The Importance of Housing First

Homeless Jesus Timothy Schmalz

Bridge St. United Church in Belleville has impressive ministries to feed those who are food insecure, serving well over 10,000 meals a year. These ministries are also aware that food insecurity is connected with issues of affordable housing and homelessness. In the past couple of years Steve van de Hoef food ministry coodinator at Bridge St headed up a study of homelessness in the region.“There is rarely just one reason that people are experiencing homelessness,” said van de Hoef in an interview last year. They discovered that there is rarely a single cause of homelessness. Everything from an inability to pay rent or mortgage, job loss, conflict with a loved one, illness, eviction, abuse, incarceration, hospitalization, contribute.



Steve Van de Hoef

I was interested to see a Toronto Star article about Finland's program which has reduced homelessness by 40%. How? The government built more homes and provided them to the people who needed them most. What a concept. Address homelessness by providing homes. The article describes the effort as part of the Housing First movement conceived by by psychologist Sam Tsemberis, who grew up in Montreal. In Finland about 7,000 affordable homes have been built across three programs since 2008, recognizing that only rarely do the homeless find apartments on the regular rental market.

Feeding people through meal programs and ministries is good. Creating shelters addresses a need. Ultimately, though, every person needs secure, affordable housing and communities of faith can take a leadership role.  

Follow the Finns. Housing first.  

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2019/07/21/how-finland-slashed-homelessness-by-40-per-cent.html