KamloopsHomelessnessAction Plan2009

2 Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan

TABLE ofCONTENTS

3 Introduction5 Executive Summary8 Background

8 Four Homeless Profiles10 Defining Homelessness11 Quantifying Homelessness14 Causes of Homelessness17 The Cost of Homelessness18 The Homeless Survey

25 Three Strategic Priorities

25 Housing30 Support Services33 Bridging to Financial Independence

36 Recommendations45 Following Up and Moving Forward47 Appendices

47 Appendix A: Composition of Committees49 Appendix B: Chronology52 Appendix C: HAP Coordinator Job Description53 Appendix D: Kamloops Housing Inventory55 Appendix E: Glossary57 Appendix F: Selected Bibliography58 Appendix G: Acknowledgements

3 Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan

INTRODUCTION

Homelessness. We see it in our parks, on our streets, and in our alleys.But these are just the public faces of the issue. Homelessness also hidesin tents and beneath bridges; it sleeps in shelters and eats in soupkitchens. Sometimes it moves from couch to couch, bouncing betweenfriends and family members. Sometimes homelessness is born in themiddle of the night as a woman flees from violence, or on a coldafternoon after the EI has run out and the rent is late. Homelessness isalso a constant presence in the minds of people for whom missing justone paycheque means regular visits to the food bank.Homelessness affects all of us. It comes with social, moral, and economiccosts. It brings human suffering, wasted potential, and damaged self-worth. It negatively impacts families, communities, and businesses. And itrequires both public and private money to manage, support, and mitigate.Municipalities across Canada, the United States, Australia, and GreatBritain have decided to tackle the problem head-on, drafting plans toeliminate homelessness and all of its attendant effects. It is time forKamloops to take a more concerted approach to its own homelessnessissue.For years, individual citizens, community groups, businesses, faith-basedgroups, and governments have been working on homelessness. Manyprograms and services have been instituted to address the needs of thehomeless and those at risk. Yet the problem persists.Since its inception in 2006, the Changing the Face of Poverty (CFP) grouphas been looking at the issue of poverty and its effects in Kamloops. Thisgroup's focus in 2009 has been on homelessness. Building on pastprogress within the community, CFP formed a Homelessness Action Plan(HAP) Steering Committee in order to consult with various stakeholdersand recommend a clear course of action. For guidance, the Committeehas looked to John Talbot, a private consultant with extensive experienceon social issues in general and homelessness in particular. The ultimategoal is to end homelessness in Kamloops within five years.The Steering Committee understands that addressing homelessnessrequires input, support, guidance, and work from all sectors of thecommunity. This includes business, labour, government, Aboriginal