonthem

4.Youthself-identifywhattheywantandneed.

• Startwithyouth at the centre

• Weneedtoexpandchoicesforyouthandlistentothem

• Cultureiscentraltowhopeopleare;wemustbeculturally competent

5.Youthhomelessnessisnotacceptable,andweallhavearoleinpreventingandendingit.

• Reconciliationisaboutallofusandnecessitatestransforminghowweworktogether

• Allstakeholders,includingfamilies,communities,Indigenouspeoples,community-basedorganizations,governments,andfundersneedtobeincludedandhavearesponsibilitytocollaborateandaligninthebestinterestsofyouth

• Decision-makingprocessesmustrecognizepowerdynamicsandpromoteself-determinationofyouth

• Equitablepracticessupportfairoutcomesforoppressedindividualsandgroups

Teachings

25

STRATEGY ONE: ACCESSConsultationswithdiversegroupsofyouthandstakeholderssuggestthatcurrentserviceprovisionisfragmentedanduncoordinated,preventingyouthfromaccessingtheservicestheyneedquickly.

ThevisionforStrategyOneistohaveacoordinatedsystemofresourceswhereallyouthhaveimmediateandongoingaccesstothesupportsneededtoprevent,alleviateandrespondtohomelessness.

System integration can be defined broadly as the provision of services with high levels of coordination, communication, trust, and respect among service agencies so that they are better able to work together to achieve common objectives.88

What We’ve Heard:

•Youth,advocates,andagencyandsystemstaff,lackknowledgeaboutthefullrangeofresources,services,andprogramsavailable.

•Whenyouthattempttoaccessservicestheyoftenencounterbarrierssuchas:strictagemandates,no-petpolicies,shortopeninghours,requirementsforidentification,sobrietyandmore.

•Informationsharingandcollaborationamongagenciesiscomplicatedbyprivacyconcerns,lackofcommoninformationmanagementsystemsandsharedspacesforcommunication.

•Bydiversifyingaccesspointsforkeyresourcesandinformationweassistyouththatareunfamiliaranddisconnectedfromservicestoquicklyaccesstheresourcestheyneed.

•ItisessentialthatallaccesspointsadoptaNo Wrong Door Approachthatallowsyouthtobeconnectedtoservicesthatmeettheirneeds.

“Lotsofprogramswillreferyoutootherprogramsandyou’realwayssentsomewhereelse.Orwhenyou’reintheprogramstheyputyouthroughhoopsormakeitimpossibleforyoutodothingstoaccomplishwhattheywantyoutodo.”—Youth

OBJECTIVE 1.1

Establish a coordinated access strategy

•Develop a network of regional hubs open 24/7 by increasing the capacity of existing youth-serving agencies.

Thesehubswouldbeasafespaceforyouthtohangoutandaccessbasicneeds,housingservices,systemnavigators,andmeetwithsystemrepresentatives.Thehubswouldberesponsivetotheneedsoftheircommunitiesandthepopulationstheyserve.

Allhubswillbeconnectedthroughacommoncommunicationandinformationmanagementstrategy.SeeObjective1.2.

“Havemorecommunitycentresopenduringtheweekandweekendsfor[youth]tohavemoreopportunitytofindsomewheretostay.”—Youth

•Establish a comprehensive and robust network of regional street outreach teams active 24/7.

Streetoutreachteamsprovideservicestothemostvulnerableyouth.Theseteamswoulddeveloptrustingrelationshipswithyouthonthestreetsandalsohavetheabilitytosupportimmediateintakesandreferralstoarangeofservices.

TheywillbeconnectedtoeachotherthroughtheWinnipegOutreachNetworkandtohubsthroughacommoncommunicationsandinformationmanagementstrategyseeObjective1.2.

“Everybodylovesstreetoutreach!Staffactuallycare.”—Youth

•Ensure that emergency systems, such as shelters, become direct access points to long-term housing supports.

SeeObjective3.1.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Winnipeg Outreach Networkcoordinatescity-widestreetoutreachamongvariousserviceprovidersinWinnipeg.

•ANo Wrong Door PolicywasimplementedbytheWinnipegRegionalHealthAuthority(WRHA)forallhealthservices.Recognizingthatpatientshavedifficultynavigatingthehealthsystem,allWRHAdepartmentsplayaroleinconnectingpatientstotherightservices.TheyhavedevelopedaHealthOutreachandCommunitySupportTeam(HOCS)toassistwithsystemnavigationifdepartmentstaffstrugglewithfindingtherightservicesforcomplexcases.

1

26

•24/7SafeSpacesthroughSpenceNeighbourhoodAssociationintheWestEnd,RossbrookHouseinCentennial,andNdinaweintheNorthEndaredrop-incentresthatrespondtocommunity/neighbourhooddemographicsoffersafeandeasytoaccessovernightservices.

Promising Responses

•TheDepartmentofHomelessServicesStreetinNewYorkCityprovidesoutreach24hoursaday,7daysperweek.Outreachteamsareconnectedtoserviceprovidersineachborough.Byquicklyconnectingadultsandyouthonthestreetswithhousingchoices,theyhavebeenabletomove4,100individualsoffthestreetsandintohousingsincetheirinception.Further,theirteamisconnectedtoa311service,wherebymembersofthepubliccancalliftheyseeanindividualwhoappearshomelessandinneedofservices.89

OBJECTIVE 1.2

Improve collaboration among stakeholders by promoting communication

•Identify existing community and system access points for youth experiencing homelessness and develop coordinated intake and referral protocols that best meet the needs of youth.

Anyprotocolsorassessmenttoolsusedshouldalignwiththecoreprinciplesandvalues.

“Idon’twanttowastemybreathtalkingtosomeonewhowon’tbeinmylife.”—Youth

•Develop consistent and compatible policies for consent to information sharing with the support of Privacy Officers.

•Create a common database that facilitates information sharing.

ThedatabasedevelopmentneedstofollowtheprinciplesofOwnership,Control,Access,andPossession.

•Organize regular networking events for service providers to communicate changes in programs and processes, participate in shared trainings, and develop effective practices specific to the needs of youth.

IncludestafftrainingonallaspectsofLGBTQ2S*andIndigenousculturalcompetency.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•The Building Futures programforyouthagingoutofcareisapartnershipbetweenfouragenciesandtwofundingbodies.Nomatterwhereyouthfirstaskforsupport,theycanbeconnectedtothe

rangeofservicesavailable:employmentassistance,counseling,servicenavigation,financialmanagement,and/ormentorship.

Promising Responses:

•Multiple location decentralized intake.AlamedaCountyHousingResourceCentresinCaliforniaofferdecentralizedaccesspointsthrougheightHousingResourceCentres(HRC).Atthesecentres,individualsareassessed,providedwithascorebasedonfinancialinformationandstrengths,andconnectedtoservicestheyneedatthemulti-servicecentres.Coordinationamongthecentresisthroughacommonassessmenttoolanddatacollectionmethods.

OBJECTIVE 1.3

Remove barriers to access across youth serving agencies, government agencies, and safe spaces

•Define, adopt and implement common core principles and values for working with youth.

Thisincludesharm-reduction,non-judgmentalbarrierfree,culturallyappropriate,andstrengths-basedservices.

•Promote barrier free safe spaces.

Thisincludes:child-friendly,pet-friendly,waitlist-free,appointment-free,non-judgmental,withflexiblehours,andwithbroadagemandates.

•Increase the availability and responsiveness of crisis stabilization and detox services.

