Welcome to the Brandon Homelessness Steering Committee Website

You can view our Community Plan 2007 documents by clicking here.
For a quick overview of the document please read below.

(To view the complete 2007 Glossary of Terms click here.)

Absolute Homelessness: Absolute homeless people are those who live on the street, in temporary shelters or in locations not intended for human habitation. This group may also include those who must move continuously among temporary housing arrangements provided by strangers, friends or family. The absolute homeless have no home to return to.

Involuntary Homeless: Although one of the three broad objectives of the HPI – Designated Communities component refers to “… individuals that are involuntarily on the street …” for HPI – designated communities funding purposes, there is no need to distinguish between ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’ homeless.

Relative Homelessness: Refers to the condition of being “at-risk” or absolute homelessness, where residences (whether owned, rented, or shared) do not meet basic standards that define Core Housing Need, those being:

• Adequacy, referring to the physical condition of a dwelling (i.e. inadequate dwellings that require minor repairs, lack proper physical facilities, or fail to ensure adequate protection from the elements);
• Suitability, pertaining to the size of a dwelling (i.e. whether the number of bedrooms is sufficient for the size and composition of the household); and
• Affordability, reffering to the cost of a dwelling as a share of household income (households should not have to spend 30% or more of their pre-tax income to obtain shelter that is adequate and suitable).

Community Plan 2007:
The Community Priorities:

Given the HPS "housing first" focus, the first four priorities of the Community Plan Update for 2007-2009 address activities in the continuum of housing and supports. To assure that stakeholders are informed, efforts are synchronized and results are documented, the fifth priority, co-ordination, is directed toward service providers and is designed enhance knowledge and communication and community development. The Homelessness Steering Committee will support existing organizations to help achieve stability and sustainability in their continual operations in all five priorities. This could include environmental conservation that minimizes overall operational costs.

All sectors of the community are being approached to develop partnerships to optimize and enhance services and access available financial and non-financial resources. Organizations are being encouraged to formalize grassroots partnerships that create referral and follow-up systems to ensure that individuals accessing programs have access to supports. This includes the non-profit sector and all levels of government as well as the private sector.

Organizations entering into HPS agreements will continue individual fundraising efforts. As well, organizations applying for HPS funds are encouraged to consider energy efficient systems in capital building projects and include recycling and conservation as part of their programming. Brandon’s 2007 Brandon Community Plan Update has identified the following as priorities in addressing issues of homelessness:

Projects supported through the HPS will be required to demonstrate tangible results through measurable objectives and indicators such as:

• Increases in available resources.
• Formalization of partnerships to optimize the capacity of resources.
• Numbers of individuals and/or families moving toward increased housing stability.
• Numbers of individuals and/or families who have retained housing after receiving housing placement services.
• Occupancy rates at transitional, supportive/staged and emergency shelter units.

PRIORITY #1 – GAPS IN THE CONTINUUM OF SUPPORTS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Gaps exist in the continuum of supports and community resources to provide individuals with programming and opportunities for mentoring and training. The Steering Committee has elected to be less prescriptive in the community plan to allow for organizations to best identify projects that will meet one or more of these areas:

* General life skills
* Client focused interventions that create opportunities to develop self-sufficiency and assist vulnerable individuals and families at risk of falling into homelessness.
* Opportunities for supported work experience and skill development in capital projects that provide stipends/conditional payments to homeless and vulnerable individuals to enable and encourage their participation.
* Employment training
* Financial management
* Substance abuse issues
* Parenting
* Relationships
* Peer pressure
* Understanding workplace expectations
* Literacy, numeracy, computer skills and general education
* Legal rights and responsibilities in relation to housing, parenting, workplace, etc.
* Counseling
* Safe, affordable, accessible recreational and social opportunities

Population characteristics
This issue includes families as well as single individuals. Many of the individuals included in this population will have accessed multiple service providers. This population includes but is not exclusive to:

* Immigrants, Aboriginals and visible minorities
* Individuals in the justice system
* Social assistance recipients
* Individuals involved with child and family services
* Seniors
* Youth

Rationale
As homelessness increases existing resources are stressed beyond their maximum capacity. By providing training and mentoring opportunities to individuals in Brandon, homeless individuals will move toward self-sufficiency and the strain on resources will be reduced. It is necessary to provide programs such as relationship counselling, understanding workplace expectations and decision making to assure that individuals not only obtain employment and housing but retain it as well. Many homeless or at-risk of homeless individuals and families are vulnerable to peer and social pressures and there is a lack of affordable social and recreational opportunities. Consequently, it is important to have accessible flexible programming available. Although employment and education programs have seen significant attention these programs have not been coordinated with the needs of the homeless population.

