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

+ 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!

+ 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

+ In west Philadelphia born and raised… Philadephia Similar size to Glasgow In : 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)

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

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

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

+ 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.”

+ Where it fits

+ 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

+ 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)

+ “ 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)

+ 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)

+ 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

+ 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)

+ 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

+ 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

+ 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

+ 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)

+ Successes? (in US)

+ 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.

+ More info Webinars: housing-webinars (NAEH) housing-webinars content/uploads/2014/05/Youth-Plan-2011.pdf (Calgary Homeless Youth Plan) content/uploads/2014/05/Youth-Plan-2011.pdf (Professor Stephen Gaetz, York University, “Reimagining Our Response to Youth Homelessness)