Newsletter for Homelessness Providers

Welcome to the first issue of our Community Partner Newsletter. This newsletter contains important updates and action items for staff in Niagara’s Homeless-Serving System.

Niagara’s Homeless-Serving System is a group of agencies and programs that coordinate to provide housing and support to people experiencing homelessness. Here's some ideas on how you can share this newsletter with your team:

Bring the most recent newsletter to regular team meetings or shift changes for discussion
Post newsletters in the staff room
Forward newsletters to the team via email
Ask Homelessness Services to add staff to the recipient list

Email homelessness@niagararegion.ca with feedback or questions.

Current Accomplishments

Niagara is Building for Zero

Niagara Region was accepted into the Built for Zero Canada (BFZ-C) Collaborative in July 2019. Built for Zero is a Canadian organization, led by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, that supports participating communities to work toward an end to chronic homelessness.

Niagara Region will be connected to 32 other Canadian communities linked to BFZ-C that also believe ending chronic homelessness is possible.

A “Home Team” was formed in fall 2019 to provide advice on Niagara’s participation in BFZ-C, comprised of a team lead, data lead, community liaisons and a champion lead. The Home Team will support ongoing engagement and information sharing with community members to help all parties involved work together toward ending chronic homelessness.

Participating communities are coached in the adoption of proven practices and strategies, targeted to their local context. This includes the development of a By-Name List and Coordinated Access.

A By-Name List is an up-to-date list of all known individuals experiencing homelessness across the region. A By-Name List makes HIFIS data actionable on an individual-level (ex. Did Kristina get housed? What are her housing needs?), and on a systems-level (ex. Did homelessness decline overall? More youth than last week?).

A By-Name List is a key tool in achieving Coordinated Access. Coordinated Access is standardized processes for:

Intake and Consent
Triage and Assessment
Eligibility and Prioritization
Referral and Acceptance to housing and supports across the region

What's Happening Next

Roadshows with Community Programs

Lisa Bell from the Homelessness Services Team has been teaming up with the Home Team to visit staff and tables across Niagara’s Homeless-Serving System to discuss Built for Zero Canada and to establish avenues for community feedback. E-mail Lisa.Bell@niagararegion.ca if you know of a community table or group that would be interested in learning more about Built for Zero.

Lightbulb and lightning bolt with checkmark

Actions Needed

Close Goals in Case Management Module

A reminder for all HIFIS users to close their goals (cases) in the Case Management module when:

The goal has been accomplished
The outcome of the goal was not successful
The client is no longer working with you
The user who opened the goal is no longer working with the client
The goal is no longer applicable to the case

Goals can be closed by:

The goal creator (you may need to reach out to that person)
Your agency super user (for any goals created by your agency)
Homelessness Services staff

Ways to Get Involved

Staff working hard to house our neighbours have invaluable insights on ending chronic homelessness in Niagara. Here's a few ways to ask questions, provide input, or otherwise get involved in building for zero:

Share this newsletter with your staff and teams
Email the Homelessness Services Team
Reach out to the Built for Zero Home Team
Invite the Built for Zero Home Team or Homelessness Services team to a community table or staff meeting

Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

There are currently around 20 veterans accessing homelessness services in Niagara. The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) website lists resources available for veterans experiencing homelessness. Referrals to these resources can be made through the number listed on the flyer (1-866-522-2122).

Built for Zero Community Partner Orientation

Homelessness Services Regional staff joined executive directors and senior management officials from community partner organizations in an orientation session on Niagara’s participation in Built for Zero Canada on Oct. 3, 2019.

Read the What We Heard Report