“Alotofplaceswon’thelpbecauseyou’reeithertooyoungortooold.OneagencysaidIwastooyoung(age19–under21),anotherthatIwastooold(over18).Oneplaceyouhavetobe21anotherunder18.Ifyou’rebetweenthoseages,noonewantstohelpyou.”—Youth

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Youth Agencies Alliance (YAA)consistsof18youth-servingagencymemberswhomeetmonthly.Theyhavedevelopedcollectivevaluesincluding:

•Collaboration

•Relationships

•Bestpractices

•Safe,inclusiveandmeaningfulprograms

•Resource Assistance for Youth, Inc.providesbarrierfreedrop-inservices:

•Harm-reductionmodel

•Pet-friendlyatmosphere

27

•Broadagemandate,child-friendly(0-29years)

•Noneedforidentificationtoaccessprimaryhealth

“YoucanbringadogoranotherpethereatRaY.Mydogdoesn’thavetostayoutsideinthemiddleofwinterandfreezeorgetstolen.”—Youth

Promising Responses

•The Homeless Youth Collaborative on Developmental Evaluation90 inTwinCities,Minnesotaisacollaborativeofsixhomelessyouthserviceagenciesthatparticipatedinaresearchstudytoidentifyanddefinenineevidencebasedprinciplesforworkingwiththeirpopulation.Thefollowingprincipleswereadoptedbytheagenciesin2013:

•Journey-Oriented

•Trauma-Informed

•Non-Judgmental

•HarmReduction

•TrustingYouth-AdultRelationships

•Strengths-Based

•PositiveYouthDevelopment

•Holistic

•Collaboration

• The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Opening Doors Plan, Washington,DC,isafederalstrategicplantopreventandendhomelessness.Theirfoundationalvaluesinclude:

•Homelessnessisunacceptable

•Therearenohomelesspeople,butratherpeoplewhohavelosttheirhomeswhodeservetobetreatedwithdignityandrespect

•Homelessnessisexpensive;itisbettertoinvestinsolutions

•Homelessnessissolvable;wehavelearnedalotaboutwhatworks

•Homelessnesscanbeprevented

•Thereisstrengthincollaboration

OBJECTIVE 1.4

Establish a centralized public information resource

•Create a single, comprehensive and updated website, mobile app, and pocket resource guide with resources for youth experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.

IncludeparticularcontentforIndigenousyouthmigratingfromFirstNations,youthfromruralandremotecommunities,LGBTQ2S*youthandotherpopulationswithuniqueneeds.

“Youthmaynothavephonesbuttheystillgoontheinternet,soweb-basedinformationoreventheabilitytomakeappointmentsonlinecouldimproveaccessibility.”—Roundtable participant

•Develop a 24/7 telephone hotline for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

•Partner with northern, remote, and First Nations Communities to develop a communication and resource access strategy for youth migrating to Winnipeg.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•The Gang Action Interagency Network (GAIN) isdevelopingayouth-friendlyappwithresourcesandservicesforyouth,identifyinglocationsthatdonothavebarriersforthosewhohavebeeninvolvedingangs.

•Manitoba’s Contact Guide,acommunityservicesdirectoryiscurrentlybeingre-developedinpartnershipwiththeUnitedWay’s211initiative.

Promising Responses

•Youth Services and Supports in Toronto isaservicedirectoryforyouth16-29andtheirsupportscreatedbytheCityofToronto.Theguideisdevelopedwithyouthinmindandcanbefoundonline.91

What do you want service providers to hear?

• Openyourdoors

• Moreopportunitiesforourvoicestobeheard,liketoday

• Lotsmorepromotionsandadvertisingofservices.“Thisisnotasecretservice”betterpromotionlike:flyersattheschools,billboards,televisionandcableads

• 1-800numberforeasyphoneaccesstoservices

• Ionlyfoundtheseservicesthroughafamilyconnection[these]shouldbemoreavailablethanthat.[They]shouldbemoreavailablethanthat.

Youth at the Indigenous Youth Forum

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Decolonization and Access

•Improve Equitable Access. Effortstoreducebarriersandincreasecommunicationintheyouthhomelessnesssectorwillimproveequitableaccesstosocialserviceswhichisanessentialcomponentofthedecolonizationofsystems.DuringtheIndigenousYouthForum,youthwereaskedwhatculturally-appropriateserviceslookedlike,theydescribedplacesthatmake people feel at homebecausetheyare:

•Respectful

•Genuine

•Honest

•Empathetic

•Promoteasenseofbelonging-especiallyimportantifwedon’thavefamilies

•Supportive

•Connecttoresources

•Non-judgmental

•Loyal

•Persistent

•Sillyandwithasenseofhumour

•Incorearea

•Non-institutionalbecause“Securityatthefrontisintimidating”

•Cultural Competency Training. Inparticular,theTruthandReconciliationCommissioncallstoactiontheculturalcompetencytrainingoflawyers,healthpractitioners,andpublicservants.Inthespiritofthisrecommendationwecallforthecontinuedtrainingofyouthserviceprovidersinthehomelessnesssectorsothattheymayprovideculturally-safeandappropriateservices.

•Involve Indigenous peoplesatalllevelsofserviceprovision,includinghiringIndigenousstaff,recruitingIndigenousBoardMembers,andbuildingpartnershipswithIndigenous-ledorganizationsforprogramming.

•Bridge the gaps in resources with First Nations Communities.ThroughthecollaborativedevelopmentofoutreachstrategiesforIndigenousyouthandtheircommunities,wearerecognizingthemobilityofIndigenousyouthinremoteareasandtheopportunitiesforresourcesharing.

STRATEGY TWO: PREVENTIONPreventionmeansdoingwhatwecantoaddressthestructural,systemic,family,andindividualfactorsleadingtoyouthhomelessnesssothatitneverhappens.Whenthisisnotpossible,itmeansrespondingquicklysothathomelessnessisashortexperiencethatdoesnotleadtostreet-entrenchmentandlong-termhomelessness.ThefollowingsectiondescribesobjectivesthatweredesignedtopreventyouthhomelessnessbasedonthepathwaysintoyouthhomelessnessinWinnipeg.Thisstrategycombinesdifferenttypesofprevention:primaryprevention(reducingrisk-factors),secondaryprevention(earlyintervention),andtertiaryprevention(reducingimpactsoflong-termhomelessness).92

ThevisionforStrategyTwoisthatyouthandtheirfamiliesstrugglingwithriskfactorsofhomelessnessareidentifiedandsupported.

“Alotofprogramsattackproblems,butyouguysneedtoattacktherootsoftheproblems.Notanovernightthing,thereviewprocesstakestime.EIA,Justice,CFS,Addictionsetc.,theyallplayaroleinhomelessness.Everyprobleminthecityinterconnectswithoneanother.”—Youth

What We’ve Heard:

•Families and communities are important. Thenumberonecauseofpeople’sfirstexperienceofhomelessnessisfamilybreakdown,conflict,orviolence;weneedtobuildstrengthenfamiliesinsteadofcreatingdivisions.

“Wedon’thaveaproactiveapproach,thereneedstobeafocusonthefamilyunit.”—Youth

•Schools matter. Allyouthexperiencinghomelessnesswereconnectedtoaschoolatonepoint.Yet,graduationratesarelowpreventingyouthfromgainingemploymentandtransitioningintoadulthood.

“Ifyoudon’thaveaplaceyouwon’tbeabletoconcentratebecauseofstayingupallnight.That’swhatpreventedmefromgoingbacktoschool.Lackofrest.”—Youth

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System Exits. Thereareopportunitiestopreventhomelessnesswhenyouthleaveresidentialgovernmentsystems,includingjustice,CFS,health,mentalhealth,andaddictionstreatment.

“MakeanextensiontoallchildreninCFSto25not21.Itwouldprovidefinancialandemotionalstability,lessyouthhomelessness.”—Youth

•Migration from First Nations Communities. WeneedtobothpreventhomelessnesswithinNorthern,rural,andFirstNationscommunities,andprovidesafetynetswhenyouthfirstarriveinWinnipeg.

“Providefundingandadequatesupportservicestoyouthonthereserves.”—Youth

OBJECTIVE 2.1

Foster resilience among families and communities

•Support poverty reduction strategies that promote access to basic income and affordable housing for families living in poverty.

•Provide parents with access to effective, affordable, anti-oppressive, culturally-appropriate, and community-based parenting supports. These should be available, in particular, to young parents and before families are in crisis or connected with the CFS system.

•Encourage the CFS System to focus on prevention and the promotion of healthy kinship supports by reducing apprehension rates, with appropriate resources to achieve this.

•Encourage the transformation of the CFS System so youth who are in care have what they need to thrive. This includes consistent, stable, quality homes; stable support to develop and keep healthy family, peer, and community relationships, and; opportunities to explore a range of employment and educational paths.

•Support family-centred and accessible mental health and addiction strategies. Base these on evidence and evaluate them regularly through both research and community consultations.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Metis Child and Family Services Living in Family Enhancement (L.I.F.E.) programoffersauniquealternativetotheapprehensionandremovalofchildrenfromtheirfamily.Familiesintheprogramresidewithatrainedfosterparentwhoactsasarole

modelandwillsupport,guideandmentortheparentsinordertorestorethestrength,health,andwell-beingofallfamilymembersandtostrengthenthecareprovidedtothechildrenwithinthecircleoftheirfamily.

•The Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre of Winnipeg Inc. Head Start Programpromoteshealthychilddevelopmentthroughanevidence-basedparentingprogramtoFirstNations,Métis,andInuitchildren,whoare3and4yearsold.Theprogramfollowssiximportantcomponents:nutrition,parentalinvolvement,socialsupport,cultureandlanguage,healthpromotion,andeducation.

