Integrated Supported Housing Initiative (2015)
Houselink and Fred Victor responded to the TC-LHIN call for proposals and were successful in securing funding to implement a supported housing model in two TCH residences, which were identified in partnership with the TC-LHIN and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation. Other partners included in the model are: Toronto Police Services 51 Division, the Inner City Family Health Team, Regent Park Community Health Centre, Toronto Christian Resource Centre, and The Gerstein Crisis Centre. The goal of the project is to improve access to services for the entire tenant community in each housing complex. This report provides a description of the findings of the needs assessment that was conducted with adult tenants living in the two residences in downtown Toronto.
Bridging Two Access Systems (2014)
What are the potential synergies between City-funded Housing Connections and the health-funded Co-ordinated Access for Supportive Housing (CASH)? Are there opportunities to better help the many homeless or at-risk people who have a mental health or substance use issue? This report summarizes the results of research funded by the City of Toronto’s Homelessness Partnership Strategy to learn more about Toronto’s two access systems.
Comparison of Four Housing First Programs (2014)
A report prepared for Service Canada by Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff, PhD, University of Calgary, Albetra,. Keeping individuals housed is a key determinant and positive outcome of all prgrams. Houselink stands out as having the highest retention rates. (Pages 70 to 71) This leads Waegemakers Schiff’s recommendation (Page 100 to 101) to “Assist housing providers in developing models of housing that include a fully integrated philosophy of recovery, substantive inclusion of those with lived experiences in program governance and operations, and the development of intentional communities”.
Welcome to the Financial Mainstream? (2014)
The Hazards Facing Low Income People When Navigating the Financial World. A report prepared by John Stapleton for Houselink. This report has two purposes. The first is to document some of the lessons learned from conducting a financial literacy course on behalf of Houselink Community Homes during the winter of 2013/14. The second purpose is to shine some light on issues we are often unaware of when we design financial literacy courses.
Working for Recovery? (2013)
Houselink examines two strategies that promote employment for people who are in mental health recovery.
Enabling all Ontarians to Live with Dignity (2012)
A response to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario’s Discussion Paper 2: Approaches for Reform.
40 is Too Young to Die (2012)
Report from the Early Onset Illness and Mortality Working Group, of which Houselink is a participant. The group seeks to understand why consumer survivor populations suffer abnormally high mortality rates, and what can be done to reverse this trend
Wha
t Stops Us From Working (2011)
New ways to make work pay by fixing the treatment of earnings under the Ontario Disability Support Program. This report is a joint project of Houselink, the Dream Team and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The report was prepared by consultant John Stapleton, and features the stories of several Dream Team and Houselink members
Beyond the Back Yard Fence (2011)
A guide for Ontario supportive and affordable housing providers
Relationships with neighbours are filled with nuances. They are shaped by local history, neighbourhood traditions, and the individuals who live there. But beneath tradition, personality and opinion there is a legal bedrock that sets out the rights and obligations of housing providers, their neighbours and their tenants. Here is a look at the laws, by-laws and policies can help you find your footing. This guide is designed to help Ontario supportive and affordable housing providers sift through the dilemmas to build a positive relationship with their neighbours.
Recovery Enhancing Environment Measures (2012)
The “Developing Recovery Enhancing Environment Measure” is a survey tool developed by Priscilla Ridgway, Ph.D, looks at participants personal experiences of recovery and the supports available to them. While the original tool was designed for primary healthcare settings, Houselink Community Homes has adapted the survey for relevance to supportive housing services and supportive housing tenants. Member responses to the Survey identify the extent to which Houselink’s supports and programming effectively promote recovery.
We
are Neighbours – Dream Team (2008)
Supportive housing makes for great neighbourhoods. That’s the conclusion of this important new study of two Toronto supportive housing buildings for people with mental illness, many of whom were previously homeless, and the communities that surround them. The Dream Team set out to test the value of supportive housing through a community based research process that brought together supportive housing residents, housing providers and their neighbours.
Supp
ortive Housing for Families: Parent and Child Narratives (2008)
This study explored supportive housing for families, specifically parent and child experiences and needs regarding life in supportive housing and the services and supports they receive in this setting. There is a lack of empirical knowledge of the children living in supportive housing with a parent who has a mental illness. In particular, first person accounts from children and youth living in supportive housing with parents who have experienced mental illness is glaringly absent from the extant literature. This research aims to fill this gap.
No Pla
ce Like Home – Understanding the Needs of Houselink’s Aging Population (2008)
The permanence of the housing combined with security of tenure for tenants means that many Houselink member tenants reside with Houselink for many years. Currently 23% of members living in Houselink are aged fifty- five and over. Given that in Ontario the population of seniors is estimated to double in the next sixteen years the number of seniors Houselink will service will only increase. This demographic shift may cause a demand for new services to meet the needs of Houselink’s members.
yes, in my back yard (2005)
A guide for Ontario supportive housing providers.
HomeComing promotes the rights of people with mental illness to live where they choose. We work to publicize these rights, to ensure the planning process does not become a platform for prejudices and fears, and to help supportive housing organizations create new housing, without compromising the dignity of the people they house. This kit focuses on the community consultation process, and how to deal with widespread fears and prejudices about the people who live in supportive housing.