Objective
This priority will reduce the gap in the continuum of supports and resources by supporting 3 projects (8 homeless or at risk of homeless individuals per project) 24 homeless or at risk of homeless individuals by 2009.

PRIORITY #2 - RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS/TRANSITION

A range of housing options are required to transition individuals and families to housing stabilities. The Homeless Steering Committee will support existing organizations to help achieve stability and sustainability in their continual operations.

Population characteristics
Groups identified by service providers include:

* Youth aged 18 to 29
* Youth aged 16 to 18 who are unable to access employment and income assistance, who are estranged from their family and are not currently served by the existing child and family services system.
* Families (including single parents) in turmoil or with a history of evictions.
* Seniors
* Multigenerational families (numbers are increasing as indicated by the demographics)
* Individuals with mental illness, additions issues and co-occurring disorders
* Individuals involved with the judicial system.

Rationale
Data from agencies addressing family housing in Brandon has revealed:

Although Child and Family services agencies currently do not collect statistics on housing circumstance, they report that housing is an issue for the majority of the families on their caseloads. As well, the existing social housing stock is aging.

Given the factors listed above and recent attention from both the provincial and municipal government as well as local media, the Homelessness Steering Committee knows that Brandon is in a housing crisis.

Although there is concern for the individuals living in unsafe conditions such as core area, single room occupancy hotels and recognition that cost is becoming an increasing factor in the persistence of hotel living as no alternative housing options have been provided. Support workers can give testimony to the negative impact of this environment on health concerns and how difficult it is to make progress and/or maintain practices that contribute to health in these environments.

As evidenced by the Kirby report to the Senate in 2006, Brandon has produced one of the most successful integrated housing models in Canada with an established community support system for individuals with severe and persistent illnesses, addictions issues and co-occurring disorders. It has the expertise, the drive and the experience necessary to reduce homelessness in this sector of the population.

Objective
This priority will increase the number of units with supports by 7 units by 2009.

PRIORITY #3 - SUPPORTIVE/STAGED HOUSING

Supportive/staged housing is required for individuals unable to retain housing for extended period of time without supports. Individuals in this model may transition into independent living or may fall back into requiring supports. This model will take a harm reduction approach.

Population characteristics
Individuals may have histories of:

* Repeated hospitalizations
* Repeated incarceration
* Addictions issues that result in histories of evictions
* Mental health issues with histories of non-compliance

Rationale
Service providers report that individuals who successfully transition into consecutively more stable and self-sufficient housing have accessible and flexible supports. Currently, adequate staffing is only available and consistent in facilities designed for individuals in supportive housing. Transitional housing is often insufficiently staffed and staff is paid poorly. As a result, there is significant staff turn-over. Often, organizational structures are not coordinated to allow supports to transition with the individual. As a consequence, service is often disjointed. Supports come into play most effectively when individuals are in crisis and drop off too soon. Those individuals known as chronically living on the street often have more difficulty accessing services and housing.

In keeping with the HPS objective to move homeless and at-risk individuals toward self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society and the identification of this issue in the Moving Forward section of the CPPA, we have decided that increased staffing in transitional housing is a priority.

Objective
This priority will increase the number of units with supports by 7 units by 2009.

PRIORITY #4 - EMERGENCY HOUSING

Emergency housing units are required for people in short term crisis.

Population characteristics
Individuals who have no housing options.

Rationale
From the number of turn-aways currently tracked by the existing emergency shelter there is evidence that there is still need for emergency shelter. There is general agreement from the community that a dorm style shelter is not appropriate. A large dorm-style shelter would be unsafe and unsustainable.

