Hidden: Newcomer experiences of homelessness at Fred Victor and The Learning Enrichment Foundation. By: Teya Greenberg Elisa Martinez-Reyes

Transcription

1 Hidden: Newcomer experiences of homelessness at Fred Victor and The Learning Enrichment Foundation By: Teya Greenberg Elisa Martinez-Reyes Prepared for: Funded by: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada

2 Table of Contents 1.Project Background 2.Context 3.Research Methodology 4.Profile of LEF and FV Homeless Newcomer Clients 5.Emerging Themes 6.Future direction/recommendations 7. Works Cited Page 2

3 1. Project Background In the fall of 2009 Fred Victor and the Learning Enrichment Foundation developed a short-term research project, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, to better understand the experiences of homeless newcomers and learn how both organizations could more effectively address the housing and support needs of these individuals. Working together through Change Toronto - a broad based network of social service agencies, government, business, and people with lived experience of homelessness - both organizations had noted the housing and support needs of homeless newcomers to be specialized and specific and, within each organization, largely unexplored. Of particular interest was to further understand the service pathways that homeless newcomers travel to each organization and to each sector so that opportunities to minimize experiences of homelessness could be identified and service delivery improved, developed, or integrated to meet the needs. Fred Victor (FV) is a multi-service organization with a long history of serving marginalized individuals in the downtown east core that has, over the last 5 years, expanded its geographic scope throughout the GTA. With programs that provide responsive, accessible and innovative housing and services for people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty, Fred Victor supports community members to have a home and the opportunity for meaningful participation in society. The Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF) provides integrated and holistic community responsive initiatives that enable individuals to become valued contributors to their community's social and economic development. LEF was formed 30 years ago in response to the needs in the former City of York. Since its inception, LEF has developed a mix of programs and services that include: childcare, youth programs, settlement services, language training, skills advancement programs and courses, employment services and community enterprises. 2. Context Homelessness Homelessness is a complex issue that is a growing and troubling trend in Toronto and beyond. Homelessness refers to a variety of experiences of unstable or insecure housing, including: those living outside, in emergency shelters, who spend most of their income on rent, or live in overcrowded, substandard conditions and are therefore at serious risk of becoming homeless (City of Toronto's 2003 Report Card on Homelessness). Homelessness is often seen as a spectrum of unstable housing with those living outside or in emergency shelters at one end (absolute homelessness) and those living in spaces that do not meet the basic health and safety requirements, at the other end of the spectrum (relative homelessness) (Springer). Factors contributing to homelessness are both systemic and individual. In a Canadian context, the end of new purpose built rental housing in the 1970's and the Federal and Provincial withdrawal from the 'housing business' in the mid 1990's have contributed to an extreme shortage of affordable rental housing and a virtual absence of available subsidized units in most major cities throughout the country (Hulchanski). In addition, income disparities throughout the country are growing, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer (Statistics Canada). This absence of affordable housing and increased depth of poverty are compounded for newcomers by racism and individual experiences of mental health and/or substance abuse issues, trauma, family violence and abuse, to create social isolation and homelessness. Homelessness is a complex issue that is a growing and troubling trend in Toronto and beyond Page 3

