Today the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) transferred the Canadian Housing First Toolkit to the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), who relaunched the site with an updated, friendly design. This valuable online resource helps organizations and communities across Canada plan, implement, evaluate and sustain Housing First programs. The toolkit also includes videos and external links to online resources.
Responding to the need to build Housing First capacity in Canada, the Canadian Housing First Toolkit was developed and released by the MHCC in June 2014. Housing First is an effective evidence-based approach that ends homelessness by offering participants immediate access to housing of their choice through rent subsidies and access to mental health services and supports, all without preconditions.
“It is only natural that the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness assume the responsibility to host and further develop this valuable resource,” said Louise Bradley, President and CEO of the MHCC. “The toolkit goes hand-in-glove with the Housing First Training and Technical Assistance program which MHCC transferred to the CAEH in April 2016 and which has since been expanded under their direction.”
The MHCC’s role is to catalyze action, raise awareness and mobilize stakeholders to improve the mental health system by seeding innovative projects that can then be taken up and spread by key partners who assume the leadership from the MHCC. Both the training program and toolkit were developed by experts from across Canada, including leaders from the At Home/Chez Soi project, the world’s largest research demonstration project on Housing First.
“This toolkit has become Canada’s national textbook on Housing First and it is a vital resource for ending homelessness,” said Tim Richter, President & CEO of the CAEH. “The toolkit is a living textbook and we’re working with our partners and experts in the field to add new modules and evidence-based resources to keep up with evolving community needs. Kudos and thank you to the MHCC for leaving with Canadians this amazing living legacy of the At Home / Chez Soi program.”
“The Mental Health Commission of Canada is excited that Housing First best practices and tools will continue to be made available to communities through the CAEH and looks forward to the continued growth and success of the Canadian Housing First Toolkit under their leadership ,” said Bradley.
Associated Links:
Backgrounder
More on At Home/Chez Soi
CANADIAN ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada. For more information, follow on Twitter @CAEHomelessness, Facebook or online at www.caeh.ca
THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca | strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Media Contacts:
Tim Richter
President & CEO
Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Office: 587-216-5615
tim@caeh.ca
Hélène Côté, Senior Communications Advisor
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Office: 613.683.3952
Mobile: 613.857.0840
hcote@mentalhealthcommission.ca