•General Child and Family Services Authority, Family Enhancement Pilot Projectsaimtoprovidelow-to-mediumriskfamilieswithintensiveservicesincludinghouseholdsupportservices,supportandmentoringtoachildand/orparentandsupportivecounseling.Duringthefirst90daysofservice54%offamiliesreceivevisitsonceaweekormore,38%offamiliesarevisitedtwotothreetimesamonthandin8%ofcasesvisitsoccurlessthantwiceamonth.

Promising Responses

•In Home Family Supports, Ben Calf Robe Society in Edmonton. Ketotayminawok(“AllmyRelations”),providesculturally-sensitiveinterventionandsupportservicestoAboriginalfamilieswiththeaimofstrengtheningandpreservingyouth,childrenandtheirfamilies.Thesehome-basedandfamily-centeredservicesaredesignedtopromotetheprotectionandwellbeingofchildrenintheirhomes,preventunnecessarylong-termout-of-homeplacements,andrespondimmediatelytothefamilyatthepointofcrisis.

•The Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre (OICC or the Centre). TheCentreoffersavarietyofchildren’sprograms,includingAboriginalHeadStart,daycare,full-daykindergarten,andafter-schoolactivities,aswellascultural,language,literacy,andsupportprogramsforfamilies.TheCentrewascreatedin2005byparentsofchildrenattendingtheAboriginalHeadStartprogram,andallsubsequentchildren’sprogramsweredesignedusingthesameholisticcomponentsandcentralobjectives,namely:

•Earlychildhoodeducationtosupportschoolreadiness

•Promotionofhealthynutrition

•Encouragementofparentinvolvementintheprogramandchilddevelopment

•CelebrationofAboriginallanguageandculture

•Healthpromotiongenerally

•Reinforcementofsocialsupportnetworksforfamilieswithyoungchildren.

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•Safe in the Citywasaninnovativeresponsetoyouthhomelessnesslaunchedin1988intheUnitedKingdom.Itconsistedofan‘earlyintervention’targetedatyouththatwereidentifiedtobeat-riskofhomelessness.Theinterventioncomponentsincluded:personaldevelopment,familysupportandskillsandemployability.Participantswhoengagedinallelementsreportedthatthefamilysupportpiecewasmostimportanttothem.Further,thosewhoparticipatedinpersonaldevelopmentandskillsandemployabilitywithoutfamilysupporthadlimitedoutcomes,suggestingthatfamilysupportisanessentialpieceofearlyinterventioneffortstopreventhomelessness.93

OBJECTIVE 2.2

Prevent newcomer youth homelessness

•Work with settlement sector, schools, and the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg to investigate the prevalence and experience of youth homelessness among newcomers to develop effective responses.

Promising Practices

•Hidden in Our Midst: Homeless Newcomer Youth in Toronto.In2014,theChildren'sAidSocietyinTorontoandtheCentreforAddictionandMentalHealthconductedacomprehensivestudytounderstandthespecificcircumstancesofnewcomeryouthexperiencinghomelessnessastheytendtobehiddenfromview.94Theirobjectiveswere:1)exploretheexperiencesofandpathwaysintohomelessnessamongasampleofnewcomeryouthinToronto;2)identifyserviceneedsandinvestigatewhatnewcomeryouthbelievetobecriticalcomponentsofinterventionsaimedatreducingandpreventinghomelessness;3)assesscurrentservicesystemcapacitiesforrespondingtohomelessnessamongnewcomeryouth;4)identifyservicegapsandpossiblepromisingpracticesamongbothtraditionalserviceagenciesandethno-culturalagenciesthatcurrentlyorcouldinfutureaddressthosegaps.Thishasallowedthemtoplanforbetterprogramsandservicesthatmeettheneedsofthispopulation.Topreventhomelessnesstheyrecommended:

•Wideravailabilityofnewcomeryouthpeersupportnetworks

•Agencystaffthatadvocatefortheirhousingneeds

•Intensivecasemanagementandfollow-upwhenyouthfirstarrivetoCanada

•Targetedservices

•Opportunitiesfor“self-care”

OBJECTIVE 2.3

Adopt and implement school-based prevention strategies

•Work with schools to identify youth experiencing conflict within their families and connect youth and their families to supports early.

•Work with schools to integrate life skills and Indigenous teachings that address the specific risk factors for youth homelessness into their curriculums.

•Integrate community-based resources into schools. This includes resources such as Elders, resource workers, and peer mentors to address family conflict and acceptance of gender diversity for LGBTQ2S* youth.

•Work with schools and CFS to identify youth who are disconnected from the education system and provide appropriate supports to address the barriers they face in completing school.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•MostschoolsinManitobateachsomeaspectsoflifeskillsandincludeIndigenousteachingsintheircurriculums.Thereisanopportunitytointegratespecificlifeskillsthatrelatetohomelessness,includingconflictresolution,systemsnavigation,housingapplications,andtenantrightsandresponsibilitiesintoexistingprograms.

•WayfindersandCEDA’sPathwaysprogramareschool-basedsupportsforyouth.Theyprovideassistancewithtransitionsbetweenschools,homework,career

VOICES Youth in Care Network participants agreed the following would make schools better:

•Solidarity against bullying

•Mental health supports

•Preparation for life after high school

•Skilled teachers

•Equity and equality

•Less institutional and a greater focus on investing in people

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andeducationplanning,lifeskills,familyconflict,andotherneedsidentifiedbytheyouth.

Promising Responses

•RAFT Supporting Canada’s Youth. SchoolsandcommunitypartnersintheNiagaraRegionreferat-riskyouthtoacasemanagerwhodevelopsacommunity-basedplanofactionbasedonindividualneeds.

•Alone in London. WorkshopsandawarenessraisinginitiativesaboutthecausesandconsequencesofhomelessnessdeliveredtoyouthinLondonschools.Theprogramincludesmodulesonconflictresolutionandcommunication,bullying,confidenceandself-esteem.Post-workshop,96%ofstudentsreportknowingwheretogoforhelpiftheybecomehomeless.

•The Reconnect Program aimstoidentifystudents‘at-risk’ofhomelessnessandrespondquicklytohelpstabilizetheirlivingsituation,andimproveengagementwithfamily,work,andeducationinthecommunity.TheprogramhasbeenextensivelyevaluatedwithpositiveoutcomesandhasbeenculturallyadaptedtoserveIndigenousyouthinAustralia.

•The Geelong Project. InthisAustralianintervention,riskisevaluatedforeverystudentthroughariskandassetsassessmenttoolStudentNeedsSurvey(SNS)whichalsoincludesinformationfromteachersandcounselors.Thosedeemedatriskhaveascreeninginterview.Then,theyareallocatedarangeofservices,theirintensitywilldependontheneedsoftheindividual.Therearethreetiers:

1. low-intensitymonitoringandreferralstosupports,

2. caseworksupportandmonitoring,

3. wrap-aroundcasemanagementforcomplexcases,involvingnumerousagencies.

Casemanagementisbothyouth-centeredandfamily-centered.

OBJECTIVE 2.4

Ensure that youth in government care do not exit into homelessness

Homelessness is a “fusion” policy issue, and must necessarily involve health, corrections and justice, housing, education and child welfare, for instance.”

—Stephen Gaetz, 2014, p.434

•Create an interdepartmental “Zero Discharge into Homelessness” strategy, starting with a coordinated provincial policy direction, that supports youth transitioning from any type of Provincial government or government funded care.

ProvincialgovernmentcareincludesCFS,Justice/Corrections,HealthCare,MentalHealthandCrisisStabilization,andAddictionsTreatment.ConsidertheapplicabilityofasimilarstrategyformovementfromFirstNations’CommunitiesandtransitionsoutofFederalCorrections.

•Develop and enforce regulations to ensure consistent and early exit planning for youth in governmental care.

Everyeffortshouldbemadesowhentheyexit,youthhavetheresourcesandskillstobesafelyhousedandthrive–includingculturally-appropriateprogramming,abilitytonavigatesystems,practicallifeskillstraining,andahighschooleducation.Developastandardizedchecklistthatcanbeusedacrosssystems.

“Greaterplanning,choice,andoptionswhilebeingincarenotjustsuddenlywhenagingoutat18yearsold”—Youth

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•Provide all youth who have been in the care of CFS with the choice to receive ongoing supports funded by CFS until the age of 25 regardless of legal status.

Thisincludesincome,educationandtraining,systemnavigation,healthandmentalhealthcare,andmentorshipsupportsavailabletoyouthasaright.