4 Poverty and the Homeless Newcomer Experience For many newcomers "low income is at the heart of (the) housing problems " (Rose 2). Homeless recent immigrants are much more likely to be "economically" homeless - when newcomers to Toronto become homeless, it is often because they simply can't find a job or make enough money to support themselves (Hwang 12). Numerous studies have detailed increasing incidences of poverty among recently arrived newcomer families and increasing experiences of continued unemployment or underemployment (Omidvar 2). Ornstein notes that in Toronto the rate of poverty among particular racialized new immigrant communities increased three times faster than non-racialized, Canadian born Torontonians between the mid eighties and nineties (Ornstein p. i). Immigrants in the last two decades are increasingly earning less than the average incomes of their Canadian born counterparts and are finding numerous barriers to the labour market. Whereas historically Canadian immigrants had struggled economically in their first few years in the country but then gained economic parity to their Canadian-born counterparts, since the late 1980's, immigrants to Canada are facing a far more difficult economic situation (HRSDC). Reitz argues that these low incomes are due in part to skill underutilization and in part to pay inequity, all underpinned by racial discrimination. Shifts in immigration policy over the last two decades have seen increased numbers of people from the global south, predominantly racialized people, coming to Canada under the skilled workers immigration class. Although these new immigrants arrive in Canada with higher education, skills and credentials than their predecessors, these assets have not resulted in increased incomes. Requirements of Canadian work experience for most employers, language barriers, and the lack of recognition for non-canadian accreditation bar newcomers from much of the employment they are qualified for and force them into precarious work. Racialized immigrants, particularly women, are experiencing additional barriers to the labour market because of discrimination based on skin colour and gender (Ornstein 132). Reitz notes that employers routinely assume the education and work experience of racialized immigrants is of lower quality than their European counterparts, and, based on these unfounded prejudices, pay lower wages. While many newcomers, regardless of immigration class, are experiencing increased poverty, the method by which an individual arrives in Canada still impacts their economic integration. Refugee claimants, who often arrive with little money and little planning, are still considered to be most at risk of experiencing poverty and homelessness due to both the circumstances surrounding leaving their country of origin and the precariousness and accompanying stress of the initial years in Canada. Undocumented people, whether they arrive without status, their work permits expire, or their family sponsorship attempts are denied, are at enormous risks of poverty and exploitation (Mennonite New Life Centre 1). Page 4 Hidden Homelessness among Newcomers Among newcomers, homelessness occurs most often on the relative side of the spectrum and is almost entirely "hidden". Newcomers tend to access informal networks before formal housing supports due to varying degrees of close community affiliation, shame at "being a burden on the system", and the inaccessibility of housing supports. Kilbride notes that newcomers access their informal networks of family members, friends and cultural or faith communities - collectively regarded as their 'social capital' - to address their housing needs. Informal networks are able to provide newcomers with short-term housing on arrival, financial assistance, interpretation and translation services in dealing with landlords, and serve as guarantors for rental leases (Kilbride 10). The social capital of particular ethno-cultural groups is a key factor in the relative absence of immigrants and refugees in the shelter population. Many, therefore, are protected within their family networks and communities (Chan et al. 132). While these informal networks are important in the early stages of arriving in Canada as they do shield newcomers from absolute homelessness, this reliance is not without costs. Rose notes that when newcomers turn to their friends and families for housing support, these networks tend to not have full and accurate information compared to those agencies that provide housing assistance as part of their mandate (Rose 3). Moreover, there are arguments that note that social networks/ethnic enclaves, while serving a role as important supports, can also lead to dependency and inhibit integration (Metropolis 14).

5 S. Gopikrishna, from the Scarborough Housing Help Centre, argues that homelessness among newcomers is most often hidden because living in overcrowded conditions is seen as a temporary, and thus tolerable, measure. Gopikrishna also argues that there are some efforts to hide these housing issues because of shame and fears that the housing issue will 'make the community look bad' (Gopikrishna, slide 7). Similarly, newcomers are reluctant to seek out housing assistance from formal institutions because they fear being perceived "as a burden on public services and from fear that the information they provide may compromise their immigrant status" (Ballay et al.122). For those newcomers that would be interested in accessing 'mainstream' housing and homelessness services, a number of barriers exist. A Toronto study highlighted that "many [newcomers] experience shock upon entering a shelter or dropin Also, the specific needs of [newcomers], such as language training, legal assistance and claimant forms, may not be met or proper referrals made in shelters and drop-ins" (Access Alliance 36). In many cases, employees at 'mainstream' housing and homelessness agencies have been trained to work with people with mental health and substance use issues and staff's focus, organizational programming, and working norms are organized around people with concurrent disorders. Refugee and family shelters are generally the emergency housing setting where newcomers can get their needs met. Unfortunately, refugee shelters tend to be accessible only during newcomers' initial months in Canada and family shelter tend to present the same obstacles to newcomers as most other 'mainstream' services. Metal Health On average, prevalence of mental health issues among newcomers is similar to Canadians with the exception of higher rates of post traumatic stress (Citizens for Mental Health). In the case of newcomers, mental health might be affected or triggered by settlement factors such as drop in socio-economic status, the loss of social networks and independence, separation of family, difficulties finding employment and, for racialized newcomers, experiences of racism (Mackenzie, Addressing). Though mental health issues are equally prevalent, "immigrants are less likely than their Canadian counterparts to use a mental health service" (Mackenzie, Improving 22), due to both structural barriers to service and to stigma and shame. Structural barriers to formal mental health services such as language barriers, lack of culturally appropriate services, and discrimination prevent many newcomers from accessing mental health services and treatments that could be beneficial. If I go to a service provider who doesn't know my language and is not familiar with my culture, first of all I will not be able to explain my problem to him/her as I want to say it, secondly, even if he/she gets me, will still not be able to provide me with culturally appropriate treatment which is very important (Mackenzie, Improving, cover page). Cultural perceptions and stigma surrounding mental health issues can create barriers to disclosure (Zine 14) and foster a silence in many ethno-cultural communities. Hwang notes that in Korean communities, because of strong religious influences and close family ties, mental health issues are most often seen as a family, rather than individual issue, and that efforts are often made to hide the issue so as not to bring shame upon families. A recent Toronto study found within their focus groups of Tamil, Caribbean, and Somali mental health consumers and family members that mental illness was described as a taboo subject most participants reported that in Canada, too, attitudes in their cultural-linguistic communities toward people experiencing mental health problems were marked by both silence and stigma (Jacobson et al 13). In the case of newcomers, mental health might be affected or triggered by settlement factors such as drop in socio-economic status, the loss of social networks and independence, separation of family, difficulties finding employment and, for racialized newcomers, experiences of racism Page 5

