Housing First approaches prove to be effective and can change lives
A three-year-long intensive multi-city study looking into the effectiveness of Housing First approaches is due to end on March 31, 2013. The federal government funded the research through its Mental Health Commission of Canada initiative. The At Home/Chez Soi project has proven—in interim results [opens to PDF]—to (1) improve the lives of those who are homeless and have a mental illness; (2) make better use of public dollars-especially for those who are high service users; (3) be able to be implemented across Canada; and (4) demonstrate that a cross ministry approach that combines health, housing, social services with non profit and private sector partners is required to solve chronic homelessness. (more…)