•Incorporate family and community reunification in the development of transition plans.

“IwasunnecessarilystrugglingforfouryearsuntilIconnectedwiththem[myfamily].They’rereallypatientwithme,that’swhatIneed.”—Youth

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•The Manitoba Foster Family NetworkhasdevelopedatargetedtrainingprogramforFosterFamiliesincludinghowtoprovidemeasuredskilldevelopmentforyouthintheircare.

•Manitoba Youth Transitional Employment Assistance Mentorship (MYTEAM),isaprogramofKaNiKanichihkthatassistsyouthages16–21whoareagingoutofthechildwelfaresystembyprovidingarangeofindividualizedmentorshipsupportsintendedtoimproveeducationandemploymentoutcomesandsuccessfultransitiontoindependentliving.MYTEAMprovidesorarrangesforfinancialassistance,supportivehousing,educationalandtrainingassistance,employmentplacementsupports,jobcoachingandsifeskillsmentorship.Mentorscansupportyouthforaperiodofuptotwoyears.

•CLOUT Program isapartnershipbetweenninecommunityagencieswhoprovideshorttermlicensedfosterhomesandintensivesupportforbirthfamiliesworkingtowardreunification(22beds).

Promising Responses

•Eva’s Initiatives, Family Reconnect Program. Inrecognitionthatyouthexperiencinghomelessnessmainlyduetofamilybreakdownandwiththebeliefthattheroleoffamilyisessentialforyouthtransitioningintoadulthood,thisprogramworkstorebuildreconciliationwhenitissafetodosoinToronto.95

•Department for Communities and Local Development. InAugustof2012,Making every contact count, a joint approach to preventing homelessnesswaspublishedbytheMinisterialWorkingGrouponHomelessnessintheUnitedKingdom.Theysetoutanumberofrecommendationsinthehopethat“Wecanbuildafuturewheremistakesanddifficultiesinyouthordischargefromprisons,hospitalsandcaredonotleadtohomelessnessinthewaytheytoooftendonow.”Oneofthekeypolicycommitmentsofthisdocumentincludes:

•TheGovernmentwill:“helppreventprisonersfrom

becominghomelessonreleasefromcustodybykeepinginpaymentthehousingelementofthenewUniversalCreditfromOctober2013tothoseservingsentencesofsixmonthsorless,allowingthemtomaintaintheirtenancies.UndercurrentrulesHousingBenefitpaymentsceaseifapersonimprisonedlongerthanthreemonths.”(p.21)96

OBJECTIVE 2.5

Support Indigenous youth moving to Winnipeg

•Create a coordinated and collaborative strategy with Indigenous communities to support youth migrating to Winnipeg.

Thisshouldinclude:actionstosupportyouthtostayintheirhomecommunitiesiftheychooseandworkingwithCFStoprovidethesupportyouthneedtomaintaintheconnectionstheyhavetotheirhomecommunitiesiftheyareremoved.

•Provide outreach services and resources (toolkits) to youth in First Nation communities, at contact points for youth migrating across Manitoba, and at arrival points in Winnipeg.

•Develop a non-stigmatizing and non-judgmental network of care to identify and support recent migrants to the city.

•Connect youth from First Nation communities to Indigenous social supports (family or community) in the city, including host homes.

“Providemoreopportunitiestopreventhomelessnessforthosemigratingtothecities.” —Youth

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•The Eagle Urban Transition Centre.Since2005theyhaveservedasahubofinformationandcentrallocationforclientsseekingtransitionalsupportwhilelivinginand/orrelocatingtoWinnipeg.

•Peguis First Nation Post-secondary Indigenous Transition Program, hostedbytheCanadianMennoniteUniversity(CMU). Theprogramincludeslifeskillstraining,anIndigenousculturalawarenesscomponent,andaccrediteduniversitycoursesthroughCMU.Itisintendedtosupportyouth’stransitiontoWinnipegandpost-secondaryeducation.

Promising Responses

•New in Town Aboriginal Welcome CentreinEdmontonprovidesholisticassistanceforindividualstransitioningfromprovidesholisticassistanceforindividualstransitioningfromFirstNationscommunitiesintothecitythatarewithoutthesocialandeconomicsupportstheyneed.Servicesare

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coordinated,mobile,culturally-drivenandaccessible24hoursaday,7daysperweek.Theyincludereferralstoemployment,housing,elders,culturalandeducationprograms.

OBJECTIVE 2.6

Decolonize systems and approaches to service provision

•Work with Manitoba Child and Family Services, Manitoba Education and Training, and Manitoba Justice to understand implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and develop strategies to operationalize the Calls to Action.

•Teach a respectful and truthful account of history in the educational system and to those working with youth. “De-taboo” talking about colonization.

•Educate staff and volunteers at community-based organizations and government agencies on the histories of Indigenous peoples as called for in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to include skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

•Ensure programs, services, and other resources developed through this Plan integrate the Seven Sacred Teachings and the values of the Plan into their approaches and processes.

Decolonization and Prevention

•Systems Level-Change.Effectivepreventioneffortsarenecessarilydecolonizingbecausetheyareaddressingthesystemswhichwerecreatedundercolonialism.ThroughrecommendationsthatcallforsystemstofocusonstrengtheninghealthyfamilyandcommunitysupportsthisstrategyisaddressingtheongoinglegaciesofcolonialismanditisinalignmentwiththeTruthandReconciliationCommissionofCanada,CallstoAction97whichinclude:

•1.ii.ProvidingadequateresourcestoenableAboriginalcommunitiesandchild-welfareorganizationstokeepAboriginalfamiliestogetherwhereitissafetodoso,andtokeepchildreninculturallyappropriateenvironments,regardlessofwheretheyreside(p.1)

•10.iii.Developingculturally-appropriatecurricula.(p.2)

•12.Wecalluponthefederal,provincial,territorial,andAboriginalgovernmentstodevelopculturallyappropriateearlychildhoodeducationprogramsforAboriginalfamilies.(p.2)

STRATEGY 3: HOUSING & SUPPORTSThedefiningfeatureofhomelessnessisalackofadequatehousing;thesolutiontohomelessnessmustthereforealwaysincludehousing.Thoughhousingandsupportareoftenviewed,anddeveloped,astwodistinctcontinuums,theymustbecoordinatedifwearetoendyouthhomelessness.Diversitybetweenprogrammodelscanallowforagreaterrangeofoptions,however,inpracticethereisinconsistencyinthetypeofsupportyouthcanexpect.Asprogramsareplanned,evaluated,andfunded,theprinciplesandvaluesshouldpermeatenewandexistinghousingandsupportstobetteralignwithourcollectivevision.

ThevisionforStrategyThreeisafullcontinuumofhousingsupplyandsupportsforyouthbasedonneedandchoice.

What We Heard:

•Thelimitedsupplyofsafeandaffordablerentalhousingmakestransitionstopermanenthousingchallengingforyouthacrossallhousingandsupportprograms.

•Transitionalandpermanenthousingprogramsneedtoprovidelifeskillsprogrammingandongoingsupportsafterprogramcompletion

•Poorhousingconditionsandfragmentedsupportsleadtoyearsofhousinginstabilityandepisodichomelessness.

•Allhousingshouldbeintegratedintocommunityandnon-institutionalinnature.

•Youthneedtheabilitytochoosewhetherornottohaveroommates,liveincongregatedorscatteredsitehousing,andthelevelandtypeofsupporttheyreceive.Theyalsoneedthechoicetochangetheirminds.

•HousingFirstcannotbehousingonly.Follow-up

3

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INFORMATION AND REFERRALResource centres, drop-in centres, food programs, and many other agencies provide this. It ranges from giving a list of housing resources to building the trust needed to make appropriate referrals.

RAPID REHOUSINGHomeless outreach mentors, emergency shelters, and some information and referral locations provide support specifically to get into housing quickly.

FAMILY RECONNECTA number of information and referral locations, specifically programs for youth leaving the care of CFS, actively support youth with building healthy family relationships.

CASE MANAGEMENTMost transitional housing and independent living programs have case management models.

INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT (ICM)Housing First Programs operate on an ICM model, which generally has lower case loads than traditional case management. There are 3 ICM teams specifically for youth, with 60 spots in total.

