Agenda Package - City of Vernon

Evaluation of Homelessness Strategy for the North Okanagan
Observations on Performance RE:Outputs, Outcomes and Impacts
As was detailed in Section 4 above (Reported Progress To Date), there is ample
evidence (outputs, outcomes and impacts) to support the contention that substantive progress
toward the organization's vision has been realized as a consequence of the Strategic Plan. ln
this regard a number of specific accomplishments have been noted, some of which accrued
during or shortly after the development of the Plan (Drop-ln Program, Downtown Health Centre,
Supported Housing for People with Addictions/Mental Health, Housing Outreach Worker,
Affordable Housing Strategy, Land Trust, Employment Programs and Childcare) while others
have evolved over the tenure of its implementation. The following narrative and chart broadly
summarizes these accomplishments:
o The development and organization of the Gateway Shelter with the endorsement of at
least three neighboring businesses. Related accomplishments include: (1) the Gateway
Shelter and the Housing Outreach Program providing housing support to 398 individuals
with 159 confirmed to still be housed after 6 months; and, (2) Gateway Shelter
providing 25 bagged meals per day to homeless men and women (versus 0 in 2007);
Howard House providing 150 meals per day and 25 bagged meals per day.
¡ Linking of outreach workers with URM and additional funding secured for URM to
enable it to provide more meals, and undertake necessary expansions. URM provides
6000 meals per month and has 350 people accessing services and is currently expanding
services for youth, families and seniors.
¡ The preparation of non-profit supported housing business plans.
o The development/ implementation of the Harm Reduction Strategy resulting in the
organization of the COOL Team to facilitate greater cooperation between the by-laws
Department (enforcement) and the social services outreach workers in respect of
homeless camps. The development of a database system to monitor camps is itself an
important step and the indication of a decrease in the number of homeless camps in the
area from 28 in Spring of 2009 to 7 in Fall 2010 suggests, despite those reductions
accounted for by seasonality, some progress has been achieved in the broader effort to
reduce homelessness - or at least this form of homelessness.
¡ The development of the lJnder One Roof partnership leading to six affordable housing
units being added to the affordable housing stock. The Under One Rool model was
presented at The BC Non-Profit Housing Society as a best practices project. Affordable
housing ínventory has grown from322in20O7 to 388 in 2010
o ln terms of community awareness: 2008 - 35 newspaper articles, 25 radio interviews
and 10 television interviews on various action team strategies; and 2009 - 20 newspaper
articles, 10 radio interviews and 3 television interviews on various action team
strategies. Further approximately 55 organizations, institutions and businesses have
participated in Partners action teams in 2008; approximately 70 organizations,
institutions and businesses have participated in Partners action teams in 2009; and,
approximately 80 organizations, institutions, community champions and businesses
have participated in action teams in 2010.
o Salvation Army Food Bank: An additional L2Yo more households were supported in 2010
than in 2009; and 42% more than the same time period in 2008. An increase of over
450 new households who have come for assistance in the past 2 years
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Lochaven Management Consultants Ltd.
November 2010
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