Local leadership and decision making. The cost savings and efficiency of this approach have been clearly demonstrated, and government support for local autonomy in backbone entity-driven system planning along with the provision of resources and enabling policy is critical. Community decisions about community outcomes.

Consult and engage with diverse stakeholders to support implementation; targets capacity building initiatives, including comprehensive training and technical assistance for the sector.

Manages diverse funding streams to meet community priorities, compliance, program and system performance management, evaluation, and reporting requirements to funders. Investing in services with proven integration and sustainability.

Oversight and implementation of the shared data collection system. Analysis to help make data-informed decisions to determine services and create system efficiencies.

Housing First provides housing with supports through intensive case management (ICM) for individuals and families who experience chronic and episodic homelessness and who present with higher acuity needs.  The duration of the program is approximately 12 months.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is an evidence-based intervention that links permanent, affordable housing with flexible, voluntary support services to assist with housing retention and independent living. It is primarily targeted to individuals who have a history, or are at risk of, housing instability that are currently living in the private rental market or non-sustainable housing situations.

McMan Youth, Family and  Community Services Association provides ICM for individuals and families to be delivered in alignment with the housing first philosophy.  PSH is a housing model for individuals with complex needs who are currently or have experienced homelessness and have a history of housing instability.  Tenancy in one of the 30 units is not time-limited meaning an indefinite length of stay is possible, although PSH programs operate with a recovery orientation. Each program participant/tenant has their own lease agreement and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

Site-based PSH programs operate with the expectation of maintaining positive profile and relationships within the local neighborhood.  Involvement and engagement of neighbors and local organizations can be a positive way for a PSH program to improve community integration and the network of relationships and supports available for participants.

PSH eligible service participants supported through a scattered-site model will be provided ICM in alignment with the housing first philosophy with a focus on increased frequency of visits to support housing stability.

The CBO/CE provides on-going financial assistance in the form of rent supplements to eligible individuals and families that have graduated from housing first programs. Subsidy rates are aligned with local Housing Management Body rates.

Roots Youth Shelter – McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association is a four-bed youth shelter that provides emergency shelter and supports for up to four youth aged 12-17. Community-based youth who are homeless or at imminent risk and CFS involved youth can access the beds.  Focusing on prevention and early intervention, the primary goal is to reduce the number of nights a youth stays by providing mediation and conflict resolution in order to reunify the youth with their families as quickly as possible.

McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association supports community-based youth aged 12-24 that are at risk of becoming homeless due to family conflict as well as those currently homeless or staying in the youth shelter. Appropriate housing/re-housing of the youth, as well as support to the family to promote family reunification is the focus of this program. Those individuals requiring assessment for housing first based service interventions will be referred and/or accompanied to Housing Link for services.

The Miywasin Friendship Centre Counseling Program provides individual and family counselling program for Aboriginal individuals at risk of homelessness.  The Cultural Addictions Counselor is responsible for the development and implementation of the Miywasin Addictions Counseling Program for Aboriginal clients with addiction issues.  The program will focus on Aboriginal culture, traditions and practices as a pathway to healing.

The Miywasin Friendship Centre Counseling Program provides individual and family counselling program for Aboriginal individuals at risk of homelessness. Under the direction of the Miywasin Cultural Addictions Counselor, the Crisis Support Worker is responsible for providing supports to individuals who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or requiring reintegration into the community.

The Medicine Hat Public Library (MHPL) provides the development and implementation of Social Services at Medicine Hat Public Library as part of the response for marginalized and vulnerable populations in Medicine Hat. This program provides a safe and supportive environment at the MHPL for all users accessing services. The social worker will assess need and coordinate accompanying services to address the needs of individuals in community as it relates to navigating the social service system. The casual cash employment program will provide participants with a sense of belonging, learning and educational opportunities and job experience skills.

The CBO/CE provides oversight for the development of service provider and community capacity building as it relates to efforts to end homelessness in the community. This includes the provision of mandatory and supplemental training for service providers, access to training and learning/education opportunities for community partners, and community/ leadership development around systems planning, integration, and the professionalization of housing first.  Community and stakeholder engagement, planning, and reporting back to the community is included under this initiative.

The CBO/CE provides oversight for the Centralized Support fund, which has two purposes: first, it provides assistance to families (with children under 18 years) that present at the shelter with a hotel stay when other options have been exhausted.  This is a coordinated effort with all shelters in community and Housing Link. The funds also provide support to individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness and whose situations fall outside the scope and eligible expenditures of funded programs and services.