Beyond Shelters: Solutions to Homelessness in Canada from the Front Lines

by James Hughes

Newspapers, television and films cast homeless shelters as places of desperation, sadness and sickness. However, over the last 25 years, homeless shelters have changed dramatically.

Shelters have become more professional and sophisticated in addressing homelessness in their communities. They now do much more than provide a bed and a meal for the night -- they offer different methods of intervention, different types of services and different forms of connection to the communities they serve.

This book offers essays by experienced shelter managers who address the future of the homeless shelter in Canada. This diverse collection also includes a chapter by Dr. Sam Tsemberis, the father of the successful Housing First Model. There are contributions by leaders in the homelessness field from across Canada, who have been at the forefront of developing unique services for women, youth, Indigenous people, and families. The days of shelters serving to merely warehouse homeless people out of sight and mind are being replaced by specialized approaches that are reducing homelessness in Canada.

The contributors have years of experience understanding the causes of and solutions to homelessness and the role that shelters can play in achieving their ultimate goal -- the elimination of all forms of homelessness in Canada.

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2018

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Reviews

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of essays on the changing role that homeless shelters play in our society. As the title suggests, our modern shelters must go beyond the traditional custom of only providing a hot meal, a shower, and a bed for the night. They must focus with determination on the goal of ending homelessness. A vigorous explanation of the Housing First approach is given, and how it has worked in various cities across Canada. For example, Matthew Pearce explains the evolution of the policies and programmes at the Old Brewery Mission in Montreal, and its increased involvement in transitional housing and long-term solutions to the housing needs of the Mission’s clients. Other articles focus on the specific needs of women, young people, and the indigenous people. Each group has its own set of challenges, and the solutions must take into account the fact that women are often the victims of violence, or that the indigenous homeless population must carry the burdens of the past, from residential schools to inadequate housing to the chronic poverty present in far too many reserves. While ultimately a hopeful book, these articles are a poignant reminder of the work done on a daily basis to help these very vulnerable people in our society, a group of human beings we too often choose to ignore.

[Keisha Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of writings on various homeless shelters around Canada and their approaches to dealing with the problem. Heavy emphasis on housing first model- providing a home, not just a bed, without (as many) restrictions before attempting to manage other issues.

I agree with the premise that an emergency shelter alone could be doing much more to help people out of such poverty, but I'm skeptical about the claim that it is cheaper to house people than an emergency shelter. A key difference is length of time. Might be cheaper on a per night basis, but if people have no incentive to move out the free/subsidized housing then the costs will add up quick. And this book was written pre pandemic housing prices...

[Mega Decimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sector has adopted many of the suggestions presented here in 2018. After seven years, I'm in want of a book that can tell me what's next after Housing First and the recommendations in the conclusion.