It might seem counterintuitive to some people–but the “housing first” approach to dealing with homelessness has almost eradicated the problem of homelessness in Medicine Hat, and groups across the country are following their lead.
The approach means giving people who are homeless their own place, without imposing rules like staying sober. It treats a roof over one’s head as a basic human right, because that allows people to try and find a job and be a contributing member of society. Jenny O’Connell of the Saint John Human Development Council tells CHSJ News it’s definitely working–with, of course, lots of support from the provincial government.
About 72 per cent of the participants in Medicine Hat succeeded in the program and maintained their housing.