6 3.Methodology 1 The purpose of this report was to provide a snapshot picture of the demographics and service pathways of homeless newcomers currently using Fred Victor's or(?) the Learning Enrichment Foundation's services. The paper also looks to identify the professional development needs and service gaps within each organization. For the purposes of this research, the terms 'homeless' and 'newcomer' are used within broad contexts. Homeless is defined as: those living outside, emergency shelters, living in overcrowded, substandard conditions and are therefore at serious risk of becoming homeless (City of Toronto, The Toronto). Note that for the definition of homelessness, the income measure - spending 30% or 50% or more on housing - was not included. In order to include the various experiences of newcomers at both organizations we defined newcomers as: research team worked to develop a clear understanding of the different pathways that homeless newcomers travel to access FV and LEF's services. The team also assessed FV and LEF staff professional development needs regarding settlement and homeless services. In order to collect the required information, the following methods were employed: a) Quantitative Information Profile questionnaires were developed and distributed to frontline workers of all FV program areas and to LEF Newcomer Programs (Settlement Services, Youth Services and Language Training) detailing the following information: age, gender, ethno-cultural community, languages spoken, highest level of education completed, immigration status, number of years in Canada, presenting mental health or substance use issues, current housing and housing history in the last 2 years. Page 6 permanent residents, protected persons, convention refugees, persons in Canada whose applications for permanent resident status are being processed in Canada, refugee claimants and non-status persons regardless of how long they have lived in Canada. For the purposes of this report newcomers using FV were assumed to be homeless or to have recently experienced homelessness, given the mandate of the organization. The purpose of this report is primarily to assist FV and LEF to understand their clients, evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and undertake planning to better serve newcomers who are experiencing homelessness. Homeless serving agencies and organizations that work in the area of mental health, addictions and concurrent disorders could find potential significance in possible barriers to servicing newcomers. Likewise newcomer serving agencies could be interested in learning how to improve their understanding and support for clients' housing needs. One full time employee was identified from each organization to work collaboratively or the project. The team investigated the profile of newcomers who are currently accessing FV services, and also investigated the extent to which LEF newcomer clients have experienced/are experiencing homelessness. The Program staff were asked to fill out the questionnaires for each individual newcomer they were working with; staff were not expected to approach service users to gather information though some took it upon themselves to do so. Staff also provided an estimate of the total number of service users on their caseload so that information on the proportion of newcomers (FV), or newcomers facing housing crises (LEF), per program could be calculated. For programs where little information is recorded about service users and the nature of the interaction between staff and service users is informal little information was collected. These programs at FV included: Open House drop-in, Friends Restaurant, and the Computer Club and Employment Resource Centre self-directed job search. For all of these programs, efforts were made to connect with key staff and/or program managers who provided anecdotal information on newcomer service users. Efforts made to include LEF Childcare Services in the investigation were not successful. This is due to the fact that information on the immigration status and the housing conditions of families is not collected on a regular basis. In addition, frontline workers did note that many parents do not disclose sensitive information about their living conditions which might be perceived as a threat to their children's wellbeing. 1 For a copy of the forms, profiles and interview guides used for this research project, please contact The Learning Enrichment Foundation - Settlement Services Program or Fred Victor Housing Program.

7 136 profiles were returned for FV and 103 for LEF. Additional demographic information for FV was provided from the Employment and Training database. Demographic profile information is reported out in section 4. The accuracy of the information collected was limited by several factors. For both organizations, standard intake processes did not necessarily collect all the information that was requested in our study - FV rarely asks about immigration status, education, and languages spoken while LEF rarely asks about housing or mental health/ substance use issues. There were also some conceptual difficulties with some of the information requested that could have affected the numbers of individuals identified; for LEF, it is likely that staff continued to understand the term homeless as 'absolute homeless' and for FV, there was likely confusion around different immigration classes. In retrospect, the information collected would have also been strengthened by questions on source of income and type of housing (ie. subsidized vs. market). This information could have provided important insight regarding the stability of an individual's housing and how at risk they are of becoming homeless. b) Qualitative Information Interview guides were developed for both staff and service users to access information on service users' pathways to each organization, to understand their housing experiences in Toronto, and to hear what staff felt they needed in order to better serve newcomers who had or are experiencing homelessness. Two staff focus groups were held with representatives from both FV and the LEF with a total of 14 staff members, both frontline and supervisors, attending. Additional input from staff members at both organizations, as well as key informants working on the housing needs of newcomers in the community, was also pursued. To conduct service user interviews, four newcomers with a variety of language skills were hired and trained to work as peer interviewers. The majority of the interviews were conducted with a peer interviewer asking questions and leading the discussion and a staff member taking notes. Service users were identified to be interviewed through the staff members they were working with. This method of outreaching for interviewees likely provided a group of service users who had generally positive experiences with the organizations and might not have provided the most representative feedback. Interviews were conducted in FV or LEF offices, service users' homes, and coffee shops. The majority of interviews conducted with FV service users were in English and the majority of interviews conducted with LEF service users were conducted in Spanish or Somali. Service users were paid for their time and, in some cases, were provided with additional resources and referrals. Service users interviewed had a similar demographic profile to homeless newcomers currently working with each organization. Findings are reported out in section Profile of LEF and FV Homeless Clients Demographic information, collected from the profile questionnaires (FV-136, LEF-103) is reported below. FV information is supplemented by the Employment & Training database where noted. Numbers of FV newcomers/lef homeless newcomers & proportion of caseload Approximately 15% of all FV service users are newcomers with great variety between programs. The largest total numbers of newcomers are in FV's east end family housing building - Dawes Rd - and in FV's Housing Access and Support Services program (HASS). HASS workers connect with service users at drop-ins or by phone referrals and provide mobile housing support services. HASS newcomers were generally clustered at three dropin's: BLACK CAP, Women's Health in Women's Hands, and Regent Park Community Health Centre's Wednesday One Stop Walk-in Clinic (WOW clinic). The largest proportion of newcomers at FV are also concentrated in the east end family housing buildings - both Dawes Rd & Mortimer, as well as Employment & Training services. Similar to FV's number, 15% of the newcomers served through LEF's Newcomer Services are reported to be homeless. The largest percentage of homeless newcomers Page 7

