From the fACTivist, Fall 2011
By Chris Rudge, Volunteer Writer
Introduction
 Homelessness in Edmonton is often attributed to the volatile boom and bust economic cycle, to down-and-out transient workers and to “trouble makers” from outlying communities. The real face of homelessness, however, is often as complicated as it is both tragic and completely preventable.
In 2008, approximately 3,100 homeless individuals were living in Edmonton, a number estimated to reach 6,500 by 2018 (ECEH, 2009). That year, Mayor Stephen Mandel set the ambitious goal of ending homelessness in our city within 10 years. To achieve this goal, he created the Edmonton Committee to End Homelessness, a community-led group made up of leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors in Edmonton who are dedicated to finding a solution to homelessness. In 2010, the committee worked with volunteers, community organizations and other local stakeholders to develop a new homelessness reduction strategy titled “A Place to Call Home: Edmonton’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.” This “Housing First” initiative would substantially increase the number of available housing spaces, in combination with enhanced social services.
Housing First
Housing First is a relatively new strategy of addressing chronic homelessness that is generating significant interest due to its early successes. Unlike previous policies, Housing First places an emphasis on establishing people into housing as the first step towards long-term stability. The theory behind this is that homeless individuals suffering from mental illness and/or addiction problems cannot be expected to address such problems while living on the street. Housing First works in contrast to another traditional strategy of addressing chronic homelessness known as Continuation of Care. Continuation of Care functions through a series of milestones, requiring addiction and other issues to be addressed before housing assistance is granted (Atherson & McNaughton Nicholls, 2007). This strategy is based on a stepping-stone program where individuals prove they are responsible and “deserving” of socialized housing. However, most experts believe that this argument is inherently flawed. These Continuation of Care policies have resulted in no overall reduction of homelessness throughout the US highlighting the need for new approaches (Kertesz, Crouch, Milby, Cusimano, & Schumacher, 2009).
While Housing First is relatively new and somewhat unproven in the academic community, it is quickly becoming a key strategy for many municipalities aiming to eliminate homelessness. For instance the City of Toronto has been implementing a Housing First strategy for several years. Their strategy is starting to show some promising results. A 2007 study found that 90% of clients remained in housing after one year, while 85% perceived their future as positive. Clients of this program were relying less on emergency services (including ambulances and emergency room visits), drop-in centres and soup kitchens. As well, clients said they were taking greater advantage of addiction treatment programs, education, job training, food banks and mental health programs (Toronto Shelter Support & Housing Administration). Although promising, the upfront investments required for these policies are high and have the potential to significantly strain already tight municipal budgets. While the fiscal hawk in some of us may cringe at the thought of such heavy investments into social services, the cost of poverty is staggering. The average hospital stay in Canada costs the system $7,000; treatment of injuries from falls, fights, etc. costs on average $9,400 and the treatment of mental disorders in emergency rooms accounts for 7% of acute care expenses (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2008). Researchers in British Columbia estimate that for every homeless person, the public sector has to pay $55,000 to ensure their needs are met (Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health & Addiction, 2008). Researchers in Calgary believe that to cover the same costs, it costs government $134,000 per homeless person (Edmonton Homeless Commission, 2010).
What’s next?
Successful highlights since the initiation of Edmonton’s “A Place to Call Home” Housing First strategy include the development of 424 permanent homes. A Housing First Action centre was also developed to coordinate programs. The Boyle Renaissance project, which is currently under construction in the downtown community, The Quarters is an excellent example of Housing First in action. This will include 150 affordable - not free - units for families, couples and individuals. Other initiatives aim to increase the number of affordable housing units in buildings without encompassing more than 20% of any one building, thus avoiding a warehousing or ghettoization effect.
The vision of an Edmonton free of homelessness by 2018 is ambitious and the Mayor and Council should be commended for setting such ambitious goals. Success, however, will require continued investments even during lean economic times. It will also require the ability to prove that these are investments that will improve the lives and livelihoods for countless deserving people.
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Works Cited
Atherson, I., & McNaughton
Nicholls, C. (2007). Housing First as a means of addressing multiple needs
and homelessness. London: Centre for Housing Research, University of St
Andrews.
Canadian Institute for Health Information.
(2008). The Cost of Acute Care Hispital Stays by Medical Condition in Canada
2004-2005. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Centre for Applied Reserach in Mental
Health & Addiction. (2008). Housing and Support for Adults with Severe
Addictions and/or Mental Illness in British Columbia. Burnaby: Simon Fraser
University.
ECEH. (2009). A Place to Call Home:
Edmonton's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Edmonton: Edmonton Committee
to End Homelessness.
Edmonton Homeless Commission. (2010). Cost
of Homelessness. Retrieved from Edmonton Homeless Commission:
http://www.endedmontonhomelessness.com/about-homelessness/cost.aspx
Kertesz, S. G., Crouch, K., Milby, R.,
Cusimano, J., & Schumacher, J. E. (2009). Housing First for Homeless
Persons with Active Addiction: Are we Overreaching? Milbank Quarterly 87(2),
495-534.
Toronto Shelter Support & Housing
Administration. (n.d.). What Housing First means for people: results of the
Streets to Homes 2007 post-occupancy research, Toronto. Toronto.
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Thursday, 17 May 2012 
