Homelessness as an investment priority: innovation
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Transcript Homelessness as an investment priority: innovation
Stephan de Beer
Tshwane Leadership Foundation
22 September 2011
Changing face of homelessness
What/who are we speaking of?
Homelessness is everywhere
Street homelessness
Economic
Situational
Chronic
“Near homeless”
Institutional captivity / impotency
The language we use
Lack of coherent, integrated strategy & policy
Dependency versus empowerment models
From
stagnation to innovation
From exclusion to integration
From welfare to investment
analysis > mapping / strategic planning
innovation > generating creative responses
integration > radical, holistic integration
investment > makes business sense / cost-effective
beauty > ethic of aesthetics
solution > long-term change / policy / replication
87% reduction in street
homelessness in
Times Square
Methodology of integration
An accurate registry of street homeless people per
neighbourhood
Prioritize for housing those who are the most vulnerable, by
means of a vulnerability index
Simplify the process for helping individuals secure permanent
housing
Provide supportive programmes and services, e.g., mental
health counselling, job training, financial management skills, to
assist individuals with maintaining their new homes and
creating stable and purposeful lives
(www.commonground.org)
continuum of care & empowerment
presence
community
empowerment
Pre-phase
Phase 1
Phase 2
Re-integration
Physical
Homeless
Poor shelter
Transitional
housing
Social housing
Housing
security
Economic
Unemployed
Underemployed
Skills training
Employment
preparation
Employment
Long-term
access
employment /
SMME-creation sustainable
livelihood
Psychosocialspiritual
Socially &
emotionally
disconnected
Counseling
Volunteering;
Support groups forums;
churches
leadership
community
assets
Contributing
neighbour &
citizen
vision
TOWARDS A CITY OF SHALOM –
healthy, vibrant communities flourishing in God’s presence
Physical, economic & psycho-social-spiritual integration
Personal, family & community integration
Contributing as neighbour, citizen and tax-payer
Integrated approaches & models
Public-private-community partnerships
Inter-departmental cooperation
Language of inclusion versus language of stereotyping
Asset-based approach versus need-based approach
From dependency to empowerment
Breaking cycles of poverty and violence
Real solutions versus temporary relief
Cost-effective, long-term change
Investing in
•
on-going research
•
responsive, innovative solutions: building models
•
support programmes & services
•
capacity-building & training
staff, beneficiaries, officials, law enforcers, etc
•
replication and scaling
Counselling & support groups
Information & referrals
Access to baby care & pre-schools
Access to health care & HIV/AIDS support
Access to arts & recreation
Access to skills training & education
Access to economic opportunity
Opportunities to participate in the community
as volunteers and participants