8 was found in Newcomer Settlement Services, followed by Youth Services and Language Training. This is explained by the fact that the first two conduct case management whereas Language Training does not. As such the first two might have a greater understanding of the housing realities of their service users. 2 Chart 1: FV - Total number of newcomers per site (snapshot: Dec Jan 2010) Dawes 14 6 E&T Mortimer 9 BUS 18 WDP 41 6 HASS MH&J, HR Total # of newcomers CDSS WH QJ 3 Chart 2: FV - Newcomers as a % of site caseload % Dawes % of Newcomers per site 26% 18% 15% 15% 12% 12% 10% 8% 6% E&T Mortimer BUS WDP HASS MH&J, HR CDSS WH QJ Chart 3: LEF - Total number of homeless newcomers per program Settlement Services Youth Services Language Training Program 2 Note that absolute numbers were only available for a few of the Employment and Training programs - Ontario Works, Back to Basics, Thrive, and volunteer programs, and not available for the Open House drop-in and Friends restaurant. Absolute numbers of newcomers accessing all of the programs within the Employment and Training cluster, as well as the Open House Drop In and Friends Restaurant, are presumably higher. 3 Note that the proportional data for the E&T is based on their database which tracks all new intakes and records basic information including number of years in Canada. 26% of new intakes had been in Canada 10 years or less; this figure is comparable to the proportional data collected from the questionnaires and is considered accurate. 4 Settlement Services and Youth Services' clients surveyed from April November For the Language Training Program, we surveyed clients in eight classes attending the Fall/Winter 2009 term. We did not include other terms in order to avoid duplications as most students move from one level of English to another at the end of each term. Page 8

9 Chart 4: LEF - Homeless newcomers as a % of program caseload 20% 15% 10% 5% 17% 12% 11% 0% Settlement Services Youth Services Language Training Program Gender More than 65% of both FV and LEF homeless newcomers were women which,for LEF, was parallel to the gender makeup of all LEF service users. Chart 5: Gender of LEF and FV homeless newcomers 67% 72% FV LEF 33% 28% Female Male Age The majority of both FV and LEF newcomers were middle aged. Notably, 24% of LEF's homeless newcomers were under 24, reflecting those individuals accessing LEF's Youth Services. 10% of FV's newcomers were seniors over 65. Chart 6: Age distribution of LEF and FV homeless newcomers 24% 24% 31% 30% FV LEF 14% 15% 13% 11% 10% 9% 7% 5% 5% 0% > Page 9

10 Region of Origin Newcomers at FV were most often from the Caribbean (Jamaica, St Vincent, St Lucia), East Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea), East Asia (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) or West Africa (Nigeria, Congo, Ghana). There was no single cultural group or region of origin that was dominant. Conversely, for LEF there was a significant incidence of homeless newcomers from Latin America (Colombia and Mexico) which mirrors the current make-up of newcomers accessing settlement services at LEF. The next two top groups at LEF were from East Africa (Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia) and the Caribbean (Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent). Chart 7: Region of Origin of LEF and FV homeless newcomers 59% FV LEF 19% 18% 12% 12% Caribbean E. Africa 12% 3% 8% 0% 8% W. Africa S. Africa Latin America 8% 3% 7% 6% 12% 2% Europe S. Asia E. Asia Languages Spoken Most of LEF homeless newcomers (57%) were reported to speak Spanish as their first language, which is reflective of the demographics of the wider population in the Mount Dennis Neighbourhood where LEF is situated (City of Toronto, Mount Dennis 1) The other two most common languages spoken by LEF homeless newcomers were English and Somali, also reflective of LEF's neighbourhood profile. English was the most common language reported at FV; however, the majority of FV employees communicate with service users in English so it is unlikely that staff could accurately report languages spoken. Chart 8: Languages spoken by LEF and FV homeless newcomers 57% 45% FV LEF 20% 8% 6% 3% 5% 2% 2% 2% 4% 1% 9% 4% 4% 1% 1% 1% 10% 5% Spanish English Somali Vietnamese French Amharic Bengali Cantonese Mandarin Tigrinya Arabic Siswati Page 10

