Shelter Inventory Report - Newfoundland and Labrador Housing

One Network,
One Voice
SHELTER STUDY
MAY 2010
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR SHELTER STANDARDS
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Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Shelter Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Salvation Army - Wiseman Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Tommy Sexton Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Iris Kirby House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
St. John’s Native Friendship Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Choices for Youth (Young Men’s Shelter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Naomi Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
INTRODUCTION
The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and Homelessness Network, in partnership
with HRLE, completed a shelter study on six St. John’s-based organizations who
currently offer shelter services and supports to clients throughout Newfoundland and
Labrador.
The results of the review are provided in this study with an individual breakdown and
overview of each organization.
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NL Housing and Homelessness Network
One Network One Voice
Shelter Study
Those organizations identified for review include:
The Salvation Army – Wiseman Centre
The Tommy Sexton Centre – ACNL
Iris Kirby House
The St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
Choices for Youth – Young Men’s Shelter
Naomi Centre
The study will provide information on the following:
Organizational Structures
• Staffing Models
• Breakdown of shift work
(daytime/nighttime/weekends)
Existing Support Programs:
• Overview of services
• Access to obtaining financial benefits
• On-site delivery versus community-based delivery
Case Consultation:
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What services are currently offered
How are they delivered
What are the existing short-falls
Access and assistance in obtaining housing supports/referrals
Breakdown of Funding Arrangements
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History of operational funding arrangements
Funding arrangements for existing staff
Per-diem funding (what is provided for indicated amount?)
Block funding (overview of contributors/models)
Other funders (e.g. Eastern Health, HCS, etc.)
Profiling
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Resident demographics
Commonalities / differences
Average length of stay
Turn-aways
Shelter Services
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Shelter Study
What are the minimum services
Overview of meals (availability / preparation / costing)
Other (clothing/footware/personal hygiene products)
Recreation opportunities
Other relevant services
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The Salvation Army – Wiseman Centre
The newly renovated Wiseman Centre offers 20 self-contained emergency shelter units and 10
supportive housing units for men between the ages of 30-64, along with specialized programs and
services to empower residents to live as independently as possible.
Overview:
Existing Support Programs:
• Age 30-64
• High percentage of addiction and/or mental
health issues
• Average length of stay in shelter (4-6 weeks);
supportive housing is long term housing
• Will consider the 25+ age group when Choices
for Youth Shelter is full
• Exclusions: sex offenders, convicted arsonists,
individuals with a history of violent behaviour, and
individuals with significant medical conditions
• Turn-aways: 157 (year in review)
Offered by social work students and staff in
addition to outside specialized professionals:
• Life skills training (cooking/ cleaning)
Shelter beds – 20
Supportive Housing Units – 10
Organization Structure:
Staffing:
8 Full Time Residential Counselors (Shelter)
2 Part Time Residential Counselors
1 Full Time Residential Worker (Supportive Housing)
1 Outreach Worker
2 week rotation / 40 hours per week
Unionized environment – NAPE
$19.39/hr for shelter/ supportive housing workers
Breakdown of Two Week Rotation:
• 2 weeks of days
• 2 weeks of nights
Week 1 - days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, off
Thursday, off Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- nights (Monday, Tuesday, off Wednesday, off
Thursday, off Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Week 2 - days (off Monday, off Tuesday, off
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, off Saturday, off
Sunday) - nights (off Monday, off Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, off Saturday, off
Sunday)
• 12 hour shifts with the exception of one shift
being 8 hours
• 2 residential counselors per shift
• Life Keys* – once a week
Stress management
Conflict resolution
Grief and loss
Coping with addiction
Coping with mental illness
• AA Meeting on Site (Thursday Night)
• On-Call Doctor as needed
• Community Health Nurse (Thursday afternoons)
• Tuesdays and Thursdays (coffee break) for
current and former clients who are able to meet
with the Outreach Coordinator
• Recreation (Ball Hockey/ movie night/ softball/
skating/ day trips in van)
• Chaplain attends team meeting twice a week as
well as coordinates a chapel service each Sunday
• Housing search – empowerment model / no
relationship with NLHC
• Social Work and Nursing Students involved in
field placements
*Our Life Keys program is moving to twice a week
this fall and our topics are increasing to include
sessions on Anger Management, Positive Self
Talk/Positive Attitude, Eviction Prevention,
Community Access, Respectful Relationships,
Wholistic Wellness, Goal Setting, Seeking
Accommodatons - Presenting Your Best Self to
Landlords, Protecting Yourself During the Flu
Season. These Life Key session topics will
continue to expand to meet the identifed needs of
our clientele.
