Agenda Package - City of Vernon

Evaluation of Homelessness Strategy for the North Okanagan
(, O N C I - Lr S I O N.S A I l- D I{ E C C) M IVI Ir N D A-i- I O NS I I tl I { N4 tì \' I N C'
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"....there is o lot of "good" being done in the community..."
We know that when organizations undertake to regularly analyze performance they
increase their ability to improve results by taking what they learn into their planning and
decision making. A proper evaluation enables an organization to knowledgeably adjust
resource allocations and optimize operations to meet current realities and circumstances, and in
so doing position its programs to achieve better and more focused results.
Given a near four year period of implementation it is an opportune time today to
undertake an evaluation of the 2007 Homeless Strategy for the North Okanagan. ln this regard
a substantial amount of information was collected for this investigative effort. Most of the more
insightful information collected was derived from formalized interviews and informal discussions
with individuals directly involved, affected by, and/or specifically interested in the effort to
eliminate homelessness in the North Okanagan. Our investigations were made easier by the
fact that almost without exception the majority of individuals we interviewed or talked with
were very candid, very expansive and occasionally very vociferous in their comments and
opinions.
Not surprisingly there is much to celebrate and much to be very proud of.
What follows is a series of recommendations. They are presented to improve on
performance and outcomes. They are not intended to take away from the progress already
achieved. Certainly we shouldn't lose sight of these successes in moving forward. The truth of
the matter is that overall there are no surprises nor great changes that are required. Of course
there needs to be some new directions and there needs to be certain changes or improvements
in some established patterns, and most importantly there needs to be a commitment by local
partners to make these changes. But collectively these suggestions are not unduly daunting.
A number of these recommendations follow logically from the observations, comments
and opinions of stakeholders and from our own perceptions and experience. These
recommendations are presented for consideration only. They are presented in light of the
¡nterest in assessing the relative merits of the strategic plan's implementation to date and
where it might go in the future. While there is some interdependence among the proposed
recommendations, most are stand alone. Each recommendation is intended to make the overall
effort to eliminate homelessness more effective and efficient. However, each suggestion needs
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frñ¡élt Lochaven Management Consultants Ltd.
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