11 Immigration Status Just less than 50% of FV service users were refugee claimants or had no status. Refugee claimants were clustered in those programs that work with high numbers and/or proportions of newcomers, that is - Dawes and Mortimer housing, Employment and Training, and HASS (see chart 15 on page 18). Non-status people were notably absent from the study, speaking to the fear felt by those living in Canada without legal documentation around disclosing their status to staff. Also, FV subsidized housing requires residents to have some kind of status as a condition of tenancy, further contributing to this absence. The majority of LEF homeless newcomers (87%) were reported to be permanent residents or convention refugees. Convention refugees were clustered in Settlement Services, while permanent residents were clustered in the Language Training Program. The low percentages of refugee claimants and non-status people can be attributed to the fact that these Chart 9: Immigration status of LEF and FV homeless newcomers FV LEF 52% 66% 39% 21% 4% 5% 8% 5% Non Status Refugee Claimant Convention Refugee Permanent Resident Time in Canada The majority of LEF homeless newcomers have been in Canada for less than three years. Paralleling the distribution of permanent residents and convention refugees per program, the Language Training Program had the largest percentage of homeless newcomers living in Canada for more than 3 years (75%) whereas the bulk of the homeless newcomers in Settlement Services had been in the country for less than 3 years (70%). Approximately 65% of FV newcomers have been in Canada for 3 years or more, with over 50% of all newcomers in the country for more than 5 years. Those newcomers at FV that have been in Canada less than 3 years are clustered in the programs that serve higher numbers or proportions of newcomers, notably HASS and Employment and Training (see chart 16 on page 18). Chart 10: Number of years in Canada of LEF and FV homeless newcomers FV LEF 19% 23% 4% 5% 16% 18% 14% 17% 51% 20% > 1 year 1 < 3 years 3 < 5 years 5 + years Page 11

12 Current Housing Conditions Approximately 65% of FV newcomers were currently housed, notably more than LEF service users. This speaks both to the subsidized housing buildings that FV operates and also to the housing expertise of the organization, particularly through HASS. It should also be noted that half of LEF newcomer clients who are currently housed are known to be on Ontario Works and paying market rent. This is considered to be an indication of extreme vulnerability to homelessness as "other essentials in the household budget have to be cut to cover housing costs, and there is an increase risk of eviction and homelessness if unexpected additional expenses mean that rent goes unpaid" (Rose 4). Moreover, in the case of LEF we see that a considerable number of homeless newcomers are staying with friends/families and/or in overcrowded housing conditions. We can conclude that this group continues to depend on their informal networks for housing survival and not Chart 11: Current housing conditions of LEF and FV homeless newcomers 64% FV LEF Housed 39% 13% 1% Shelter 13% 9% Fri/Fam 4% Overcrowded 25% Unsafe/Health 3% 9% 5% 2% 6% 2% 3% 3% Abuse Face Eviction Outside Other Housing History FV newcomers had a variety of different housing stays during the last two years. Approximately 30% of these individuals were housed, with some living in FV subsidized buildings. Note that though a significant number (25%) stayed in a shelter, half of these individuals stayed in a designated shelter for refugees, presumably within their initial months in Canada. LEF homeless newcomers also had multiple housing stays in the last two years. Similarly to the picture of those currently housed a large percentage of LEF homeless newcomers stayed with friends/family or in overcrowded housing. Of the 18% 5 of newcomers who stayed in shelters nearly all stayed in refugee rather than mainstream shelters. Chart 12: Housing History (2 years) of FV and LEF Homeless Newcomers FV LEF 30% 23% Housed 23% 18% Shelter 18% 22% 15% 8% Fri/Fam Overcrowded Unsafe/Health 5%6% 7% 3% 8% 3% 5% 5% 2% Abuse Face Eviction Outside Other 5 Important to note is that 7% of the newcomers reported abuse as the cause of their homelessness and that these cases were most often recorded by the Language Training Program (20% of its total homeless newcomers vs. 5% of the total homeless newcomers of Settlement Services). This type of disclosure by newcomers to Language instructors can be associated with the close relationships that are usually developed by daily interactions over weeks or months. Page 12

