1. + Rapid-Rehousing: what can we learn from North America? Nick Harleigh-Bell National Youth Policy and Practice Coordinator

2. + Rapid -Rehousing Why North America ? Calgary Alberta 10 year Plan & Calgary Youth Homelessness Plan (2008) Philadelphia Rapid-rehousing adopted as part of city-wide program (sic) 2013 Other states also use similar approaches …but only got 50 minutes!

3. + Oh Canada Alberta Similar population size as Scotland Similar number of urban municipalities (18 cities, 2 “urban service areas” –similar to Greater Glasgow & Central Belt- 9 towns eligible to be cities Rapid growth from 2.9% to 10% of Canada’s population in under 10 years (and huge pressure on affordable housing) Rapid rise in youth homelessness Far larger geographic area than Scotland

4. + In west Philadelphia born and raised… Philadephia Similar size to Glasgow In 2012-13: 12000 people accessed emergency accommodation 650 people rough sleeping at any one time 27% poverty rate High housing costs (84% making less than $20k pa paid over 30% income on housing – 70% of which paid over 50% income) Rising numbers of young people (lowest incomes, least opportunities)

5. + So? Both areas looked to develop new programs to change how homelessness tackled Challenges No “new” money High profile areas Existing systems failing

6. + What previous systems looked like (regarding emphasis and allocated resource) Prevention Emergency Accommodation & Crisis Support Stable Accommodation and Support

7. + What Rapid-Rehousing systems look like (regarding emphasis and allocated resource) Prevention Emergency Accommodation & Crisis Support Stable Accommodation and Support

8. + So, what is Rapid Rehousing: Let’s start at the very beginning… “…provision of housing relocation and stabilization services and short – and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help a homeless individual or family to move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.”

9. + Where it fits

10. + Who? using a Housing First model Anyone* … No BARRIERS considered (criminality, addiction, mental health) Only one question needs to be asked: “Is this issue preventing someone from getting into** housing right now?” SO unless entirely incapacitated answer is NO - & CAN be considered for Rapid Rehousing Aim to be housed within 30 days *over 18 ? **maintaining housing is a different matter

11. + Why young people? Over-represented in homeless population Can be diverted from entering (expensive) homeless system Greater vulnerability due to Familial trauma Discrimination More identify as LGBTQI+ Difference: adolescent and young adult development “frozen” by homelessness; not the same as adult due to inexperience and only partly developed resilience Reduces trauma? Increases life-chances? (Probably)

12. + “ To grow an adult… “ …you need to have time, you need to have support, you need to have to let people take risks, you have to let them make mistakes - and what happens when you’re homeless, all of that gets collapsed” (Professor Stephen Gaetz, York University, Toronto 2013)

13. + What? Own tenancy from the start (not transitional/probationary) Short to medium-term support (max 2 years) Defined and agreed end date from the very beginning Client led Works on strengths not deficits Participation is home-based and voluntary * Aims to develop resilience and service support from mainstream, locality and social networks not specialist agencies (*according to up-front agreement)

14. + How? (1) Client-side How is it “client-led”? Client Driven Processes: -decisions -goals Client Centred Processses -home-based case management -strengths based (resilience) Client agrees up front there is a definite exit

15. + How? (2) Landlord side Relies on good landlord relationships (US and Canada don’t have well developed, accessible social housing) Main Landlord concerns are: Rent in full and on time Stable renters “Good neighbourliness” Property care Young people can be a hard sell! (Role of client-service agreement important)

16. + How?(3) Service side Needs a dedicated person to reach out to landlords Tasks include Cold calling (recruiting landlords seen in internet, street signs, publications – and other “mainstream” means) Direct mailing to potential landlords Attending local landlord networking meetings Hosting your own landlord event Word of mouth referral All about the networking: business skills and negotiation required – not the same person as case manager or support worker

17. + How? (3) Service side (cont.) Case-management focus (low caseload - 8:1 high needs, 15-25:1 moderate/low needs) Broker/advocate/intermediary/mediator With/watch/confirm approach No penalty for transition out

18. + Where? Place should be: In an established mixed neighbourhood with access to amenities & potential for positive social networks Chosen (as much as possible) by client Not within a “Rapid Rehousing ghetto” Chosen using client-centred approach: Ideally more than one property available Checklist of client’s want and needs Client able to make own decision

19. + So, what’s different? Housing up front Time –bound Client-led Community and social networks integration from the start Mistakes are permitted No barriers (no housing ready, no pre-tenancy preparation, no bar on offenders or people with addictions)

20. + Successes? (in US)

21. + Successes? (Canada) Cautious findings: still to be evaluated but; Similar percentages (Around 85% of RR still housed at end of support period) to US programs Cost neutral - small saving in 5 years ( 3 years of programme to go) Numbers of homeless young people in Calgary dropping.

22. + More info Webinars: http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/rapid-re- housing-webinars (NAEH) http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/rapid-re- housing-webinars http://calgaryhomeless.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/05/Youth-Plan-2011.pdf (Calgary Homeless Youth Plan) http://calgaryhomeless.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/05/Youth-Plan-2011.pdf https://youtu.be/BcrGjsYKZeE (Professor Stephen Gaetz, York University, “Reimagining Our Response to Youth Homelessness) https://youtu.be/BcrGjsYKZeE