Objective
This priority will increase the number of emergency units by 5 by 2009.

PRIORITY #5 - CHILD CARE

Child and day care is an ongoing need as many parents can not go back to work or school because they can’t find or afford childcare.

Population characteristics
This is an issue for both single and two parent low-mid income families.Rationale
Child care spots are extremely hard to come by and many parents cannot go back to work or school because they can't find child care. If they rely on family or friends, child care is tenuous and they have difficulty maintaining work or school because the childcare is not dependable. Inadequate child care can lead to other high-risk situations for the children and their families.

Objective
This priority will increase the number of child care spaces available to at-risk and homeless individuals by 10 by 2009.

PRIORITY #6 COORDINATION

Communication and partnership building requires maintenance and continued attention through a homelessness coordinator position that will:

* Continue to identify gaps and minimize overlap.
* Ensure organizations are working together to optimize resources.
* Provide leadership to assist with integration of services between service providers
* Assist service providers in accessing funds
* Strengthen the “link” and explore new partnerships between all levels of government, service providers and the private sector.

Population characteristics
This issue is directed toward the organizations that provide housing and direct supports to the homeless.

Rationale
Over the first two phases of the National Homelessness Initiative it became evident that organizations working with the homeless populations were so under resourced that they missed networking opportunities and as a consequence further stresses were building. The homelessness coordinator has been crucial in developing a resource guide and crisis contact list as well as the coordination of committee meetings, Community Plan Assessments and Community Plan updates.

As Brandon moves into new HPS projects, we believe that a coordinator is necessary in helping to establish the structures and support needed to move homeless individuals and at-risk toward self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society. The coordinator will play a key roll in engaging provincial/territorial/other government departments and communities and strengthening accountability and measurability.

Objective
This priority will provide a Brandon Community Coordinator to encourage the development of projects and partnerships that address the objectives and outcomes of the HPS as advised by the Brandon Homelessness Steering Committee.

CONCLUSION

Brandon is a community that is going through a period of rapid economic and cultural change. Studies done in the late 1990's and the early part of the decade underestimated the impact of increased immigration, growth in the low-mid-income employment sector and the difficulty of retaining skilled labour in the province. Individuals and families are experience increasing difficulty in finding and retaining housing as a result of these changes and there is a ripple effect into services providing everything from basic needs such as food, furniture and clothing to support services and post-secondary education.

The Brandon Homelessness Steering Committee recognized at the beginning of the National Homelessness Initiative that stresses on the social service sector were a constant and insisted that long-term sustainability was a part of every project undertaken in partnership with the initiative. This strategy has proven successful as many of the projects supported under the initial funding allocation:

* are operating at optimal capacity.
* Have developed skills that allow them to maintain sustainability while enhancing programs.
* Are forming increasingly sophisticated partnerships
* Are able to mentor other organizations

The Homelessness Steering Committee is proud of its community's successes and is confident that with the support of the HPS over the next two years it can continue to affect positive change toward addressing issues of homelessness.

Homelessness Steering Committee Contacts

Brent White, Chair,
571-8335
Brandon Regional Health Authority

Sponsoring Organization:
Marty Snelling,
729 2495
General Manager of Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (NRC)

John Scott, Member
726-6336
Family Services and Housing

Dwayne Dyck, Member
727-1252,
Director, Youth for Christ

Dave McGregor, Member
726-6030
Chief Executive Officer of Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba

Gail Cullen, Member
727-1407
Director, Brandon Friendship Centre

Glen Kruck Member
727-5425,
Director, Canadian Mental Health Association

Marla Somersall, Member
726-0758,
Executive Director, Samaritan House Ministries

Chris Reid, Member
578-4826,
Housing Resource Worker, BRHA, 7th Street Health Access Centre,

Velma McCombie, Ex-officio Member
726-7781
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Darren Maginel, Ex-officio Member
726-7722
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

2004 Community Action Plan

To download the 2004 Community Action Plan click here. For a quick overview of the document please read below.

