Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) has been defined by Edmonton’s Plan to End Homelessness as: “Affordable housing with the supports provided on-site for clients with complex needs, so they can live as independently as possible.” Is this an approach we can look at in St. Albert?
Programs which combine the ability to rent suites across scattered sites from private landlords with intensive, long-term supports available to the clients have proven to be successful for homeless clients in both Edmonton and Calgary. The approach is respectful and inclusive with the client actively engaging in their plan geared toward reaching the highest level of independence possible.
The level of support is determined through a Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) – the higher the level of acuity translates into a higher level of support.
Supports can include such things as individual goal setting and life skills training/assistance (including meal planning/prep, meeting financial obligations and upkeep of the residence). Additional assistance in accessing appropriate physical and mental health supports as needed help to buttress the clients’ capacity for long-term success. Community referrals can be prepared that will help with the wrap-around services to address more complex needs.
When speaking to clients who have “lived experience” with homelessness they have shared examples of challenges they have faced in trying to maintain a stable home. While they are very happy to be moving into an appropriate home (safe, barrier free and affordable) they say they struggle with the day-to-day responsibilities and activities that go along with being a tenant. A common struggle is with meal planning, budgeting the meal preparation itself as they have grown accustomed to getting their meals through soup kitchens. Keeping their new space clean and their belongings organized is a challenge as they may have become accustomed to the “disposable” practice of leaving belongings behind on the streets. Remembering and budgeting to pay bills on time is difficult as it may have been a very long time since they had to have been responsible for that task.
There are benefits to the scattered sites approach to a housing program. This approach would mitigate particular neighbourhoods being expected to “take on” the lion’s share of the permanent supportive housing units. With this tactic there may not be as much NIMBY (not in my backyard) and clients can live more anonymously in their community.
What some naysayers may not understand is that someone moving into their neighbourhood, who has staff supporting them is much more likely to be a good neighbour than someone who is not supported. Studies have also shown that the appropriate supports can reduce the number of visits to hospitals and/or jail which is a cost saving measure.
Permanent supportive housing can address multiple, complex needs in a respectful manner; individuals have a safe roof over their heads and an approach that allows the time they need to heal enough to be able to move forward. Once a person is stably housed they can then focus on, and action, their long-term personal goals.
Suzan Krecsy is the director of the St. Albert Food Bank.