No cook / No maintenance person
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NL Housing and Homelessness Network
• Announcements / Assign chores and tasks
• Residential Counselors coaching/
assisting individual men as needed
• Programs as indicated above
Funding Arrangements:
Shelter beds – Block Funding
All clients need to be approved by HRLE
in advance
Case Consultation:
• IAP – Individual Action Plans are
created for each resident by the
Residential Councilors during their first
week of stay
• Monthly support team meetings with
residents in Supportive housing, Case
Manager and Wiseman Centre Staff
• Weekly consultation meeting with HRLE
Liaison Social Worker, Eastern Health
Liaison Social Worker and Client Service
Worker
Typical Day:
• 7:00-8:30 am continental breakfast
• 9:00 am Team meeting (mandatory)
with Residential Councilors.
Shelter Study
Funding:
87% - HRLE
10% - Salvation Army
3% - Eastern Health (Supportive
Housing)
Shelter Services:
Comfort allowance from HRLE:
$62.50 semi-monthly. Personal hygiene
items: razors / shampoo / towels /
deodorant
Donations of clothes/shoes etc. offered
to men when available / 3 meals per day
1 bedtime snack / 3 coffee breaks
provided each day
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One Network One Voice
Outside programs:
• Hope Works (Stella Burry Community
Services)
• ABE – Education upgrade
• CAN-DO projects
• Harm Reduction (ACNL)
• New Hope Community Centre
• Addiction Services
• Community Connections
The Tommy Sexton Centre
The AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL) owns and operates The Tommy Sexton Centre
which provides shelter services and housing related supports to people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs), and
people at high-risk for HIV infection. We provide opportunities for emergency, affordable and supportive
housing through the provision of four shelter beds and six supportive housing units. The Tommy Sexton
Centre provides a continuum of supports, including: recreation, employment and housing advocacy, harm
reduction services and life skills coaching. These services are co-located with current ACNL staff and
programming. Our consumer-centered approach strives to reduce the risk of varying degrees of
homelessness for residents by providing support services to address their social and economic needs.
The Tommy Sexton Centre is funded by federal and provincial government resources and consists of three
distinct program areas: a Short Term Shelter, PHA Supportive Housing, and the ACNL offices.
Overview:
Emergency Short-term Shelter (4 Shelter beds)
• People aged 16-64 in need of temporary
emergency housing
• Working in partnership with PHAs and their
support networks
• Working in cooperation and partnership with other
community service providers
Clientele includes:
• People living with HIV or AIDS (Priority)
• People at risk or affected by HIV or AIDS
• People affected by Hepatitis C
• At risk youth
• Abused women
• Methadone clients
Organization Structure:
Some of the challenges faced by residents
may include:
Note: Shifts are single-staffed (double-staffing may
occur when risk is heightened)
• Addictions
• Need for safe, affordable housing
• Need for healthy residence (Compromised
immune systems)
• Life skills
• Mental health and well-being
• Financial challenges
• Inadequate clothing
• Abusive environment
• Specific medical needs
Existing support programs:
• Harm reduction (information and resources)
• Client support
• Housing referrals
• Assistance with medical needs (doctor appointments prescriptions/dentists/glasses, etc.)
