In November of 2013 ICCS in partnership with BC Housing began a two year pilot project at Samaritan House. Designed to measure women’s quality of life and other indicators as they take advantage of three possible housing options, the goal of the project is to determine which types of housing best meet the needs of women who access shelter services in Nanaimo.
Housing Type Definitions
Transitional (Mary’s Place) BC Housing defines Transitional Housing as housing from 30 days to 2 or 3 years that includes the provision of support services, on or off-site, to help people move towards independence and self-sufficiency. Transitional housing is often called second-stage housing, and includes housing for women fleeing abuse.
Supportive (Martha’s Place) BC Housing defines Supportive Housing as housing for residents who cannot live independently and who are not expected to become fully self-sufficient. There is no limit on the length of stay. This form of housing provides ongoing supports under a “Housing First” model. It allows people the opportunity to achieve a level of health and stability without the fear of homelessness.
Market (Rent Subsidies) Market Housing is the range of housing options available from private and non-profit providers in the community. These include apartments and other houses and buildings that are rented out to tenants on a month by month basis or as a lease. For the purposes of this project, these may also include a room rented out in a house by a private citizen.
Definition of Barriers to Housing
Barriers can be any obstacles that keep people from obtaining or maintaining housing. In general, however, the designation of “low barrier” refers to programs that do not require abstinence before providing service. The following chart was used in the 2008 document: A Response to Homelessness in Nanaimo: A Housing First Approach Situational Analysis Prepared for City of Nanaimo:
Samaritan House and the programs that occur within it are low barrier. These include the shelter services and Martha’s Place. The city has not distinguished between low and medium barrier, so the following more detailed chart helps clarify where Samaritan House is on the range of possible barriers.
Housing First
The project follows the “Housing First” philosophy which stresses 5 core principles :
- No requirement for housing readiness;
- choice;
- individualized support;
- harm reduction;
- social and community integration.
The Samaritan House Pilot Project incorporates all of these core principles.
No requirement for housing readiness. One of the three options in the study requires no housing readiness (Martha’s Place) and the rent subsidy option does not place any specific restrictions on women other than those stipulated by the landlord.
Choice and Support. There are three options to give clients choice with a variety of levels of support both by ICCS and health authority teams.
Harm Reduction. Harm reduction in this context means “that absolute sobriety is not required (though as part of the spectrum of choices, people may choose ‘abstinence only’ housing) and a tenant cannot lose housing because of substance use.” The low barrier status of Martha’s place insures harm reduction. Harm reduction may exist in market housing environments, but insuring it in these locations is beyond the influence of ICCS. As well, integrated access to shelter services means that should housing be lost for reasons of failure to pay, or conflict with neighbours, etc. a person is less vulnerable to homelessness and loss of property.
Social and community integration. Access to a dedicated outreach worker for client’s participating in this project, as well as the advisory involvement of the management and executive team, supports mentoring and real life training in conflict resolution and living with others for those clients residing at Martha’s Place or and Mary’s Place.
Rationale for Options Provided
Below are the reasons behind the options in the pilot project.
| Martha’s Place | Mary’s Place | Rent Subsidies |
| Observed patterns of behaviour suggest that for a segment of the population low barrier housing with 24 hour shelter-like supports in the South End neighborhood is preferred. | Reports from The John Howard Society, Safe Harbour House, as well as results from in-program surveys at Samaritan House strongly support the need for supported substance-free housing. | Evidence in cities across the country support a model of providing supports to people in regular market housing. If successful, no further moves would be necessary and permanent housing can be achieved more quickly |
Metrics
The following Outputs and Outcomes are being measured or developed.
For early results compiled in the spring of 2014, see the document below.
If you have questions and comments about this project please contact Violet Hayes Executive Director or Richard Powell Policy and Publications Manager.
Page Last updated: 09 Dec 2014
ii”In the non-profit world, outputs are programs, training, and workshops; outcomes are knowledge transferred and behaviors changed.” – Deborah Mills-Scofield Harvard Business Review. Outputs relate to “what we do.” Outcomes refer to “what difference is