SUPPORTS WITHHOUSING

24/7 safe spaces(Rossbrook House, Ndinawe, West End 24/7)

Transitional housing (RaY REST program, Ma Mawi YellowShawl Housing, Pan Am Place, Siloam Mission Exit-Up

Supportivepermanent housing (youth under 21 and in care of CFS may transition topermanent adultsupports if they havea permanent and severe disability)

Subsidized housing (Manitoba Housing, not-for-profit housing)

Market rental housing (includes rooming houses)

Independent living programs (6 programs for youth aging out of care, up to age 21)

Rent supplements(HPS temporarilythen ManitobaHousing for Housing First)

Youth emergencyshelters (Ndinawe, 16 beds up to age 21; MYS 8 beds generally ages 12-17)

Adult emergencyshelters, familyshelter, and domesticviolence shelter

Supports for housing available for youth in Winnipeg

Winnipeg’s existing housing continuum for youth, basedonCanadaMortgageandHousingCorporationhousingcontinuum.

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supports,mentorship,andconnectionstootherholisticservicesarenecessary.

•Youthwantchoiceovertheirneighbourhoods.Mostwouldpreferinner-citylocationswhereservicesareaccessible,andfriendsandfamilyareclose.

“[Livingin]richerareas...peoplestaredatus,that’swhywereturnedandarestilllivingintheNorthEnd.” —Youth

OBJECTIVE 3.1

Re-envision the emergency response for youth

•Adopt a “no wrong door” policy so youth can be referred to immediate, safe places to stay through multiple avenues.

Emergencysheltersforyouthrequiremoreflexibility;anyimmediate,temporaryhousingforyouthshouldbeinhome-likeenvironmentsandyouth-centredspaces.

•Create direct and effective linkages between emergency housing service providers and housing support resources.

•Foster emergency housing responses that focus on meeting the needs of youth who tend to be underserved through existing services: youth ages 18-24, those with substance use issues, and LGBTQ2S* youth

“Weendupstandinginlineupsoutsideinthecoldforhourswaitingtobeaccommodated"— Youth

Promising responses in Winnipeg

•Rossbrook Househasbeenopen24/7foryouthinWinnipegsince1976.Whiletheyprovideasafespaceforyouthtospendthenightifnecessary,theyalso

connectyouthwithsafe,appropriatefamily,friends,andcommunitymembersovernightiftheirhomeenvironmentisunsafeforashorttime.Overthesummerof2016,Winnipeg’sthree24/7youthsafespaces(RossbrookHouse,SpenceNeighbourhoodAssociation,andNdinawe)coordinatedtoprovideovernightstaysforanumberofyouthexperiencinghomelessnessandquicklyconnectthemtoappropriatehousing.

Promising Responses

•The Canadian Observatory on Homelessnesssuggestsemergencysystems’rolesinendinghomelessnessinclude:

•Ensurethatallpeoplewhocomeintocontactwiththehomelessnesssectorareassessedandprovidedwithsupportstoeitherreturnhomeormoveintohousingasquicklyaspossible.

•Adoptaclient-centeredcasemanagementapproachforindividualsandfamiliesthatenterthesystem,andensuretheyaretrackedastheynavigatetheirwayoutofthesystem.

•Fundandrewardserviceprovidersforfocusingonpreventionandrapidrehousingasaservicepriority,andmakethegoalofemergencyservicesashorterexperienceofhomelessness.

•Integrate‘HousingFirst’and/ortransitionalhousingsupportswhenworkingwithchronicandlong-termhomelessclients.

•Developastrongoutreachfocustobringpeopleintotheservicewhohavehistoricallynotbeenconnected,andmakerapidrehousingapriorityforthem.

•Investinsmalleranddispersedshelterenvironmentsthatprovideindividualroomswithlockeddoors.98

•Bridging the GapinHaltonprovidesaHostHomesprogramforshort-termstays(upto4months)foryouthages16-24.HostHomesarescreenedandexpectedtoprovidesomemealsandaprivatelivingspaceforyouthforaperdiemrate.

OBJECTIVE 3.2

Increase the supply and diversity of transitional housing options

•Develop increased supply of transitional housing options for youth.

Intherangeoftransitionaloptions,includeaharm-reductionmodelforyouthactivelyusingsubstancesandbothcongregatedandscatteredsiteoptions.Transitionalhousingshouldalwaysalignwiththe

Supports for housing available for youth in Winnipeg

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principlesandvaluesofthePlan,includingbeingcommunity-based(non-institutional),lowbarrier,andhaveflexibletimelinesbasedontheyouth’sgoalsratherthanaprogrammodel.

•Make appropriate supports available within all transitional housing models, including CFS independent living programs.

Supportsshouldrespondtoyouthchoiceandneed,andprovideyouthopportunitiestolearnindependentlivingskills.Thetransitionintomorepermanenthousingshouldbesupported.Ifthetransitionalhousingcannotmeettheneedsofayouth,supportshouldnotbedroppedwithoutatransitiontomoreappropriatehousingandsupport.

•Create targeted housing options for youth who are excluded from integrated models, or want specialized supports. This includes LGBTQ2S* specific housing options.

Specializedhousingneedstobesmallscale,non-stigmatizing,andintegratedintothecommunity.

“Thereshouldbelesspushforfosterkidstogooutontheirown.Maybeahomewherethereisafamilyandasharedhouse,withsupportivepeoplethere.Becausewe’veallbeenmovingaroundandfeltlikewe’reonourown,butweneedthatsupport.”—Youth

“I’dlikeaplacelikeahost-home,wherefriendscomingoffreservescouldstayinsteadofhotels.”—Youth

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•RaY’s REST programprovidesimmediateaccesstoindependentManitobaHousingunitsforyouthwithongoingsupports.Thescatteredsiteunitsconnectsyouthtopermanentaffordablehousingaftertheynolongerneedtransitionalsupports.

•Ma Mawi’s Yellow Shawl Housingsupportsyouththroughcommunity-basedhousingwithlive-inmentors.

•Pan Am Placeisastructuredtransitionalhousingprogramforyoungmen.Ithasshortwaittimes(about1week)andencouragesyouthtoparticipateinvolunteering,exercise,andahealthylifestyle.

•Siloam Mission’s Exit-Up programprovidestransitionalhousingforyouthagingoutofthecareofCFS.Itstartswithcongregatedtransitionalhousingwithonsitesupportsinaneighbourhoodsetting.Youththentransitionintopermanentaffordablehousingwithoutreachsupports.Thesearegraduallyreducedbasedontheyouths’wantsandneeds.

Promising Responses

•Reviewsofpromisingpracticesforindependentlivingprogramssuggestmakingashifttowardsgoalsofinterdependence,measuredlifeskilldevelopment,andan“adultpermanencyresource”(e.g.mentor,familymember,teacher,orotherongoingresource).99

•Foyer Model. TransitionalhousingthroughtheFoyermodelhasbeenpromotedbytheCanadianObservatoryonHomelessnessaspartofthe‘systemofcare’foryouthexperiencinghomelessness.Foyerhousingisgenerallyguidedbysharedprinciples,ratherthanstrictrules,andfocusonsuccessfultransitionstoadulthoodratherthansimplyindependence.100EvaluationsofFoyersintheUKandAustraliademonstratepositiveoutcomesforyouth.Youngpeopleareabletoenhancetheireducation,socialrelationshipsandengagement,andhavebetteremploymentandhousingoutcomes.Further,thismodelhasbeenendorsedbytheEgaleCanadianHumanRightsTrustasapromisingpracticeforLGBTQ2S youth in Canada.101

OBJECTIVE 3.3

Develop a full continuum of permanent housing with appropriate supports for youth

Thedivisionbetween‘permanenthousing’comparedwith‘transitional’housingforyouthisnotastrictone.Transitionalhousingshouldnevertransitionintohomelessness,andpermanenthousingisrelativegiventhathighmobilityratesarecommonforallWinnipegyouth.102Forthepurposesofthisplan,‘permanent’housingishousingwhereyouthhaveprotectionoftenancyrightsandcanstayaslongastheychoose.HousingsupportprovidersinWinnipeghavefoundsuccessinholdingmasterleasesonunitsforaperiodoftimeuntilyouthareabletotakeovertenancyresponsibilities.Suchstagingisnotabout‘readiness’inapatronizingsense,butratheraboutbridgingsupportsforyouthsotheyarenotsetupforfailure.

•Ensure that all housing programs provide long-

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term, continuous supports for permanent housing placement and maintenance

Capacityandfundingarerequiredforfollow-uptoprovideongoingsupport,asneeded,evenafteryouthtransitionoutofaprogram.

•Expand the capacity of Housing First programs to meet the specific needs of youth.

