The city is putting housing first when it comes to substance use issues.
Started in New York, the Housing First philosophy states that housing is a basic human right and shouldn't be denied to anyone. The city's drug strategy released a report that makes 19 recommendations on the city's housing needs that starts with that idea.
Canadian cities have shown a dramatic drop in homelessness when putting housing first. Calgary reports an 11 per cent decrease while Edmonton has shown a 42 per cent reduction in street homelessness since adopting the idea.
Thunder Bay Drug Strategy coordinator Cynthia Olsen said studies show that people with substance issues have a difficult time finding affordable, safe and appropriate housing. Some who find themselves homeless who might not have used substances are more at risk to start using once out on the street.
"For coping from being on the streets, some studies show that it's even a way of kind of being able to fit in with other their pother homeless peers," Olsen said.
Thunder Bay currently has around 177 shelter beds. That number includes everything from the Shelter House to women's shelters. The vast majority of those beds require a person to abstain from any substance, which makes it difficult for someone using to get off the street.
"Just because you struggle with substance use issues or you have mental health issues and you've found yourself homeless does not mean that you don't qualify for that right to have housing," Olsen said.
Housing first would help people get access to services they need, from healthcare to recovery programs. It also wouldn't require people to stop using but would be tailored to where they are in their substance use.
"It's not a quick fix," Olsen said.
But it's a start. The report also includes steps for after care. Council approved the report. Olsen said funding is out there from the federal and provincial governments.
