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18.
The Community Homelessness Prevention (CHPI) Initiative is a provincial program that combines funding from former separate housing and
homelessness programs into a single program. Like the Investment in Affordable Housing Program, CHPI allows service mangers to allocate funding
based on the specific needs in their communities.
19.
Housing First is an approach that seeks to secure housing for people experiencing homelessness immediately, rather than delaying housing until
clients are “housing ready” . Housing First programs house participants in independent, permanent housing in the community and provide additional
support services to assist with physical and mental health, substance abuse, educational and employment needs. One example of a Housing First
program is Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi initiative.
The Province’s objectives are reflected in
new initiatives being implemented in local
communities. In addition to delivering
the federal-provincial funding through
the Investment in Affordable Housing
Program and the Community Homelessness
Prevention Initiative
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, service managers are
developing solutions that specifically address
local needs and capacity.
Tackling homelessness
Following the Ontario Government’s
lead, service managers are focused on
reducing chronic homelessness within their
communities. The City of Hamilton, for
example, has committed to spending at least
65 per cent of its homelessness funding
on Housing First programs
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targeted to
individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
The City has also committed to a local goal of
decreasing its population of people who are
chronically homeless by 90 percent by April
2019.
In the City of Windsor, Windsor Essex
Housing Connections, which manages the
RGI housing waiting list, has partnered with
five community organizations to create a
mobile team to support formerly homeless
households. Program participants create an
individual support plan with the support of
staff and receive a rent supplement to help pay
their rent in private market units. According
to the City of Windsor staff, the majority of
participants have achieved housing stability and
are living successfully in the community.
SERVICE MANAGER
responses
TO HOUSING NEED