• Help with forms and applications (ie. HRLE, EI…)
• ACNL as resource site for internet, telephone
calls, administrative support
Six On-site Independent Affordable Housing units
(6 units)
• Provides affordable housing opportunities for
PHAs
• Increases housing stability for residents
• Provides comprehensive services to enhance
quality of life and increase independence for
residents
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Staffing:
• Housing Coordinator
• 3 Full-Time Residential Counselors
• 3 Part-Time (weekends and relief)
• Relief Staff
Referred programs:
• Eastern Health – Youth & Family Services
• Anger management
• Food/clothing banks
• Counseling and support services
• Government of Canada
• Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
NL Housing and Homelessness Network
Funding Arrangements:
Shelter funding - HRLE (Primary funder)
• Shelter beds – Per diem - $149.00/day
• Residential Counselors are paid
through the per diem rates
• Continued advocacy for block funding
Shelter Study
Non-shelter funding:
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
• Eastern Health
• SWAP
• ACNL administrative support
• Fundraising Initiatives
Shelter Services:
• 24-hour Staffing
• 24-hour Emergency support and crisis
contact
• Availability to provide support to clients
• Fully operational kitchen facilities -- 3
meals per day plus snacks
• Personal hygiene - shaving / shampoo /
towels
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One Network One Voice
• Consultation with HRLE for
specialized needs
• Community agencies
Iris Kirby House
Iris Kirby House is a 22-bed shelter for abused women and their children. Their service area includes the
entire Avalon Peninsula and their clients have typically experienced a combination of several types of abuse:
physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and economic.
Overview:
Shelter for Women and Children who are fleeing
Abusive Relationships. Clients originate from
throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
and abroad
.
• 252 admissions last fiscal year
• Age 16 and older
• Various financial and demographic backgrounds
• Average length of stay (17 days)
• 85% occupancy rate
• Turn-aways: 0 (Referred to other local facilities)
Shelter beds – 22
Second stage housing - 16 units
(maximum 12 month stay)
8 units - St. John’s / Mount Pearl
8 units -Conception Harbour
Organization Structure:
Shelter Staffing: 17 workers, 11 Permanent,
6 Relief. 2 teams cover all shifts
1 – 40 hrs/week
1 – 30 hrs/week
Weekends (Sat-Mon):
12 hour shifts (8am – 8pm / 8pm – 8am)
Existing support programs:
• Children’s Services
• Life Skills Coordinator (healthy eating/money
management)
• Cooperative Living program
• Empowerment Groups (current and ex-residents
and any woman in the community who is experiencing abuse)
• 24/7 distress line
• Walk-in policy
• Recreation program (with summer students)
• Homework club for children (volunteers)
• Gift basket on departure
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Outside programs:
• HRLE – Income support
• NLHC – Victims of Family Violence
• Counseling for Mental health, alcohol and
addictions
• Monthly Turkey Tuesday
• Weekly Thursday Quilting Club
• Advocacy for Residents
Case Consultation:
• Shelter staff do initial assessment
Funding Arrangements:
Operational: Block funded through Eastern Health
via Health and Community Services
22 Shelter Beds: Block Funding (Eastern Health)
Shelter Enhancement Program - NLHC
Supportive Housing Units – Per-diem funding
Shelter Services:
Meals – three times a day
Personal hygiene products - supplied: shampoo /
towels / etc
Donations of clothing
Gift cards – Wal-mart, etc.
Transportation
24/7 Operation (fully staffed)
24-hour Crisis Line
IRIS KIRBY HOUSE
24 / 7 Operation
a shelter for
abused women
and their children
Crisis Line 753-1492
NL Housing and Homelessness Network
Shelter Study
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One Network One Voice
St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
The St. John’s Native Friendship Centre Association is a non-profit organization designed to assist
Aboriginal people in their everyday needs. Those needs include, but are not limited to, referrals and
counseling on matters of employment, housing, education and health.
The Shanawdithit Shelter opened in 2003 and can accommodate up to 23 persons and families experiencing temporary or regular homelessness.
Overview:
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10 bedrooms.
