The ‘ultimate goal’ of any of The Lighthouse’s services is to support people so that they can secure housing, officials say
This is the 29th in a series of columns written by staff from The Lighthouse to help the community better understand people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. This column appears every other Monday.
Homelessness services are in place to meet people’s immediate needs when they find themselves in situations with nowhere else to go. The services are not, however, the end destination in someone’s housing journey.
Instead, emergency shelters provide a temporary refuge so that people can safely plan their next step and quickly move to permanent housing. While meeting people’s immediate needs is important, the ultimate goal with any of The Lighthouse’s services is to support people so that they can secure housing.
This concept of being “housing focused” means that everything we do is centred around helping people find safe, affordable housing. Beyond simply providing a place to stay, food and the basic necessities, as a housing-focused shelter, The Lighthouse also provides a number of other services that are aimed at overcoming barriers to accessing housing.
This includes Housing Navigators who work with participants to provide case management, assistance with housing searches, support with establishing an income, and referrals to employment, healthcare and other critical resources. This includes an onsite medical clinic and mental health services. The approach is holistic, addressing the immediate needs as well as the person’s overall wellbeing.
The following are some key components of The Lighthouse’s housing-focused emergency shelter:
- Reduced Homelessness Duration: The Lighthouse works diligently to minimize the time individuals spend experiencing homelessness by helping them to identify permanent housing options. Longer periods of homelessness are associated with more health challenges and a greater difficulty in achieving stability. Securing housing not only improves the wellbeing of the people who move into this housing, but it also opens up shelter space for others who need it.
- Comprehensive Support Services: Housing focused shelters provide extensive support services to ensure participants can maintain housing. This includes help with budgeting, mental health services, and substance use. By addressing these areas, shelters empower residents to overcome obstacles that could limit their housing success.
- Person-Centred Approach: Each participant is unique, and their housing plan is therefore tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Housing Navigators work closely with individuals and families to set goals, navigate the housing market, and connect with community resources.
- Collaboration with Community Partners: Collaborating with other organizations and agencies in the community ensures that participants have access to a comprehensive network of support.
There are a number of reasons The Lighthouse is a housing-focused organization. While we aim to ensure people’s immediate needs are met through access to shelter, food, and health services, we do not want to simply make homelessness more comfortable.
As housing focused, this allows us to ensure that the multifaceted challenges that often accompany homelessness are also addressed. Participants receive support to make lasting life-change that enhances their quality of life. Stable housing is a foundation for their integration in the community.
Since housing-focused shelters offer robust services, they also come with an increased cost. While the initial investment may be higher, the long-term savings are substantial. Reducing the duration of homelessness and preventing recidivism lowers the overall use of emergency services, healthcare systems, and social services.
While housing focused is a term that is often used to describe shelters, it can also apply to other programs, including outreach and supportive housing. While the way in which this housing focus plays out is unique in each program, regardless of what service someone is accessing through The Lighthouse, the goal is housing.
Implementing housing focus in every program is not without challenges. Securing adequate funding, working with the shortage of affordable housing, and overcoming stigma associated with homelessness are significant hurdles. The success of a housing-focused model relies on strong community partnerships and a commitment to addressing systemic issues that contribute to homelessness.
As we support people who are experiencing homelessness in our community, we will continue to stay focused on the goal – helping people secure housing. Together, we can build a thriving community.
Linda Goodall is the Former executive director at The Lighthouse. For more information contact Dele Rowe, Executive Director at dale@orillialighthouse.ca