New P.E.I. homelessness program Housing First already seeing successes

A new federally funded program on P.E.I. called Housing First aims to help Islanders end the pitfalls that send them intohomelessness.

Housing First, which launched last September, not only helps people find an affordable place to live, but it also offers support totacklethe root of what's causing the problem.

Organizers saymany people don't believe the Island has a homeless problem because it's rare to find people sleeping in alcoves or in the street.

Insteadthey'redescribed asthehidden homeless.

Work on Housing First started last year with asurvey ofservice providers that revealedmore than 200 Islanderswere without a home, either couch surfing, living with relativesor having nowhere tolive after getting out ofa mental healthfacility or jail.

A way to help P.E.I.'s hidden homeless

Bryan Kinchis one of 19 people Housing First has helped in Charlottetown and Summersidesince September. The 29-year-old says addictions, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues have made holding on toan apartment difficult.

"I used to be a severe alcoholic and that's why most of the time I would get kicked out of the places."

Kinch had already exhausted the one-month stayallowed at the Bedford MacDonald House in Charlottetown andtime at another Charlottetown shelter after being released from Hillsborough Hospitalthis summer.

He was worried he would end up living on the street, untilhe foundHousing First.

This is the first time living on my own. Bryan Kinch, Housing First client

Staff helped Kinch find a tiny bachelor apartment in downtown Charlottetown. Kinch said he loves sleeping, watching TV and cooking in his own place.

"This is the first time I'm living on my own," said Kinch. "I'm staying sober and I love it."

Housing Firsthelped with Kinch's sobriety by getting him into addictions treatment and now he's takingcareer counsellingso he can move beyond just odd jobs.

"It's helping me to get back on my feet the right way, which I always wanted."

More than just 'bricks and mortar'

Housing First co-ordinator Bev Thompson said that extra support is what makes Housing First stand out from many other homelessness initiatives that often end up being temporary fixes.

"A lot of times dollars have been directed towards bricks and mortar,but there hasn't necessarily been the supports that people need to sustain that housing," said Thompson.

"I think that's the difference: Having the supports until people learn the skills and they're able to sustain it themselves."

We now have people who have been housed longer than they've ever been. Housing First coordinator Bev Thompson

She said that's already happened with a coupleof the clients Housing First has helped.

"They've found employment. They're starting to return to work and they're very settled, so the level of support we're giving to them now versus five months ago is different," said Thompson.

"We now have people who have been housed longer than they've ever been housed in months and years."

The five-year Housing Firstprogram, offeredby the Homelessness Partnership Strategy, is being runwith$1.4 million from Employment and Development Canada.

Thompson estimates, with the six front-line staff and the funding,the program can help about 100 people across the Island at one time.

People can apply for the program through the John Howard Society P.E.I. or the Canadian Mental Health Association P.E.I.