13 Presenting Mental Health & Substance Use issues Approximately 34% of FV newcomers have presenting mental health or substance use issues; this percentage is markedly lower than Fred Victor service users on average. Notably, newcomers with mental health or substance use issues are clustered away from those programs with high proportions of newcomers, and are seen more at both Queen/ Jarvis housing and at and the Caledonia/Women's Hostel emergency shelters (see chart 14 on page 17). On the other hand, LEF findings of homeless newcomers presenting mental health and substance abuse are minimal. This might be an underrepresentation which, as previously noted, can be associated with frontline workers' limited training in this field. While these numbers appear low in our research, there is a consensus among LEF staff that incidences of mental health and substance use are generally higher than reported in this study. Chart 13: FV and LEF Homeless Newcomers Presenting Mental Health and Substance Use issues FV LEF 98% 34% 2% 66% Presenting Not Presenting Page 13

14 5.Emerging Themes Several consistent themes became evident over the course of the two staff focus groups and 31 service user interviews. Inaffordability of existing housing and lack of information emerged as the most prominent barriers to accessing or maintaining housing. The importance of informal networks, a theme in academic research, also came out clearly as a dominant theme. Service users cited repeatedly that they get the majority of their information and housing support from family, friends, and faith or cultural communities. The findings of the staff focus groups and service users' interviews highlight shared experiences and similar housing and support needs of homeless newcomers at Fred Victor and the Learning Enrichment Foundation. Affordability Affordability is the most consistent and pressing barrier to securing and maintaining housing for all low income people, including newcomers. 69% of the LEF homeless newcomers interviewed cited the cost of housing, and/or low incomes as one of the causes of their housing instability; 65% of FV newcomers cited the same issue. Looking for apartments was easy; coming up with the money was hard" (FV service user) When you have a job or money, everything is accessible" (LEF service user) While increasing poverty for many newcomers and lack of affordable housing have already been discussed, it is worth noting that current income assistance rates virtually exclude anyone on social assistance from finding safe and 6 appropriate housing in Toronto. Thus, many newcomers (and others) are forced to either share apartments or live in substandard, unsafe or unhealthy units. The experience of homeless newcomers, therefore, is largely hidden. " Financially, it's hard. It's not easy sharing with someone; we are from different cultures" (FV service user) "Most newcomers go into OW and have limited income right now I am living with a roommate who is my nightmare" (LEF service user) "People are living in places that are worse than where they're from " (FV staff) We had to leave the apartment because it had bedbugs how can there be bedbugs in a country like Canada?" (LEF service user) It's hard to imagine someone would be charging so much for something so unfit for accommodation" (FV service user) Safety - or lack of safety - figured prominently in many LEF homeless newcomers experiences of trying to find affordable housing. Two LEF service users admitted that they are risking their nutritional intake "or go hungry" rather than living in a dangerous place. One newcomer father noted that, upon learning that his rent would be increased and knowing that he can no longer afford it, he and his wife are confronted with three scenarios: " Should we go to a shelter? Or should we go to live at Jane/Finch? Or should we stay with friends?" (LEF service user) Overwhelmingly, newcomers found that the subsidized housing that was available to them did not meet their safety requirements to raise a family. 50% of LEF service users said that safety was among their main concerns with 7 subsidized housing. One newcomer single mother moved out of her subsidized housing unit because of gun violence and pest infestations in the building. Thus, she and her three children went from paying $ for a subsidized unit to $1,100 per month for a market unit in a co-op apartment building. Frontline workers at LEF note that this is a very common scenario among newcomer families: very often they leave their subsidized units due to safety fears. In spite of safety concerns, most newcomers recognized that this is their only choice for affordable housing. Lack of Information Staff and service users spoke at length about the Page 14 6 As of March 30, 2010, Ontario Works maximum rates for shelter allowance for a single person was $ and $ for a family of four. In April 2009, average rent in Toronto for a bachelor unit was $ and $ for a two bedroom apartment (CHMC 2009, p. 8) 7 Clients also complained about the long waiting lists for and poor quality of subsidized housing in Toronto. As of February 2010, there were 72,337 applications in the waiting list for subsidized housing (Housing Connections. 3)