2 family rooms
2 rooms for women and children
The length of stay varies
Turn-aways – data not currently available
All clients need to be funded before they are
admitted (HRLE or otherwise)
Outside programs:
• Addictions counseling
• Domestic violence
• Post-incarceration
• Mental health referrals
• Women’s programs
• Hep C / AIDS
• Turnings /John Howard Society
Organization Structure:
Funding Arrangements:
Staffing: 5 shelter workers
8 hour shifts: 1 person per shift
(8 am – 4pm / 4pm – 12am / 12am – 8am)
Shelter beds – Per-diem (HRLE)
• $68.00/ room- $41/ meal and incidentals
per day, per adult
• $34/ room - $20.50/ meals and incidentals
per day, per child
Part-time (nights and weekends)
Shelter workers are paid through the per-diem
revenues
SJNFC and other specialized programs pay $1.00
toward the hourly rate and Linkages covers the
rest (minimum wage) for certain shelter workers
Existing support programs:
Offered by social work students and staff in
addition to outside specialized professionals:
• Housing support
• Transportation program with Health Canada
• Community computer access
• Employment program
• Youth Centre
• Aboriginal Patient Navigator
• Transportation program with the Nunatsiavut
Government
Hostel:
Aboriginal and general public (funding provided
through the band council, Innu Nation, HRLE, and
Health Canada)
Shelter Services:
Comfort Kits
Personal hygiene - shaving / shampoo / towels
Clothing donations
Income Support referrals
Money transfers from Innu Nation / Band councils
Recreation: Youth programs / Aboriginal Art / Day
trips in van
Other relevant staff positions on-site include
• Shelter Coordinator
• Youth Coordinator
• Employment Coordinator
• Women’s Violence Coordinator
Housing supports:
• Staff compile list of apartments
• Staff research apartment listing, etc and also
refer clients to other shelters when required.
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NL Housing and Homelessness Network
Shelter Study
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One Network One Voice
Choices for Youth – Young Men’s Shelter
Choices for Youth (CFY) is a non-profit, charitable communitybased agency that provides housing and lifestyle development to
youth in the St. John’s metro area. The organization was founded
in 1990 as a result of an identified need among youth, the
community and government to have an empowerment-based
program available to youth for whom “home” was not an option.
The Shelter for Young Men provides an emergency safe place
for young men who are homeless. Since 2004, the nine-bed
shelter has housed over 300 young men between the ages of
16 and 29. Following the principles of harm reduction, which
recognizes the complexity of the issues that contribute to a person becoming homeless, youth can stay at
the Shelter for up to a month; however the average stay is about two weeks. Choices for Youth Young Men’s
Shelter acts as a point of entry for young men to find the support they need to get their lives back on track.
Many residents stay connected to CFY staff and programs for ongoing support post their shelter stay.
Overview:
Young Men’s Shelter
• Shelter beds – 9
• Age 16-29
• Maximum length of stay: 30 days (some exceptions)
• Average Length of stay: 2 weeks
• 90% occupancy rate
• 56% readmission rate
• Turn-aways – 260 (2007-08)
Organization Structure:
Staffing: 5 residential counselors, 2 week rotation
40 hours per week that includes a bi-weekly staff
meeting
Social Worker: 40 hours week (8:30am-4:30pm)
Breakdown:
• Shifts vary between 8.5 hours up to 12 hours
• 3 shifts a day from Monday to Friday – some
overlap of shifts during weekdays but overnights
are single staffed
• Two 12 hour shifts on the weekend –
single staffed
Existing support programs:
• Supportive counseling
• Referrals to health, financial and educational/
employment programs and services as required.
• Life skills training
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• Youth Outreach and Engagement
• Harm reduction (CFY – outreach is a satellite
site for the SWAP program – ACNL).
• Basic math and literacy skills program (Youth
at Promise)
• Jumpstart – a pre-employment and life skills
program of CFY – outreach.
• Practical support (ID’s, bus passes, etc)
• Eastern health nurse (consulting role)
• Family liaison
• Community suppers / Meal program
• Housing support/search
Outside programs:
• Drug dependency/addictions (Recovery Centre)
• Mental Health (Waterford Hospital)
• Employment programs (Service Canada/HRLE)
• Summer recreation (Ball hockey/movie
night/day trips in van)
Case Consultation:
Staff meet every two weeks to review individual
client needs / new admissions / housing needs
etc. The shelter social worker meets with all
young men to complete a more detailed
assessment of the challenges and barriers that
may be contributing to their homelessness. This
information provides the basis of a support plan
to assist the young men in addressing their
housing needs as well as other life areas.
