M14 - Peers for Housing Stability: Preventing Homelessness through - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

M14 - Peers for Housing Stability: Preventing Homelessness through Education

Peers for Housing Stability

Welcome! Kristi Fairholm Mader- Co-Executive Director Ready to Rent BC Donalee White- Housing Outreach for Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society (ATJSS)

Where did you learn to rent?

Introductions What is the best place you have ever lived? What did you like most about it? What do you like most about where you live now?

Can I borrow your car?

RentReady Youth Co-facilitated, 3 hour course: • Pay your rent on time, in full • Look after your place • Quiet enjoyment of neighbours

RentReady Youth  Building skills, knowledge and confidence: Rights, • responsibilities and expectations Financial • management and priorities Communication • skills

RentReady Youth Pilot 37 courses since April in Victoria and Vancouver 17 community partners 6 youth peer facilitators 133 evaluations: 86% very useful • 16% somewhat useful • 1 not very useful • 3 didn’t learn • anything new

Participants and Housing

Youth Participants’ Housing Reality

Housing Realities Number of moves:  21 moved 1x in past year  24 moved 2-4x in past year Of those that moved 2-4x:  70% earn less than $1000  Income is an equal mix of employment, government assistance, YA and parents (young participants)  Homeless, rent and transitional

What would you change?

Four Core Issues

Youth Homelessness and Housing Instability 65,000 youth are homeless in Canada Youth homelessness and housing instability is rising (28% since 2008) 80% are ‘hidden’ homeless (cars, motels, friends, couch surfing) Difficult transition out of child welfare system is a key factor alongside family issues, economic issues and residential instability Approximately 700 young people age out of foster care annually 40% of homeless youth have some history with child welfare Families with children are fastest growing group of homeless

Addressing Youth Homelessness 2013 Study: ‘Youth Homelessness in Canada: Implications for Policy and Practice’ called for the following recommendations:  Focus on prevention  Family mediation  Comprehensive individual case supports  Trauma treatment And if we look at what RentReady youth learners are telling us, must address issues of affordability, roommates, housing-related issues and discrimination.

R2R Programming

R2R’s Model of Change

And it is working…  Over 1500 participants since 2009  2014 graduation rate: 81% (increasing each year) 100% said knowledge increased • 92% said confidence increased • 86% said maintaining their housing was easier • 72% said finding a place to rent was easier • 66% used the RentSmart certificate • 70% said it helped them in securing their housing •

Become a Community Partner  Train the Trainer: Victoria and Vancouver  Model is nimble: Certified facilitators (3 years & recertification) • Fee for manuals and certificates • Ready to Rent is certifying body for facilitators and graduates • Common measurement and evaluation • Population-specific courses – certified facilitators can deliver

It is all about identifying your priorities…

Thank you!