10.2 Community Outreach and Supportive Services

POLICY

The vision of the Homelessness Prevention Program is to provide the necessary resources to establish a coordinated housing and homelessness system so the people at risk of or experiencing homelessness have the housing and support services that they need to retain and/or obtain stable housing and achieve better outcomes.

The goals of the Homelessness Prevention Program are to:

1. Prevent homelessness: people at risk of homelessness remain housed and have connections to support services
2. Address homelessness: people who are homeless and chronically homeless obtain and retain housing and support services
3. Reduce chronic homelessness: reduction in chronic homelessness

Community Outreach and Support Services

Services and supports include community outreach and food security programs as well as case management and referrals for people on the By-Name List. Also included are ongoing supports and services as listed below for people not receiving supportive housing.

PROCEDURE

The eligible expenses listed below would be supported through partnership agreements with eligible service providers. Service providers who wish to establish a partnership agreement must make their request in writing to the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board.

1.Case Management and Outreach, outreach to people experiencing homelessness which may include wellness checks; clothing and blankets; hygiene items; referrals to community agencies and other supports.  Costs associated with other important case management and individualized planning processes, such as pre-discharge planning from provincial institutions (e.g., hospitals and correctional facilities) and development of support service plans.

2.By-Name List related activities, including costs associated with engaging clients from the By-Name List including assessments, case management, navigation, referrals, assistance to access support service and development of support service plans.

3.Food Security, food banks, grocery vouchers, food assistance

4.Employment, education, training supports including:

• Services directed to individuals and families to help them access income benefits
• Pre-and post- employment services that bridge individuals and families to the labour market and assist them to maintain employment and build self-sufficiency
• Services to support essential skills development and education and training programs

5.Mental Health and Addiction (MHA) supports for individuals not in supportive housing, including support, treatment, withdrawal and counseling services, case management and navigation, delivery of harm reduction activities, prevention, interventions, and recovery.

6.Other health-related supports not included under MHA supports for individuals not in supportive housing including community nursing, community paramedicine, assistance with medication and wellness/health promotion activities and education. 

7.Life skills development and daily living supports in the community including budgeting, assistance with personal care, daily living supports such as housekeeping, laundry, cooking and shopping and assistance to access education, training, employment or income support. 

8.Culturally relevant supports for Indigenous people including traditional supports and activities with the goal of increasing cultural connections and an individual’s sense of belonging in a community, supports to access traditional or culturally sensitive healing services.