In Canada, our current response relies heavily upon shelters for emergency housing and emergency and crisis services for health care. Typically, individuals who are homeless must first participate in treatment and attain a period of sobriety before they are offered housing. This is a costly and ineffective way of responding to the problem. Alternatively, Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based intervention model, originating in New York City (Pathways to Housing), that involves the immediate provision of permanent housing and wrap-around supports to individuals who are homeless and living with serious mental illness, rather than traditional “treatment then housing” approaches. HF has been shown to improve residential stability and other outcomes. Given the difference in social policy and health care delivery between the U.S. and Canada, it is vital that evidence about homelessness interventions be grounded in the Canadian context.
The project followed more than 2,000 participants for two years, and was the world’s largest trial of Housing First, with demonstration sites in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montréal, and Moncton.
Download Reports from 5 Demonstration Sites:
Vancouver site report now available for download
Toronto site report now available for download
Winnipeg site report now available for download
Montréal site report now available for download
Moncton site report now available for download
Publication Date: 2014
Published By: Mental Health Commission of Canada, media@mentalhealthcommission.ca
