1. A home for everyone is key
2016 State of Homelessness in Northumberland County
Northumberland’s 20,000 Homes Campaign Results, November 2016

2. Northumberland Context …
The 20,000 Homes Campaign is a national movement of communities working together to house 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable homeless people by July 1st, 2018.
NC joined the 20K Homes Campaign as a participating community in September of 2016.
Commitment to collect person specific data from individuals and families experiencing and at risk of homelessness and to prioritize housing 3 of the most vulnerable.
Approximately 85 volunteers and professional staff surveyed people using the VI-SPDAT survey tool from November 14 to 18 at agencies, food banks, libraries and community meal programs across the County

3. Results Overview We surveyed 302 unique individuals and families 58 17
Total number of people surveyed
Experiencing Homelessness
At Risk of Homelessness
Individuals
Families
Children
(under 18 currently living with parent) 58 17 26
179 48 65

4. Acuity (Severity of Issues)
Draw attention to purple on top row – high acuity among individuals and families experiencing homelessness

5. Acuity (Severity of Issues)
Draw attention to purple on top row – high acuity among individuals and families experiencing homelessness

6. 30 7 Summary of Key Results Among People Experiencing Homelessness
months 7
months
Time Spent Homeless
Individuals
Families
Notable Populations
Individuals
Families

7. 71% 59% 48% 23% 10% 54% 78% 47% 76% 44% 38% 11% Key Results Homeless
At-Risk
Physical Health
71%
54%
127 people
26 families
78%
59%
45 people
10 families
Abuse or Trauma
47%
76%
27 people
13 families
44%
48%
78 people
23 families
New to Northumberland
38%
23%
22 people
4 families
11%
10%
19 people
5 families

8. Emergency Service Use Total Cost: $291,758
Cost for Frequent Users (individuals who use each service three times or more in 6 months) = $190,963

9. Service System Use Cost of Homelessness (per month cost) $1,932 $701
Source: The Real Cost Homelessness, The Homeless Hub Paper #3, Stephen Gaetz
$1,932
Shelter Bed
$701
Rent Supplement
$4,333
Provincial Jail
$193
Social Housing
$10,900
Hospital Bed

10. Social Sector Cost Savings – Saskatoon Study
Saskatoon System Usage – Year One Housing First - Results
Service
Demand Prior to Housing First (24 Participants)
Usage Post Housing First
Emergency Room Visit
399 84
Ambulance Ride and Assessments
286 66
Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization (1 Day)
195
Medical Hospitalization (1 Day)
375
116
Contact with Police (Call out)
316
Police Detention for Intoxication (1 Day) 89 9
Incarceration (1 Day) 40 11
Emergency Shelter (Salvation Army 1-Day)
1788
270
Data collected and analyzed from the first year shows an 82% decrease in the inappropriate use of public system services that include emergency rooms visits, medical hospitalizations and contact with the City Police as shown in Table 1.
Investment = per 24 people = 1:8 ratio ICM, 2-4 housing support workers, clinical team lead
It also showed a Social Return on Investment of $2.23 saved for every $1 invested.

11. Accommodations and Supports Accommodations and Supports
Next Steps
We need to move from this …
Emergency Response
Prevention
Accommodations and Supports
… to this!
**Coordination – centralized, coordinated low barrier access
Prevention
Accommodations and Supports
Emergency Response

12. Next Steps
Coordinated Response to homelessness – follow-up and response – *rural and urban*
Build framework for allocation of resources and expectations for support of vulnerable individuals and families
By Name List – priority based on vulnerability
In-depth review of functions of homeless services – goal is capacity building for a transition to Housing First approach.
**Coordination – centralized, coordinated low barrier access

13. Recommendations
To inform the Northumberland County Poverty Reduction Strategy
To inform systems reorganization
To advocate for resources for housing loss prevention and homelessness response
To develop population specific strategies to prevent and resolve homelessness
How this data does not sit on a shelf – and continues to inform good work….
Should inform new investments –
- Act as a catalyst to bring community partners and funders on board with a comprehensive approach – Service standards are important!

14. Recommendations
Homelessness exists in Northumberland County. It is a complex issue that requires attention, further analysis, dedicated resources and systems-wide commitment to ensure solutions are possible.
Ending long-term homelessness is not only about finding stable, permanent housing, but re-ordering our systems of care to best support individuals and families with adequate income, high quality health and social supports, engaging education and employment opportunities in order to prevent homelessness entirely.

15. Thank you!
Thank you for your interest and ongoing support in ending homelessness in Northumberland County.