Introduction
The Community Plan is designed to assist local organizations in reacting to, and proactively addressing, the needs of Brandon’s homeless and at-risk population. For the development of the Community Plan, the following definitions of homelessness were used:

Non-Sheltered Homeless: Individuals not provided any shelter whatsoever, for as little as a few days.

Sheltered Homeless: Individuals that have been sheltered in temporary accommodations for a few nights, or a few weeks, with no long term residence alternatives. Sometimes these people have been sheltered on couches in drop-in centres, in short term housing units, or crisis units.

Vulnerable / Marginalized: Individuals who have an income under Low Income Cut-Off rates, and those who are spending more than 30% of their household income on shelter costs.

At Risk of Becoming Homeless: Those individuals at high risk of becoming homeless for reasons of low or no steady income, household or family break-up, health problems or addictions.

Through a process of contacts and interviews with stakeholder organizations, community interest groups and constituents, needs were assessed and options and solutions were recommended to address the priority needs. This process involved over one hundred and fifty individuals, representing fifty-five organizations.

The accumulated findings and information reinforced through the Community Plan update process identified the community’s priorities as follows:

Emergency, transitional, and supportive shelter.
Provision of client focused support services to address the range of needs along the continuum to self-sufficiency.
Community capacity building to develop local leadership and encourage participation in achieving a shared vision with regards to homelessness.
Improved communication and awareness by broadening the understanding of homelessness through targeted research, information sharing and an improved and expanded communication strategy that will put a face to homelessness in our community.
Affordable Housing.

The community plan identifies priorities and recommends joint ventures and actions to address homelessness and related issues. The solutions included in this plan emanate from the support expressed by the key stakeholders throughout the consultation process. Although the immediate outcome of the community plan is the ability to access SCPI funding, the networking, partnerships and awareness created as a by-product of the development of the plan will be integral to the interventions, outcomes, and ultimately, the sustainability of the initiatives. The plan is a dynamic and evolving blueprint that has been developed through the grassroots participation of stakeholders to direct the action taken within the city in the months and years ahead.

It has created the possibility for partnerships involving the private, non-profit and the public sector, as well as providing the foundation upon which homelessness and related housing solutions can be developed and supported.

Community Priorities
For further information please visit the Community Priorities section (pg. 9) of the Community Action Plan on Homelessness.

1. Shelter Facilities
Community Objective(s)
• To support projects which will meet the emergency shelter needs of our community.
• To support projects which will meet the transitional shelter needs of our community.
• To support projects which will meet the supportive shelter needs of our community.
• To ensure safe, secure, and sustainable shelter operations.

2. Provision of Support Services
Community Objective(s)
• To address the outreach service needs of our community.
• To provide responsive client focused programs and opportunities.
• To develop a comprehensive continuum of support services that are sensitive, attentive, and responsive to the needs of homeless individuals and families, those who are vulnerable, and those at risk of becoming homeless.
• To develop a comprehensive continuum of support services that will meet the needs of the Aboriginal and youth populations.
•To develop primary interventions that will address the basic requirements of child care, substance abuse issues and food services and security to enable homeless and vulnerable individuals to participate in other initiatives leading to self-sufficiency.

3. Community Capacity Building
Community Objective(s)
• To provide management and staff of service organizations with training to ensure that they remain relevant, responsive, sustainable, and productive.
• To create an environment where people and organizations representing all cultures actively seek linkages with stakeholders and service providers.
• To strengthen the capacity of our service providers by supporting broad-based partnerships to emerge, thus allowing for optimal utilization of services.
• To promote citizen engagement and inclusiveness in stakeholder relations.

4. Communication & Awareness
Community Objective(s)
• To provide awareness to service providers and marginalized individuals regarding the resources available.
• To create awareness of the homelessness issues in Brandon.
• To advocate and pursue positive relationships between projects and their neighbours.
• To create awareness of where and how interested persons could participate.

5. Affordable Housing
• Although Affordable Housing is not eligible through SCPI funding projects, it is a gap identified in our community and therefore will continue to be a priority.
Community Objective(s)
To support projects that will meet the affordable housing needs of our community.

(last updated April 2008)