Real strategies from community leaders who have done the work was a key message during a housing symposium held in Halifax on Tuesday. This is the 10th year United Way Maritimes has hosted the symposium, and there were 509 people who attended both in person at the Halifax Convention Centre and virtually. They all attended with a shared goal of what’s working, what needs to change and what comes next in addressing homelessness in the Maritimes. “We have been in a crisis state for years and we are at the point where we all recognize that and are able to turn the corner with the right commitments, the right investments and the right partnership,” says Kevin Hooper, United Way Maritimes affordable housing director. Local leaders, policy makers, service providers and international experts were brought together to have discussions and share their own firsthand experience. They had 15 expert speakers focusing on international perspectives, cross sector collaboration and practical trauma-informed strategies. Sue LaPierre, United Way Maritimes’ vice president of housing, says there needs to be market housing supported by social housing. “We need to really ramp up the social housing so they can sit alongside the market housing. With both of those systems robust and operating in the community, then we can take care of people and take care of housing as a human right,” she says. The organization brought in an expert from one of the leading countries when it comes to housing, Juha Kahila who is the head of international affairs at Finland’s Y-Foundation. The Y-Foundation is Finland’s largest national nonprofit landlord. They work to promote social justice through affordable rental housing. Kahila spoke at the symposium to share their ‘Housing First’ model. “(It) works quite well to be honest. And the metaphor for that is homelessness people first and foremost need a home with (advocating) and support as long as needed, and with Housing First we have been able to have great success regarding reducing the number of homeless people in the last decade,” says Kahila. Kahila adds Finland has seen an increase in their homeless numbers in the last two years. He attributes that to similar issues Canada, and the rest of the world, are facing. He also adds the war between Russia and Ukraine impacted their country’s homelessness because Finland shares a border with Russia, and trades and exports stopped immediately for them. But despite this increase, Finland’s model is said to work, successfully reducing its overall homelessness for 11 consecutive years until 2023. “The politicians in Finland have understood the importance of affordable social housing and why it’s so crucial to have affordable housing as normal infrastructure around the city just like hospitals, schools,” adds Kahila. Back in 1997, Kahila said Finland’s homeless numbers were over 18,000 and as of last year they were down to 4,570. LaPierre says the Maritimes has to learn from other places. “One of the slides they showed was a reversal in investments and that most of their investments now are in prevention and housing with support rather than in sheltering and I think that’s such a great lesson for us to learn from,” she says. Micheal Kabalen with the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) gave a presentation as well at Tuesday’s symposium where he shed light on some numbers in Nova Scotia. He said the province should be at 20 per cent when it comes to the housing continuum. He says AHANS is advocating for that investment from the government into the Housing First model. “We have to remember that each of us is one bad decision, one catastrophe away from experiencing homelessness. What Housing First says is whatever caused your homelessness, we will deal with that a little bit later on once we get your houses and get you stabilized,” says Kabalen. Leaders from the nonprofit 12 Neighbours Community, which is based in New Brunswick, also attended the conference. Marcel Lebrun, who is the founder and chair, hopes the conversations bring change. “The government and the nonprofit sector has adopted Housing First as the best evidence-based strategy for reducing homelessness, and so for the most part it’s pretty consistent. But what I think is less consistent is beyond the housing and to provide and make available those services varies greatly,” says Lebrun. The organization puts their focus on not only the Housing First model but also wraparound care when it comes to recovery and development. “Everything we do, we offer these supports, is not conditioned on your ability to maintain your home. In other words, you have to pursue employment or recovery, but those services are there for you when you need them,” adds Lebrun. Kahila mentioned the causes of homelessness in Canada and Finland are similar, but the biggest difference in the Canadian issue is the available housing stock. He adds Canada largely stopped building and funding affordable housing in the early ‘90s while Finland has not stopped. “We have forced quite a bit on the support side of things and it’s hugely important. But we haven’t spoken enough about housing and housing solutions,” he says. Kahila adds Finland has been building affordable housing for the past 76 years. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