15 importance of accurate information - in an individual's first language - on tenant's rights and responsibilities, how housing processes work, community services, and neighbourhoods. This was associated with newcomers' condition of being new to the country, not knowing their housing rights and obligations, and, as a result, being on unequal grounds with landlords at the time of negotiating tenancy agreements. 85% of LEF service users interviewed identified lack of information as one of their main barriers to suitable housing. Those FV service users, that had been here less than 3 years also identified that lack of information was an issue. "The problem is that when one arrives in the country, one goes directly to sign a contract, not to an organization like this that can help one figure things out" (LEF service user) I don't really understand how housing is done or how to go about it" (FV service user) "[My family and I] almost went hungry just to pay for the utilities" (LEF newcomer mother referring to her experience renting a basement apartment not knowing that utilities are not a fixed cost) Service users, particularly from LEF, highlighted language barriers as a key obstacle in accessing the information they need. "I had some pamphlets, but the information was in English" (LEF service user) I signed the contract without knowing what it said" (LEF service user) Staff and service users also spoke about a lack of real information about housing in Toronto and how it negatively impacts housing choices. "If the client had been given accurate information about the reality of housing, the whole situation would have been so much easier " (FV staff) Service users highlighted how important it is to have information about neighbourhoods prior to signing a tenancy agreement. Of particular interest was information about the neighbourhood's childcare, recreational and community centres as well as ethno-specific food stores; they also said that it would be important to know the reputation of the area, buildings and their management. "It would have been easier of I had had more information prior to moving in about what to expect and what my neighbours were going to be like" (FV service user) "If we knew what we were getting into, we wouldn't have made the choice" (FV service user referring to her neighbourhood) "Because we were new in the country, we did not know where to go. LEF could have helped us find a place" (LEF service user) For families with children, they need information about daycare subsidy spaces in the neighbourhoods before moving" (LEF service user) Informal networks Mirroring the findings of the research cited in Section 2, staff and service users at FV and LEF spoke to the extent to which newcomers rely on informal networks of friends, family, and community members for much of their information about community resources and housing support needs. "My parents; my sister; my wife; my friends. That's who I depend on" (FV service user) Over 65% of FV interviewees stated that they initially got connected to community resources via information from friends, family or community members. Similarly, over 70% of LEF interviewees noted that they first learned about LEF services by friends, family or member of their ethno -cultural communities. For LEF service users, potentially because they are still new to the country, 50% of the interviewees said that they still rely on those groups for information about community and government services in general. "My sister's friend who has been landed for many years gave me all the info" (FV service user) My cousin told me what I needed to do when I first came to Canada. First you have to learn English, and then you get a job" (LEF service user) Staff understood newcomers' reliance on informal networks within a context of shame and fear that some newcomers' experience in regards to accessing formal community services. Staff highlighted that for some newcomers, accessing formal supports was perceived as being a burden on the system and as a potentially jeopardizing ongoing immigration issues. "Some information, you want to ask, you just keep it to yourself" (FV service user) "I didn't even know that there were organizations that will work with you when you have no papers - I was so scared" (FV service user) Page 15

16 Service users spoke to the importance of informal networks and connections to cultural community as a resource to address their housing issues. Staff echoed this approach, consistently highlighting that housing newcomers close to their cultural community and making sure that they are connected to it as one of the successful homelessness prevention strategies when working with newcomers. When I came, I didn't know where to go so I went to a church; I met someone there who said they could rent me a room" (FV service user) We shared a house with my husband's family, even though we don't have a good relationship" (LEF service user) When we first arrived we lived in a building in Scarborough but we then moved to the West because that's where the Hispanic community is" (LEF Service User) 6.Future Direction/Recomendations Fred Victor and the Learning Enrichment Foundation serve distinct populations of newcomers; LEF tends to work with newcomers earlier in their settlement process - individuals and families who have been in Canada under 3 years, and who are reflective of the newcomer demographics in the Mount Dennis area, that is, predominantly Latin American. FV tends to work with newcomers later in their settlement process, who have access to housing - either in one of FV's subsidized housing buildings or through connections to HASS workers - and who present with mental health or substance use issues. Though not detailed in our profile questionnaires, LEF also works predominantly with newcomer families while FV focuses many of its programs on individuals. Many of these differences are rooted in the distinct mandate of each organization. FV has been historically a downtown organization known for its accessibility to extremely marginalized individuals who are often dealing with concurrent disorders. LEF is rooted in the Mount Denis neighbourhood, a neighbourhood with high rates of family poverty and large racialized and new immigrant communities, and has developed community economic development programming - including settlement services - to address the needs of these communities. When we first arrived we lived in a building in Scarborough but we then moved to the West because that's where the Hispanic community is" Despite the differences of these two groups of service users, their housing and support needs are quite the same. As detailed, newcomers and staff from FV and LEF highlighted that there is a need for safe affordable housing, and that in order to access this housing, accurate information from reliable sources, in an individual's first language, is necessary. Newcomers and staff also highlighted the extent to which newcomers look first to their friend, family, and community networks for support. While there are benefits to accessing these networks, newcomers are consequently excluded from accessing the additional resources of formal support providers during their housing crises. Based on the findings of our research - both the differences in our service users, and their similar housing and support needs - there are several opportunities to prevent and address newcomer homelessness by integrating resources and sharing information between FV and LEF. In addition, there are service delivery improvements within each organization that are worthy of exploration. Integration & Information Sharing As noted, LEF sees newcomers in their initial years in Canada while FV tends to see newcomers later. These initial years are important in an individual's settlement Page 16