PriortoexpandingHousingFirstprogrammingforyouth,thereisaclearneedtodefineitsrolewithinahousingandsupportsystem.Thisincludesthedevelopmentofsharedagreementregardingtheprinciplesofyouth-focusedHousingFirstprograms.Thecapacityofexistingprogramsrequirecoordinationofrentsupplements,andpartnershipsthatfacilitateaccesstoaffordablehousing.

•Create and strengthen partnerships between youth-serving agencies and housing providers.

Partnershipswouldincreaseaccesstopermanenthousingandpreventeviction.Thisincludestrainingforprivateandnot-for-profitlandlordsandincreasedsupporttoyouthatriskofeviction.

•Develop increased supply of housing, including shared housing for youth.

Housingshouldbebasedonyouth’schoice,community-basedandlowbarrier;thereshouldbeoptionstohavelive-inmentorsor‘houseparents.’

•Ensure supports are available within shared housing models, including rooming houses.

Roominghousescurrentlyserveas‘sharedhousing’formanyyouth.Enhancingsupportsinthesehouses,whileimprovingtheirquality,willsupporthousingstability.Tothegreatestextentpossible,thesesupportsshouldincludebuildingcommunityconnectionsandlong-termmentorship/peersupport.

“…stafftocheckonus,managingeverythingbuildingrelated,butnotsomeonearoundeverydaytellinguswhattodo” —Youth

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Indigenous-led, youth-serving organizationshavebeensuccessfulinaccessingHPSfundingforHousingFirstprogramming.AboriginalHPSfundingcanonlybereceivedbyIndigenous-ledorganizationsmeetingthefollowingcriteria:

1.TheyhaveamajorityofBoardmemberswhoidentifyasAboriginal

2.TheyhaveamajorityofstaffwhoidentifyasAboriginal

3.Theyserveamajorityofparticipants/clientswhoidentifyasAboriginal

4.TheyarerecognizedbytheAboriginalcommunityasanAboriginalorganization

•Manitoba’s Rent Assist programprovidesparticipantswith75%ofmedian-marketrentregardlessofEIAeligibility.Thishasdramaticallyincreasedtheamountofsocialassistanceavailabletosingleindividualsinparticular.

Promising Responses

•Housing Subsidies. Evidenceforhousingsubsidiesasaveryeffectivepreventionactivityiswelldocumented.103104105Evidencefromsimulationsindicatesthatsubsidizinghousingcostsforextremelylow-incomepeoplehasthestrongesteffectonloweringhomelessnessratescomparedtoseveralotherinterventionstested.106Thuswhenusedassecondaryandtertiaryprevention,housingsubsidieshelp80–85percentoffamiliesorsingleadultsexperiencingchronichomelessnesstoachievehousingstability.107

Decolonization and Housing and Supports

•Self-determination.Article23oftheUnitedNationsDeclarationontheRightsofIndigenousPeoplesstatesthat“Indigenouspeopleshavetherighttobeactivelyinvolvedindevelopinganddetermininghealth,housingandothereconomicandsocialprogrammesaffectingthemand,asfaraspossible,toadministersuchprogrammesthroughtheirowninstitutions.”108FundingprogramsforhousingforIndigenousyouthneedtobeincreased,anddevelopedinproperconsultationwithIndigenouspeoples.Imposedoutcomesforvarioushousingandsupportprogramsmustnotunderminethevaluesofthisplan.Itisimportanttoquestionwhetherthevaluesofachieving‘independentpermanenthousing’thatmanyfundersarecurrentlylookingforalignwiththehopesanddreamsofyouth.

•Connection to First Nations communities. SupportsshouldcontinueifyouthmovebetweenWinnipegandhomecommunities.ThoughthisplanisWinnipeg-based,werecognizethattheconditionandsupplyofhousinginFirstNationscommunitiesneedsurgentaction.

•Healing from trauma is critical,andmaytakeprecedenceoverparticipationinfull-timeemploymentoreducation.Transitionalhousingexpectationsmustbedevelopedthroughanequitylens.

“DirectspecialattentiontohomelessnessamongstIndigenouspeoplescausedbydisplacementfromlandandresourcesandthedestructionofculturalidentity”—United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing109

“Ourpeopledonotfitintoboxes.Whenthereareboxes,theyhavebeenusedtoexcludeus,always.In

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Indigenousculture,youdon’tfitintoboxes,youjustare.”—Indigenous leader discussion

STRATEGY 4: SUPPORTS TO THRIVE

The vision for Strategy Four is that all youth with experience of homelessness have the supports they need to maintain housing and thrive.

Q: What does it mean to thrive?

Autonomous, with the dignity of choice

Interdependent

Happy

Healthy

Learning new things, ongoing growth

Confident, mastery / purpose

Healing of trauma

Sustainability

Emotional supports, community

Stability, safety, space to achieve/ fulfill goals

Success

Youth Survey Responses:

“Todosomethingbetterforyouandothers”

“Survivingthestruggle”

What we Heard:

•Agencieswithemployment,training,education,housing,andlifeskillsprogrammingallin-housecanprovideholisticsupports,butwhentheyareseparated,thereareoftenchallengescoordinatingbetweenagenciesorsectors.

•Youthwhohaveexperiencedhomelessnessfaceuniquebarriersaccessingmainstreamservicesand/ortakemoretimetobuildtrustandrelationships.

•Fundersareincreasinglydemandingoutcome-basedreportingforsupportservices,butsetthoseoutcomesthemselves(e.g.graduationrates,full-timeemploymentretentionrates).Theseoutcomesmaynotalignwiththegoalsofyouth.

“Administrativeburdenskeepgettingheavierbutthereisnotmoreadministrativefunding.Wewanttomeasuresuccess,butdon’thavestafftodoit.”—Roundtable Participant

OBJECTIVE 4.1

Foster resilience among youth exiting homelessness through holistic and ongoing supports

Holisticandongoingsupportswithlifeskills,education

4

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andtraining,employment,andhealingrequirestaffwithspecializedskills.Onecasemanagercannotprovideallthesesupportsontheirown.Thereisaneedforappropriatecollaborationandpartnershipbetweenprogramsandservicessoyouthhaveoneholisticplantoachievetheirgoals.

•Connect housing support workers with skilled employment, training, and education workers to support youth’s goal achievement.

Opportunitiesforemployment,training,andeducationshouldbepartofyouth’sholisticplans,andcoordinatedthroughhubs.

•Coordinate existing life skills training programs to increase consistency and effective resource sharing.

Allyouthwhohaveexperiencedhomelessnessneedaccesstoqualitylifeskillstraining,witharangeofteachingmethodstosuitdiverseneeds.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•ManyofWinnipeg’syouth-servingagencieshavedevelopedarangeofemploymentandtrainingprogramsthatyouthcanaccessbasedontheirownpersonalgoals.Theseincludearangeofoddjobsforthosewhowanttoearnsomemoneyforjustoneday,socialenterpriseswheretheycanlearnbasicskills,andsupportgettingaccesstoformaltrainingandtraditionalemployment

Promising Responses

•ACCESS BladerunnersinVancouversupporthomelessorat-riskyouth,ages15-30tocreatepathwaystojobsintheconstructionindustrywithembeddedIndigenousculturalteachings.

•The DoorwayinCalgaryprovidessupportin13lifecategoriesincludinghousing,employment,education,finances,drug/alcohol,legal,personalproblemsolving,planning,identification,volunteering,leadership,and“other.”Participantscreatetheirownplanindifferentstagesandthendiscussitwithavolunteerorstaffmember.Eachplannedstepbecomestheircontractandtheyoutharepaida$15incentiveforeachcompletedcontract.Theprogramhasachievedaconsistentaverageof7outof10participantsleavingthestreetenvironmentbyreachingtheirpersonalgoals.

OBJECTIVE 4.2

Address System barriers to youths’ housing stability

•Ensure ongoing support from the CFS system includes transitional income for youth, available regardless of participation in education and training.

Theincomesupportshouldallowyouthtoexplore

educationalandemploymentoptions,addresstrauma,andgainindependentlivingskillswithoutfearoflosinghousing.

•Encourage EIA to increase the stability of income supports for youth.

Considerpolicyandprocedurechangestoprovidesmoothertransitionsbetweenyouthandadulthood,EIAandemployment/education/training,intoandoutofgovernmentcare,andothertransitionpointswhereyouthareatriskofexperiencingasuddenlossofincomeandthereforehomelessness.

•Support strategies to improve youth-focused service provision and responsiveness within governmental systems.

•Improve access to community-based primary health and mental health supports.

