The
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) released a new report last week. And it's kind of a big deal.
Not only will the report's findings likely influence Canada's mental health and housing policy for decades to come, it also marks the completion, as the authors boast, "of the most comprehensive study of homelessness ever undertaken."
Last week's
Housing First/Chez Mois final report is the culmination of a $110 million research study initiated by the federal government in 2008.
Funded by the Conservative government but designed and carried out by the MHCC, the five-year (2008-2012) study followed more than 2,000 Canadians with mental illness experiencing homelessness. Using a radome control model, the MHCC co-ordinated "housing-first" case studies in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Moncton and Toronto.
Housing-First (a model that originated in New York City), is a relatively new model of homelessness prevention which emphasizes stable-housing as the first step to assisting homeless people with mental illness. The theory is that while stable housing does not eliminate the need for mental health services, it does make those services more effective; a departure from traditional models that often require individuals to undergo treatment as precursor to be eligible for housing.
In each city, the MHCC followed two groups of participants: the first group received the usual support available in their community, the second received support under the housing-first model. Over the course of the five year study, 1030 participants received housing and supports, and 980 received usual supports.
Participants in the Housing First stream were given the choice of an apartment in which to live and had to pay 30 per cent of their income towards rent, the rest was subsidized. Once in the apartment, participants received regular visits from Housing First Teams at least one weekly and received treatment for mental and physical health issues.
The conclusion - housing first works. An average of 73 per cent in the housing first group remained in stable housing, compared to 32 per cent receiving usual care.
It’s also cost-effective. Every $10 invested in housing first, the authors estimate, results in cost savings of $21.72.
"[This shows] us that this approach works in Canada," said Louise Bradley, President and CEO of the Mental House Commission of Canada at last week’s launch event . "A house is so much more than a roof over one’s head. It represents dignity, security, and above all, hope. Providing permanent secure housing, does more than keep a person off the streets and out of shelters, it provides a base from which to move forward. It creates hope were none existed. That’s the import of Housing First."
The study was funded as part of the federal government's
600 million commitment over five years to renew the federal Homelessness Strategy Partnership. Housing-first is a cornerstone of the strategy, and thanks to the report's findings, will likely continue to be a key pillar of federal homelessness policy.
During last Tuesday's event, Canada's Minister of State (Social Development), the Honourable Candice Bergen, said of the report findings: "We now have strong evidence that Housing First is an effective way to reduce homelessness. I am proud to celebrate this achievement along with our partners in the Mental Health Commission of Canada as we officially launch the start of the Housing First approach in Canada."
Importantly, as anti-homeliness advocates have repeated, the enthusiasm for housing-first comes amid declining overall federal funding for homelessness. While few dispute the merit of the housing first model, with over 200,000 Canadians experiencing homelessness annually and 30,000 on any given night, there are concerns that without additional funding we will not be able to provide homes for all that need them and that, in the meantime, much-need emergency shelters will continue to be underfunded.
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Mental Health Commission of Canada