Wet Housing#2, Information & Options

I went looking for answers today about low barrier "wet" housing. I had seen one place in Nanaimo (the Balmoral) which prompted me to wonder where the current "strategy" being applied in Nanaimo came from and also what are other places doing, surely we are not alone on this. The first answer led me to the 2nd. A document on the city website under Social Planning & Nanaimo's Response to Homelessness caught my eye. Apart from the history that was revealed along the way about who was doing what and where the money was coming from etc, this document had a subtitle "Relevent Best Practices"*. Yippee, I found it - the "why", the "recipe", the "instruction manual", the "textbook" or at least a small sample of current practical thinking & experiences, some logic & lessons - candy to my "analyser" nature.

The document referred to a place in Victoria - Fairway Woods. The document actually says "General acceptance of tenants and the building by the neighbourhood" OK, This I had to see.

I found it next to The Priory - a Seniors Care facility and next to a couple of multi unit condo projects. I walked in the back door and was met by a care worker that had a moment to spare. I had the grand tour and about 30 minutes of question & answer time. Cool Aid is the non profit society that runs the facility and a different nonprofit is contracted to provide the support care service to the 30 residents. There are a variety of mental illness & substance abuse issues being managed by the care workers, it was clear that they know each and every resident well. I met one resident who I was gently informed is a 6yr old in a seniors body. I met another resident who had been there long enough to still be allowed to smoke in his room while newer residents and staff have to go outside.

I also met the facility manager who told me Fairway Woods has been there 10 years, that there was some resistance at first from local residents but that it faded, that the neighbours share in Christmas activities even. One of the condo projects next door is quite new and is all sold out.

The building has a fitness room, lounges, laundry & a kitchen/dining room where 1 meal a day is provided if need be, I understand other groups come in and put on meals for both residents and others. I didnt get to speak to any neighbours or people from the Priory - I should have I suppose-but if a dark side lurks here I picked up no signs. I did learn that Fairway Woods is a senior's oriented "wet" house. It took me a while to get my head around this - seniors with mental issues and/or abusing drugs and alcohol. I dont know if that is good or bad - it is what it is though. I learned the seniors age qualification is loose enough to include me though. I got the distinct impression that the mix of residents is managed as carefully as the medicines and care each receives.

This actually lead me another realization that the demand for "wet" housing is broader than my narrow idea of a skid row drug addict. There are several ways to categorize the people in need - by age, by condition and by need. This is a way more complicated subject than I thought it was.

I decided to make the trek downtown to the offices of the CoolAid society. I managed to catch the Manager of Housing, John Crean as he went from one meeting to another. I make it a point to look closely at and comment on, people's business cards, his was easy to spot something special - 17 facilities were listed on the back of it. We agreed to email each other and I hope to find out even more about the way CoolAid housing works. I don't know if its the selection of residents, the operation, the support programs or a combination of the above. I just know I got a good feeling from everything I saw - people in need were being housed and helped. Life went on with it and around it.

My second stop of the day was in Duncan - Warmland House.

This is different right from the get go. People hanging around outside, some blankets and cups lying around. The entrance courtyard is gated and fenced. It is in a mostly commercial area. Its 2 years old. I happened to pull up along with a lady who offered to help as I approached the door. She was instantly sharing and helpful when I expressed curiosity about the facility. I learned that Warmland is many things under 1 roof. Unlike Victoria, where I found 17 facilities on 1 business card, Duncan has just 1 - Warmlands is it . It is simultaneously a homeless shelter & a "transitional" wet house. The second point means that residents can live in a small apartment unit for a 2 yr limit, then are evicted to find accommodation on their own from the rental pool. The first point - "shelter" means that people line up at 4 pm for a bed. There are 2 parts to the building to serve each group - each with different rules and procedures. I learned that mixing the 2 groups can be problematic. Shelter beds are dry, the others are not. Shelter beds are in dorms of 8. There are 22 residents and about 30 in the dorms, another 30 can fit in the lounge on mats if need be.

So the moral of my story today is that there are options and choices. There are decisions that Nanaimo has yet to make that can lead to different results. Nanaimo is neither Victoria nor Duncan. Nanaimo has different resources to work with.

The Relevent Practices document I referred to earlier concludes with a section on the role of Municipalities and a section on "the Gaps" (What is missing) - The Municipality section highlights the importance of "leadership. It leads off with a statement - "Traditionally, municipalities have been reluctant to take on initiatives in the area of homelessness. This has changed with a growing number getting more involved....." (So are we going to be traditional or join the trend, get involved?

The "Gaps" section ends with " Community leadership is essential to raise awareness and foster cooperation among major stakeholders"

I take this to mean that if I want something good I better make it real clear what I want. Doing nothing is an option - I might still get something good, or not. Doing something requires some work. Doing something smart requires a bunch of work - information gathering and analysis, not just of the options and which is best but of the process and of the ways to influence the process, in order to get what is wanted.

I do wonder what we are going to get here- Fairway Woods, Warmlands or something in between. I know the result can be influenced with saavy and hard work.

I just hope someone is prepared to do some hard work, figure out what the options are and to provide leadership.

* A Response to Homelessness in Nanaimo: A Housing First Approach:

"Relevent Best Practices"

http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/Departments/Community~Planning/Social~Planning/Nanaimos~Response~to~Homelessness~Action~Plan/080107_Nanaimo_BP_Research_MG.pdf

(scroll down when you try this link - it looks at first like a blank page)

Exerpt about the place I visited today

Fairway Woods, Langford. Located in a suburban area, Fairway Woods is a 32- apartment housing project that provides 24 hours, 7 days a week support services. The complex was specially designed and purpose built for the formerly homeless and hard-to-house seniors by the Victoria Cool Aid Society. It is located close to bus service and amenities including a health clinic, pharmacy, grocery store and café. On-site services include assisting with difficult situations, providing help with daily living activities, and the provision of one communal meal daily.

Clustered home care services are provided by Community Health Care Workers from the regional health authority to those tenants in need. Other visiting services include home nursing and psychiatric social work.

The project took 8 years to complete and its success is attributed to the housing provider’s experience in providing housing and support (Cool Aid), the passion and commitment of staff and selection of appropriate tenants. Fairway Woods is reported to have had significant impacts on tenants’ lives, including increased health, greater autonomy, healthier social relationships and decreased substance abuse. The aspects noted to have contributed the most to tenants’ quality of life are:

• Quiet suburban setting

• Predictability of everyday life

• Proximity of shops and services

• Social aspects such as daily communal meal

• The value of having 24-7 site service staff increases the sense of security and connectedness

• General acceptance of tenants and the building by the neighbourhood.