Transcript Churchill Fellowship - Turning Point Scotland

Churchill Fellowship
Visit to America and Canada, Ian
Irvine
What is Housing First?
• Aim:
• To reduce re-occurring homelessness by
supporting individuals with poor mental health
and/or addiction issues
• Significant departure from traditional ‘linear’
models of provision for homeless people with
complex needs
• ‘Housing’ First as opposed to ‘Treatment' First
• Platform for recovery
Housing First United States of
America
• Impact on Homelessness from Reagan recession
1979/80s
• Development of warehouse type shelters by Federal
and local Governments to increase provision
• Those with mental health and/or addiction issues lost
in the homelessness system
• Creation of institutionalisation of mental health
services in hospitals
• Reagan cut-backs from 1981 on public housing the only
response accommodation
Toronto
129 Peter Street front entrance
129 Peter Street main dorm
129 Peter Street rooftop garden
Discussion
Calgary
Pathways graduate
Abbeydale resident
Pathways graduate
Vancouver
Hastings
Vancouver
Canada’s Positive response
• In USA, Pathways to Housing first tackles
homelessness for those suffering with mental
illness
• 2008 – Canada invited 5 cities to develop ‘At
Home’ (Chez Soi) programmes
• Visited Calgary and Vancouver and spent time
with an ACT team in each city
• Sustained funding recently agreed by Canadian
government although staff costs moving to
funding via health services
Cities and Services Visited
Toronto
• Streets to Home
• Leads on developing alternatives to homelessness
• Has Housing First/ACT teams
• Thorough programme addressing a number of homeless issues
Calgary
• The Alex Group
• Positively responding to homelessness particularly for those with mental ill health
• Their ACT team is well regarded in Canada
Vancouver
• RainCity Housing
• Established 1993
• In addition to addressing the needs of homeless people with mental health issues
also responds to those who have heroin addiction problems
Minneapolis
Twin cities housing
Anishinabe Wakiagun
mineapolis
Plaque outside
Anishinabe Wakiagun
Elizabeth and Julian
New York
New York
Ian visiting garden plot in
West Harlem
Robin
Pathways to housing plot in community
garden West Harlem
Cities and Services Visited
New York
• Pathways to Housing
• Original Housing First model (and ACT)
• Created by Dr Sam Tsemberis to respond to the volume of homeless people with mental health
problems caught in the cycle of homelessness
• Project Renewal – In Homes Now
• Reflective of the Housing First model primarily for those with substance misuse issues
• Now working with families
Philadelphia
• Pathways to Housing
• In addition to supporting homelessness and mental health is leading on Housing First support to
veterans
Minneapolis
• Hearth Connections
• From 1999 – responds to homelessness (not just single homelessness – quality family support also
with partner agencies)
New York
Replacement world
trade centre site
Memorial to John Lennon in Central Park –
next strawberry fields and central park
Memorial north pool
View from Central Park
Survivor tree
www.turningpointscotland.com
• Find Turning Point Scotland on
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on Twitter @turningpointsco
• Contact Ian Irvine on 0141 427 8200
• [email protected]
• Charity number SCO28827