17 experience and tend to be when newcomers have the lowest incomes and face additional language or information barriers. As Carolina Gajardo of COSTI's North York Housing Help Centre states, "there is no settlement without housing 8: without a 'home' it is extremely difficult for newcomers to develop a sense of belonging to their new communities and, literally, 'settle'. Connecting settlement services, such as LEF, to housing and homelessness services, such as FV could provide newcomers, in their early years in Canada, access to housing supports that prevent homelessness. This kind of partnership would also make available settlement expertise, lacking in many homeless and housing services, to homeless newcomers, particularly in shelters. Given the prevalence of hidden homelessness among newcomers, this connection would also provide a link to a population that housing and homelessness services have often not been able to outreach to because their invisibility and the absence of targeted outreach strategies. Recommendation: Develop partnerships between housing/homelessness and settlement services A partnership between the two agencies might also address the troubling invisibility of mental health and/or substance use issues among newcomers in their early years in Canada and the increased prevalence of these issues as length of time in Canada increases. The available research confirms the trend of decreasing health of newcomers according to number of years in Canada, and this trend is likely contributed to by the fact that mental health issues are not being picked up by settlement or housing and homelessness staff who are not trained in culturally appropriate mental health assessment. Most importantly, the trend speaks again to the need for early intervention to get newcomers connected to the services, mental health or otherwise, that improves their general well-being and, by extension, maintain their mental health. Finally, connecting the two organizations would also increase the knowledge and information shared by staff from very different sectors. Feedback gleaned from staff from both organizations highlight that though staff are aware of settlement and housing issues, they are not equipped with the tools to make appropriate interventions across sectors; that is, little information is known about housing resources and referrals by settlement staff and little information is known about settlement resources and referrals by housing and homelessness staff. There was a common understanding among staff that in order to address the housing and settlement needs of their service users, they need better tools. Recommendation: Foster working relationships to share expertise, resources and referrals between housing/ homelessness and settlement services Service Delivery - Fred Victor Fred Victor seems to serve two distinctly different groups of newcomers; those that are likely marginalized and accessing FV services because of economic factors - directly related to being new to the country, and those that are likely marginalized and accessing FV services because of their mental health and/or substance use issues. The majority of the newcomers that are served (2/3rds) fall into the first group, those that are economically marginalized. They mostly access the FV services that best assist them to live with low income or assist to increase their income - subsidized housing, housing access support, and employment support. This population has less mental health or substance use issues (chart 14) than other FV service users, tend to be refugee claimants (chart 15) and have generally been in Canada for under 3 years (chart 16). Chart 14: FV - % of Newcomers presenting MH & substance use issues per site Presenting MH or SA % 100% 87% % Dawes 29% 33% E&T Mortimer BUS 5% WDP 17% HASS MH&J, HR Q&J 8 Interview with Carolina Gajardo, Manager, COSTI`s North York Housing Help Program (January 18th, 2010) Page 17

18 Chart 15: FV - % of Newcomers, per site, by immigration status Refugee Claimant Permanent Resident % 50% 50% 50% 41% 33% Dawes E&T 14% Mortimer 78% BUS 5% 95% WDP 100% 54% 32% 17% HASS MH&J, HR 87% Q&J Chart 16: FV - % of Newcomers, per site, by number of years in Canada Under 3 years in Canada Over 3 years in Canada % 76% 83% 57% 43% 17% 100% 100% 70% 29% 17% 100% 87% 13% 0 Dawes E&T Mortimer BUS WDP HASS MH&J, HR Q&J The remaining 1/3rd of the newcomers are located at the Women's Day Program (WDP), the Caledonia shelter (BUS), the Women's Hostel, Queen/Jarvis housing and are, with the exception of the women at the WDP, more likely accessing FV services to address their mental health and/or substance use issues. This population presents with mental health and substance use issues as often as other FV service users, and tend to be permanent residents who have been in the country for well over 3 years. With the exception of the Women's Day Program, the numbers of newcomers accessing these programs are relatively low - though the proportion of newcomers at WDP and Caledonia are significant. As such, service delivery improvements for these sites, also relevant to the programs where we see clusters of newcomers, centre mostly on increasing staff awareness and ability to provide relevant information and resources. Recommendations: Increase translation/interpretation services Use existing language skills within the organizations and/or access external translation/interpretation services. Provide information and training to staff on immigration and settlement experiences Develop staff capacity to provide relevant settlement and immigration related information and to make appropriate referrals Target newcomer clients working with FV with appropriate information Inform service users of the breadth of FV services; make internal referrals Develop staff capacity to identify mental health issues among newcomers For the 65% of newcomers at Dawes & Mortimer, Employment and Training, and HASS, likely economically marginalized due to immigration or settlement related issues - low income, barriers to employment, precarious immigration status - additional immigration and settlement related services, as well as greater organizational awareness of the face of newcomer homelessness would be beneficial. At Dawes Rd and Mortimer housing, service users Page 18