“We’rewatchingthiskiddeterioratebeforeoureyes.He’saddictedtocrystalmeth,he’snotconnectingtous.Weneedmentalhealthresources;weneedhelpfromaddictionsprograms.Thesolutionisnotjustgettinghimintohousing.”—Steering Committee member

Youth said creating more stability in income supports was a priority. They said: “It’s like you have to plan and prepare just to get off EIA.” You can only earn so much while receiving EIA, yet employment may not cover basic needs. Once youth stop receiving EIA, getting back on is very challenging and takes 4-6 weeks; this delay and gap in income has led to housing loss.

OBJECTIVE 4.3

Enhance the capacity of informal and community-based supports

Inanumberofengagementsessionswithyouth,theywereaskedtodraworwritethepeoplewhowereclosesttothem,andwhoprovidedgoodsupporttothemwhenneeded.Foramajorityofyouth,thepeopleinthosecircleswerenotstaffatcommunityorgovernmentagencies;theywerefamily,friends,andcommunitymembers.Formalmentorshipprogramshavedemonstratedresultsforyouthat-riskofhomelessness,whileyouthandcommunitymembersinWinnipegreinforcedtheimportanceofinformalmentoringthroughcaringcommunities.ThisisparticularlytrueforIndigenouscommunities.Participatinginpeacewalks,communityevents,communitykitchens,recreationactivities,andvolunteeringareallpartofthriving.

“MaMawiandNdinawehereintheNorthEndarenotjustprograms.Theyareacommunityofsupport,they

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arefamilyforgenerationsofpeople”—Indigenous Leaders

•Increase the number and capacity of mentoring programs targeted to youth who have experienced homelessness.

Mentorsmayrequirespecializedtrainingandsupportfromtheprogramtobeahealthy,stablepersonintheyouth’slife.

•Include ongoing, community and informal supports such as peers, family, recreation programs, or volunteer opportunities, in housing support plans with youth.

•Support grassroots Indigenous community initiatives responding to immediate needs and developing anti-colonial strategies of support.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Action Therapyconnectsyouth“at-risk”withtrainedmentorswhoaresupervisedbyahighly-experiencedclinician.Thewraparoundsupportprovided24/7isgroundedinIndigenousteachings.Lateralempathy,wherebyyouthparticipateinhelpingothersinneedinthecommunity,andparticipationincommunityeventsbuilda‘therapeuticcommunity.’

•Restoring the Sacred,aprogramofKaNiKanichihk,connectsyouthwhomovetoWinnipegfromFirstNationcommunitiestocontinuetheireducationwithyoungleadersinthecommunity.Thepeermentorshipprogramisyouthcentredandculturallybased.Itbuildsonthecapacityandleadershipofyoungpeopleandprovidesopportunitiestoparticipateinpositivesocial,educational,recreational,andspiritualactivities.

•Canadian Mental Health Association’s Housing and Supportprogramemployspeeroutreachworkerswhohaveexperienceofhomelessness,mentalillness,orotherchallengesparticipantsshare.Theirrolesincludebuildingsupportiverelationshipswithparticipantsandconnectingthemwithcommunityactivities.

OBJECTIVE 4.4

Embed healing into supports and systems for youth

Traumaisbothacauseandanoutcomeofhomelessness;healingfromthistraumaisanongoingjourneyformanyyouth.Allsupportsandsystemsthattouchthelivesofyouthwhohaveexperiencedhomelessnessneedatrauma-informedlens,andrecovery-orientedpractices.ColonialismisthecauseoftraumaforIndigenouspeoplesandcommunities,andmanyyouthhavefoundthatculturalconnections,supports,andspiritualpracticesarecentraltotheirhealing.

“Everyonesays‘thisisgoingtobedifficult,it’sstressful’butnoonesays‘hey,youcandothis.’That’swhatweneedtohear.”—Youth

“Healingisnotabouttalktherapyormedication.It’saboutart,culture,recreation,relationships.Community-basedagenciesaregoodatthat.Butsometimesweneedalittlehelpfromclinicianswhensignificantmentalillnessisthere.”—Roundtable participant

•Work with a cross-sectoral table of youth service providers and system representatives to establish close and ongoing relationships between hubs, outreach, and housing support staff with health and mental health practitioners.

•Encourage all health, mental health, and addictions treatment professionals working with youth who have been homeless to be educated in trauma-informed care and support them to apply it in practice.

•Resource Indigenous-led agencies to be available for any youth seeking cultural connections and culturally appropriate supports, and collaborate with non-Indigenous agencies to ensure all youth have access.

Promising Practices in Winnipeg

•Ka Ni Kanichihk’s OshkabywisprojectfollowstheCircleofCouragemodelandempowersyoungwomenwhohavebeeninvolvedwithgangsandthecriminaljusticesystem.Wraparound,holisticsupportsareprovidedthroughmentorship,skillsdevelopment,andculturallybasedactivities,andaimtoincreasetheprotectivefactorsofyouth.

Decolonization and Supports to Thrive

•Culture is a way of being.Holdingaprogramorclassforculturalconnectionsandhealingisnotsufficient.Cultureispartofwhoweareandawayofbeing,everyday,allday.ForyouthtobeconnectedorreconnectedtoIndigenousculture,Indigenous-ledorganizationsandgrassrootsinitiativesneedlong-term,sustainablesupportintermsoffunding,self-determination,andrecognition.

•Cultural humility is required of everyone working with youth.Culturalcompetenceisthestartingpointforallserviceproviders.Humilitygoesbeyondthat,requiringalifelongcommitmenttoself-evaluationandcritique,adesiretofixpowerimbalances,andaspiringtodeveloppartnershipswiththosewhoadvocateforothers.110

•Healing from trauma is critical,andmaytakeprecedenceoverparticipationinfull-timeemploymentoreducation.Outcomegoalsneedtobebasedonyouth’sgoalsandprogramsmustbeflexibleinorderto

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IMPLEMENTATIONPLAN/FRAMEWORK

Collaborate • Coordinate Implementationthroughhiringstaffandformalizinganoversightbody

• Communicatethegoals,priorities,andnextsteps

• Engageyouth,Indigenousleaders,andnationalpartnersinongoingways.Engagekeystakeholdersthroughcross-sectoraltablesdevelopedthroughtheactionplan.EngagefundersthroughanongoingFunders’Tabletosupporttheimplementationofthestrategy.

• Alignwithallexistingactivitiesthatmayberelevanttothestrategicprioritiesidentifiedintheplan.Inparticular,developalignmentwiththeWinnipegPlantoEndHomelessness(EndHomelessnessWinnipeg),ALLAboardPovertyReductionstrategies,theHPSCommunityPlan,andprovincialinitiativestoendhomelessness.

Monitor & Evaluate

• Developanevaluationandinformationmanagementstrategythatidentifiesoutcomeindicatorsandsupportsmeaningfuldatacollectionandanalysis

• Createanaccountabilityframeworkthatincludesfeedbackfromyouthwithpastorongoingexperiencesofhomelessnessinameaningfulway,regularmeetings,andannualreporting.

• Establishongoingresearchprioritiesthatmeetthelocalinformation/researchneedsofthestrategy

IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK

Plan • Createbusinessplanand5yearactionplanwithmilestonesandresponsibilities

Act • Fund Development

• Develop shared resourcesprioritizedintheplan

• Fund key service/system gapsthatcannotberesourcedthroughexistingfundingbodies

• Educate and advocateforsystemicchangescalleduponintheplan

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FIRST STEPS

Collaborate

Year 1

•DevelopanongoingYouthHomelessnessSecretariatwithintheDepartmentofFamiliesresponsibleforpolicydevelopmentandhorizontalintegrationbetweenCFS,EIA,andHousing

•DevelopagreementbetweenSteeringCommitteeandEndHomelessnessWinnipegregardinggovernanceandadministrativeframeworkforimplementation

•Developjobdescriptionsforplanimplementationstaffandseekfundingforpositions

•Createandbeginimplementationofadisseminationstrategyforkeysectorsandstakeholders

•Recruityouthwithexperiencesofhomelessnesstoparticipateinongoingimplementation,includingactionplanningmeetings,governancestructures,andeducation/advocacyactivities

•Holdmeetingswithfundersandrelevantstakeholderstodevelopagreementonalignmentprocesses

•Holdanannualnetworkingmeetingamongstafffromyouth-servingorganizationstopromotecollaborationandtraining

Plan

Year 1

•Developabusinessplananda5-yearactionplanincludingmilestonesandresponsibilities

•Begintodevelopafundingstreamforplanimplementationandseeksupportfromkeyfundingbodies

•Assessfundinggapsastheyrelatetoactionprioritiestotargetfunddevelopment

Act

Year 1

•Influencedevelopmentofsharedresourcesalreadybeingconsideredsotheymeetyouthandcommunitypriorities(e.g.resourceguides,outreachnetwork,affordablehousingunits)

•Develop‘speakersbureau’withSteeringCommitteemembersandyouthtosupportdisseminationstrategy

•Beginactionrelatedtothefirstfourplanprioritiesof:

•Createaninterdepartmental“ZeroDischargeintoHomelessness”strategy,startingwithacoordinatedprovincialpolicydirection,thatsupportsyouthtransitioningfromanytypeofProvincialgovernmentorgovernmentfundedcare.

