We’ve been hard at work on a housing strategy. Below are some highlights, but you can access the full version here: Sheltering the Spirit – Siloam Mission’s Housing Strategy
Video created by Coelement for Siloam Mission as part of the Fight For Charity 2024.
We’re taking a big leap forward to achieve our vision.
Why? Because the solution for homelessness is housing.
How do we plan to do this?
Our first step was to assess the needs of our community. Through conversation and consultations, we’ve identified priority populations.
Seniors (50+):
Homelessness adversely affects overall short and long-term health. Therefore, the need to provide safe, affordable housing to individuals 50+ years old is in response to the earlier onset of adverse health effects. Flexibility in the age of residents will exist based on fit for the housing.
We have also seen those using Siloam’s shelter skew towards seniors. That is, though seniors make up 23.9% of those in the 2022 Street Census, they make up 34.9% of those who access our shelter.
Those in need of Emergency Housing:
Short-term accommodation for homelessness or crisis. Emergency housing typically offers basic necessities such as a place to sleep, shower, do laundry, get clothing, and eat or get money for food.
This is in line with best practice. We understand that providing emergency housing is an effective way to prevent chronic homelessness. Prevention is also an important aspect of being Housing First.
Those in need of Recovery Housing:
Accommodation in a stable, abstinence-focused and recovery-oriented environment for six months to two years. Activities focus on coaching for daily living as individuals transition back to community living.
We know people in recovery need more opportunities to find supportive long-term sober housing. We are already engaged in supporting folks recovering from addictions in transitional housing. This would help us extend the programming available at the Arlene Wilson Recovery Centre.
Youth Aging Out of Care:
In the 2022 Winnipeg Street Census, 64% of the 306 youth under the age of 29 counted had, at some point, been in the care of Child & Family Services (CFS).
For adults over 29, 46% of participants indicated having been involved with CFS at some point. We can tell by these statistics that CFS is an inflow into homelessness that must be addressed.
Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit Individuals:
Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit people experience intersectional oppression leading to a multitude of safety concerns. Women are 6% less likely to access shelters than men and non-binary people are 14% less likely to access shelters.
We must work with Indigenous-led organizations and Indigenous Nations to create meaningful partnerships and housing solutions that support the safety, belonging, and thriving of Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit people.
What are our next steps?
We’re conducting research, consulting with members of these populations, speaking with partners, and making connections throughout the city so we can identify possibilities.
If you would like to read more about the strategy in full, you can access it by clicking here: Sheltering the Spirit – Siloam Mission’s Housing Strategy