NL Housing and Homelessness Network
One Network One Voice
Funding Arrangements:
Shelter beds – Block Funding (1/3 Eastern Health / 2/3 HRLE)
16-18 years of age – (Funded through Youth& Family Services, Eastern Health)
18-29 years of age – (Funded through HRLE)
Shelter Services:
Meals (3 times per day) and snacks
Comfort allowance: $62.50 semi-monthly (Youth & Family Services or HRLE)
Personal hygiene - shaving / shampoo / towels
Clothing donations
Recreation: Open mic night / Summer recreation program
Access to Housing:
Housing Development Liaison on staff
Housing, apartment, bedsitter searches
Help with viewing facilities
Shelter Study
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Naomi Centre
Naomi Centre is an eight-bed emergency shelter and short term residence specifically developed for young
women between the ages of 16-30 who are in need of safe and supportive temporary housing. Naomi
Centre operates from a harm-reduction perspective and recognizes that the lives of young homeless wome
nare complex and requires individualized support and outreach services. The Centre has been a part of
Stella Burry Community Services since 1995.
Overview:
Emergency Shelter for Young Women
• Age 16-30
• Average length of stay – 3 months
• Average age: 18-24
• Repeat Users: 68% (2007-08)
• Turn-aways – 168 (2007-08)
8 Shelter beds
4 Supportive housing units
(Available through Stella Burry)
Organization Structure:
1 - Program Manager
1 - Social Worker
1 - Administrative Assistant
Staffing:
Double staffing (until 3am)
8 Residential Councilors
(4 teams of 2 workers)
Plus relief staff (on-call, annual leave
and sick leave fill-ins)
Workers are unionized (CUPE)
Shifts:
Shifts vary between 9 and 12 hours and
are combinations of day, evening and
overnight.
Existing support programs:
• Family support for clients 16-18 years of age
– Meeting with families and contact with Youth
and Family Services
• Life skills training
• Harm reduction model
• Community supper for current and
former clients – Tuesdays
• Psycho-educational addictions sessions on
Tuesday nights
• Housing search – empowerment model
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Service referral and coordination
Supportive counseling
Needle exchange program
Outreach with former residents
Assistance with obtaining proper identification
Operation of 24-hour Crisis Line
Food, laundry, shelter, and supportive counseling
Provide support to second-stage housing
arrangements
Outside programs:
• Youth and Family Services
• Addictions / Mental Health Services – Eastern
Health
• Community Youth Network – Youth at Promise
program
• Tommy Sexton Centre and the Native Friendship
Centre are also partners in accessing housing for
clients
• Stella Burry Community Services – Work with
employment, education and housing division
• SWAP program – Harm Reduction
• Choices for Youth – support programs
• Recreation (Outings in the summer / Active Living
program)
• Community Food Sharing Network
• Recovery Centre - Addictions Services
Case Consultation:
• Case plan (clients meet with social worker)
to develop individual case plan
A typical day may include:
• Housing searches
• Support and accompaniment to medical
appointments (e.g. doctor, dentist and mental health)
• Addictions counseling
• Individual program referrals
• Education/employment support
• Life skills counseling
NL Housing and Homelessness Network
One Network One Voice
Housing Supports/Referrals
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Stella Burry – Housing Division
NLHC
City of St. John’s
Private Landlords
Funding Arrangements:
Shelter beds – Block Funding through Eastern Health
Annual budgets are negotiated through Stella Burry
Shelter Services:
No cost for any services
Health and Community Services - Comfort allowance ($75.00 bi-weekly)
and drug cards
Meals (clients prepare their own breakfast and lunch with supper being a
collaborative effort between staff and clients)
Laundry facilities
Help with applications (HRLE, I.D’s, EI applications, school applications, etc)
Personal hygiene - shampoo / towels / etc
Clothing: donations of clothes/shoes/etc.
Shelter Study
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For more information, please contact:
David A. Murphy
Network Coordinator
Ph: (709) 691-7570
Email: [email protected]
12-16 Carter’s Hill Place, St. John’s, NL
www.nlhhn.org
Photo: Dennis Flynn
Kimberly Yetman-Dawson
Network Director
Ph: (709) 727-9976
[email protected]