•DevelopanetworkofneighbourhoodHubsopen24/7byincreasingthecapacityofexistingyouth-servingagencies.

•Developincreasedsupplyoftransitionalhousingprogramsforyouth.

•EncourageEmploymentandIncomeAssistance(EIA)toincreasethestabilityofincomesupportsforyouth.

Monitor and Evaluate

Year 1

•Includeadataandevaluationframeworkinthe5-yearactionplan

•Developsharedindicators

•HoldanannualFeastandForumwithyouthexperiencinghomelessnesstogatherfeedbackontheplanimplementationandemergingissuesforyouth

•Reportonprogressofplanobjectivesannually

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ROLES IN IMPLEMENTATION

Role of Government (Including Government Agencies and Authorities)

•Establishasharedvision,long-termprioritiesandpolicydirectionsamongstalldepartmentsandlevelsofgovernment.

•Supporttheprovisionofcoordinatedandintegratedsupportsandservicesatthecommunitylevel.

•Providethelegislativeandpolicyframeworkandfundingsupporttoaddressyouthhomelessness.

•Supportopportunitiestoshareknowledgebetweenpolicy-makers,academicsandserviceproviders.

•Supportexistingbestandpromisingpracticesandprogramming.

•Implementthe“CallstoAction”fromtheTruthandReconciliationCommissionacrossdepartmentsandagencies.

•Ensurehealthytransitionsacrossandoutsidethesystemofcareforyouth.

Role of Community-Based Organizations

•Deliverfront-lineservicesandsupportsinalignmentwiththeprinciplesandvaluesoftheplan.

•Sharepromisingpractices,evaluatecommunity-wideoutcomes,andhelptoidentifyemergingtrends.

•Workwithgovernmentandotherfundingproviderstoidentifyandaddressneeds,issuesandstrategicdirections.

•Informandinfluencegovernmentpriorities.

•Informandinfluencecommunitychange.

•Implementthe“CallstoAction”fromtheTruthandReconciliationCommissionacrossagencies,startingwithtrainingallstaffinculturalcompetency.

Role of the Private Sector

•Provideleadershipandmodelingforabroadrangeofprivatesectorchampions.

•Collaboratewithcommunity-basedorganizationsandcommunitiestoprovideskillstrainingandemploymentopportunities.

•Supportthedevelopmentofaffordablehousingoptions.

•Engageandsupportemployeesinbuildinghealthyrelationships.

•Provideeffectivecharitableandphilanthropicgivingthatalignswiththedirections,values,andprinciplesofthisplan.

•Supportemployeestobeengagedontheissue.

Role of Individuals (Youth, Families, Friends, Neighbours)

•BecomeengagedcitizenstopreventandreduceyouthhomelessnessinManitoba.

•Learnhowtoidentifyyouthat-riskofhomelessnessandwhatcanbedoneaboutit.

•Provideeffectivecharitableandphilanthropicgivingthatalignswiththedirections,valuesandprinciplesoftheplan

•Volunteertimeandskillstoplayaroleinbuildingsafe,healthy,andinclusivecommunitiesforyouth.

CONCLUSIONTheplaceishereandthetimeisnow.Moneyandliveshavebeenspentwaitingforsolutionsthatarewithinourreach.HereandNowisconnectedtoabroadermovementinWinnipeg.Anactionplan,throughtheTruthandReconciliationCommission,providesaclearroadmapforCanadiansworkingtowardsreconciliation.Theyouth-serving,not-for-profitsectorhasstrongleadership,andworkstogethertomeaningfullyaddresschallengingissuesforyouth.Leadersingovernmentunderstandthatpeopleintheseagenciesarecollaterals,andoftenknowledge-holders,andareworkingtogetheroncreativesolutions.They,too,arechallengingthemselves,theircolleagues,andtheagenciestheyworkwithtocollaborateandalign.Fundersandphilanthropicleadersarelookingtoaligntoachievecommunity-wideresultsratherthanprogrammaticoutputs.Andyouththemselvesarecallingonallsectorstoworktogetherandbesolution-oriented;theyarereadytoholdusallaccountabletothisplan.Withcommitmenttorespond,throughshiftingthewaywedothings,thevisionofacitywhereallyouthhaveasafeplacetoliveandthrivecanbeareality.

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APPENDIX A. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROCESSYouthengagementstartedwithagroupofyouthwhohadpreviousexperiencesofhomelessnessandwerecurrentlyleadersinvariousinitiatives.Thisgroupreviewedplansandstrategiesfromotherjurisdictions,discussedtheirprioritiesforwhataplantoendyouthhomelessnessshouldachieve,andcommentedontheproposedyouthengagementplan.Theirinputledtofivefocusgroupswithyouthwhowerecurrentlyexperiencinghomelessness.The42youthwhoparticipatedinthefocusgroupsprovidedhigh-levelfeedbackonstrategiestheywantedtoseeincludedintheplan.Theinformationformedthebasisofthemissionandvision,andguidedthequestionsandtargetstakeholdersforfutureengagements.

Asthestrategicframeworkfortheplanwasbeingdrafted,meetingswereorganizedtohearyouthperspectivesonsomeoftheprincipalissues.TheseincludedattendingtheVOICES:ManitobaYouthinCareNetworkretreattodiscusshealthysupports,transitionsfromcare,andeducationaloutcomes;andhostinganIndigenousYouthFeastandForumfocusedonsupportduringtransitionsfromsystems,andculturallycompetentservices.Additionally,surveyswereconductedwithelevenyouthwhowereconnectedtoSteeringCommitteememberorganizations.

Oncethestrategicframeworkandobjectiveshadbeendeveloped,discussiongroupswereheldwithyouthatRaY,EagleUrbanTransitionCentre,andtheYouthAgenciesAllianceYouthLeadersCouncil.Thedraftoftheplanwaspresentedandadditionalfeedbackgathered.Apublicopenhouse,partofitdesignedspecificallyforyouthexperiencinghomelessness,washeldbeforefinalizingtheactionstrategies.Amajorityofyouthattendingthesereviewsessionshadbeenpartoftheinitialfocusgroupsand/ortargetedmeetingssocouldcommentonhowthesummarizedplanreflectedtheinitialprioritiestheyhaddiscussed.

APPENDIX B: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND PARTICIPANTSCommunityengagementformallybeganwithavisioningsummit.Thesummitprovidedparticipantsa‘youthhomelessnessinWinnipeg101’,introducedtheSteeringCommittee,suggestedaframeworkforthePlan,andsoughtbroadinputonthevisiontoendyouthhomelessness.

Buildingoffthissummit,youthengagement,andresearch,aseriesoffactsheetsweredevelopedtoframesixroundtableconsultations.Eachroundtable–prevention,access,housingsupply,housingandsupport,supportstothrive,andsystemintegration–beganwithapresentationoftheresearch,andageneraldiscussionofvaluesandprinciples.Smallergroupsthenhadmorefocusedinputintowhatthegoalsandactionstrategieswouldinclude.

TheroundtableinformationwascompiledandutilizedduringaplanningdaywiththeSteeringCommittee,whocreatedadraftstrategicframeworkwithpillars,objectives,goals,andanimplementationframework.AnIndigenousLeadersDiscussionwasheldwithIndigenousyouth,Elders,andcommunityleaderstodiscussthisdraftandconsiderthestrategythroughalensofdecolonization.Discussioncentredaroundtheprinciplesandvaluesandemphasizedtheirimportancetoallthatwedotoaddressyouthhomelessness.AdviceandguidancewasprovidedonintegratingIndigenousrightsandreconciliationthroughouttheplan.

Anopenhouseprovidedarangeofstakeholdersandyouthwiththedraftstrategicframeworkforanotherroundoffeedback.AttendeesalsoratedtheactionstrategiesbasedonwhatwouldmakethebiggestimpactonendingyouthhomelessnessinWinnipeg.

APPENDICES

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