The faces of Regina’s homeless are as varied as the stories behind how they got there. Through Phoenix HOMES’ Housing First program, over 300 homeless individuals have been identified in the Queen City.
Housing First is a key component of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). Blair Roberts with the HPS said it’s a valuable program and the first year yielded valuable data, but more needs to be done.
“We’re making a dent, but it’s not big enough or fast enough. So we’re really hopeful that through a specific plan we can eventually wipe out that list,” he said.
The HPS is working to determine exactly what resources are required to make this a reality and how much it will cost. The goal is to reach what is known as functional zero homelessness.
“What we mean by that there’s a system in place for when someone falls in homelessness, that they’re going to have supports within a specific amount of time,” Roberts explained.
READ MORE: “It’s been an amazing journey”; Housing First client shares story of first year in the program
At Monday’s city council meeting Roberts and his partners will be making the pitch to council to participate in an advisory board to develop a plan to end homelessness in Regina. The motion is being brought forward by Mayor Michael Fougere.
“The YMCA is heading this research to provide a plan for it, and that’s why we’re interested because it’s coming up from the grass roots up, and we’re prepared to walk with them and help them and take a leadership role,” Fougere said.
The motion before council includes a commitment to financial contributions for the work and establishment of the working group and that the city work with both the federal and provincial governments to secure funding for the goal of ending homelessness.
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Additionally, a portion of the city’s $3 million Affordable Housing Incentive Program may be committed to this goal.
READ MORE: Regina’s Housing First program to expand through federal funding boost
Medicine Hat has been at functional zero homelessness for over two years. Mayor Ted Clugston has championed the Housing First approach to ending homelessness in his city. However, he was against the idea when it first came up.
“If you want a nice place to live, get a job, get an education. I was making a lot of those comments,” Clugston said.
“But over time, as I started learning more about the Housing First program I was swayed that it is the right approach, and it’s actually a fiscally conservative approach.”
In Medicine Hat, it costs $20,000 annually to house someone. Clugston said that amount can climb to $100,000 when you factor in the cost of counselling and emergency services.
The year one Housing First report in Regina found it cost $18,080 to house someone annually.
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