2018 Opportunity Unlocked
 



Sessions

Supportive Housing

Supportive housing is critical to keeping people housed and ONPHA is committed to providing space for supportive housing providers to share their approaches and learn from their peers.

To reduce homelessness in the Nipissing District, the Housing Success Team was established to assist individuals and family households that are homeless, or at risk, to obtain and/ or retain housing. Funded by the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI), the Team works with tenants of social housing, social housing providers, private sector landlords as well as community partners to promote housing sustainability and offer client-centered supports. Learn how they have successfully worked with their clients and community partners to keep people housed.

TracyAnn Bethune, Tenant Services Manager, Nipissing District Housing Corporation

111 Supportive housing exchange
Friday, November 3
1:30-4:30 p.m.

Stream: Our Future   |   Format: Imagine

Are you interested in engaging in an interactive problem-solving session focused on emerging issues in the supportive housing field? Then this three-hour session is for you! We will start with a facilitated group discussion on key themes in supportive housing – come prepared to talk about your current realities of funding, advocacy, growth and integration. Then, you will split into two smaller groups to learn and engage in a facilitated exchange on growth opportunities and measuring quality in supportive housing. Our facilitators will cover diverse examples on both topics. Walk out of this session with concrete examples and ideas on how you can move forward with your supportive housing initiatives.

203 Connecting vulnerable tenants with the right care
Friday, November 3
3-4 p.m.

Stream: Our Communities   |   Format: Learn

Where does an aging tenant with serious mental health challenges and active addictions go when they are no longer able to live independently? What support and housing options are available in a healthcare system that's already overburdened by demographic and cost pressures? Finding suitable long-term care or other high-support housing options for vulnerable residents who are aging-in-place and unable to live independently is a growing challenge for many organizations and communities. Join the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MoHLTC) and Community Support Services (CSS) funded agencies in the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), and hear about collaborative solutions that will help tenants find the right mix of housing and support.

Alison Hunt, Executive Director, Regeneration Community Services
Debra Walko, Director of Seniors Services, LOFT Community Services

301 Hoarding: Intervention and support
Saturday, November 4
8:30 - 10:30 AM

Stream: The Basics   |   Format: Practice

Hoarding can be an overwhelming challenge for both tenants and housing providers. Learn strategies for coping with this issue from Megan Phillips, an expert with over 15 years of experience supporting and counseling clients with complex needs.

Megan Phillips, Owner, Integrated Hoarding Response

311 Bus tour: Innovative housing in Niagara
Saturday, November 4
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Stream: Our Communities   |   Format: Explore

Safe, supportive and affordable housing is fundamental to the health and well-being of all people. Stable housing, combined with responsive and person-centered support, promotes residents' independence, self-reliance and increased engagement in the community. It also allows residents to gain greater confidence and realize their housing goals and life aspirations. Bethlehem Housing and Support Services will share how they deliver affordable housing and support services to provide a critical cornerstone for a vibrant, caring and inclusive Niagara community.

Sponsored by
CMHC

Recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 make it easier for tenants and their families to leave a joint tenancy when fleeing domestic violence. But where can they afford to go? In September 2016, Ontario launched a two-year Portable Housing Benefit pilot program to provide affordable housing options for 1,000 survivors of domestic violence. Join a panel of service managers from across Ontario as they discuss the challenges and successes of implementing this program in their communities, and what they would like to see moving forward.

Lisa Goodfellow, Program Manager, Social Housing, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
Tammy Morasse, Senior Policy Analyst, City of Hamilton
Ryan Pettipiere, Director of Housing, County of Wellington

406 Measuring what matters: Evidence-based evaluation in supportive housing
Saturday, November 4
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Stream: Our Organizations   |   Format: learn

Options Bytown has begun to use the evidence-based evaluation tool Outcomes Star for homelessness in their case management and supportive housing program. This evaluation tool is engaging, visual, collaborative and "measures what matters!" for the clients, management team and funders. Join Options Bytown as they share their outcomes, best practices and lessons learned from implementing this tool.

Jennifer Laewen, Manager of Tenant Services, Options Bytown Non-profit Housing Corporation
Joyce Lundrigan, Front Line Supervisor, Options Bytown Non-profit Housing Corporation

In December 2015, the Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury-Manitoulin (CMHA-SM) and the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (M-S DSB) met to discuss a partnership pilot. The M-S DSB identified that more mental health supports were needed for those in social housing at high risk of losing their housing, and CMHA-SM had just recently received funding for a new program to connect these individuals with a transitional community support worker (TCSW). The TCSW Program provides 6-9 months of "in house" support to enhance daily living skills and to maintain wellness with the overall goal of maintaining and sustaining housing. Short term activities include crisis planning, hospital diversion and referrals to community resources. Join representatives from both organizations to learn more about their partnership, their community outreach, and how it has benefitted high-risk populations.

Lynne Annett, Rent Supplement Coordinator, Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury-Manitoulin
Rhonda McCauley, Social Housing Program Supervisor, Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board

Housing providers play an important role in addressing unique community needs and challenges. By leveraging community resources, they can create housing that brings together partners from health, justice and local municipalities to better serve vulnerable populations. Learn how one community worked together to construct a 20-unit supportive housing project targeting a population with high needs and chronic homelessness that provides 24/7 supportive services.

Henry Wall, Chief Administrative Officer, Kenora District Services Board
Don McBain, Executive Director, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services