What is Beyond Housing?
Beyond Housing is a three-year pilot project and evaluation. It is a partnership with community service providers to develop person-centered approaches to help people experiencing chronic homelessness attain housing and supports. It builds off the Housing First model, which is an evidence-based intervention that provides direct access to housing and supports for people experiencing homelessness. Beyond Housing will enhance typical Housing First services by focusing on service coordination, mental health and wellness, and community connections. The goal is not only to find permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, but to help people stay housed by providing them with customized, community supports.
Where is Beyond Housing offered?
Beyond Housing is offering supports to residents of Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Service’s emergency shelter sites.
Who is eligible for Beyond Housing?
Beyond Housing is primarily targeting individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness in Dixon Hall’s emergency shelter sites, with a specific focus on people who: 1) Are not currently engaging in housing and support processes; 2) Have engaged in housing and support processes, but continue to experience significant challenges; or 3) Have recently returned to the hotel after a housing loss.
What are the main interventions of Beyond Housing?
Beyond Housing consists of three main interventions:
- A Care Conference Table, where staff from different agencies meet to discuss housing and support options that meet the self-identified needs of residents. From the Table, care plans are developed and presented back to the resident for their approval. The Care Conference Table is led by our partner, the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness.
- Specialized wellness services – a mental health counsellor and peer supports – that start working with residents in the emergency shelter sites and continue through their move to housing in the community. The wellness services focuses on addressing mental health and building community connections.
- Long-term, open-ended, intensive case management, so individuals who need it will have ongoing support after they find housing. The Multi-Disciplinary Access to Care & Housing (MATCH) case management team is led by LOFT Community Services.
How are we measuring the impact of Beyond Housing?
A rigorous, two-stage evaluation of the pilot project will encompass: (1) a qualitative assessment, with in-depth participant and stakeholder interviews and focus groups, to get a clear sense of how the program is being developed and implemented; and (2) a combined quantitative and qualitative assessment, using surveys and interviews, to monitor outcomes related to participants’ housing status, health, and well-being. This two-stage evaluation will identify what is working best, what needs to be modified, and how the intervention can be scaled.
My organization is interested in participating in Beyond Housing. How can we be involved?
The success of the Beyond Housing pilot intervention and evaluation is built upon strong partnerships. To provide as many supports and housing options that meet the needs of shelter residents, we welcome organizations to participate in our Care Conference Table. In the Table, organizations can offer supports to Beyond Housing participants and also collaborate with other organizations to offer the most client-centered care for the people who need it. Please contact the Beyond Housing project via email for more information: beyondhousing@unityhealth.to
