Housing First & Housing Navigation
How do young people engage in a [housing] system that often lacks accessible support and resources?
Engaging homeless youth in a system that lacks accessible support and resources can be challenging, and organizations should aim to empower youth to take charge of their own identification of support and housing opportunities. Here are some strategies that service providers can lean on to help youth navigate the system effectively
Engagement and relationship-building: Service providers should engage with young people with curiosity to learn their needs and wants. They lead their support with transparency and collaborative conversations and goal setting. Building relationships based on trust and rapport. Establishing a strong connection with youth can help them feel comfortable seeking support and guidance when navigating the barriers and difficulties working the housing search and navigation.
Peer support and mentorship: Organizations strive when individuals with lived experience are supporting young people. Peer support programs and mentorship opportunities can be effective in engaging homeless youth in the system. Connecting youth with peers who have experienced homelessness can provide valuable support, guidance, and encouragement.
How can organizations explore funding and resources for homeless youth navigating tough housing markets?
Securing funding and resources for homeless youth navigating tough housing markets can be challenging, but there are several strategies that service providers and organizations can use to address this:
Grant funding: Service providers can apply for grants from government agencies, foundations, and private donors that specifically support programs and services for homeless youth. Grant funding can help cover the costs of housing, supportive services, outreach efforts, and other essential resources for homeless youth.
Public-private partnerships: Collaborating with private businesses and corporations can help secure additional funding and resources for homeless youth programs. Public-private partnerships can provide financial support, in-kind donations, and other valuable resources to help address financial gaps and barriers.
Advocacy and Leveraging existing resources: Service providers can raising awareness about the issues by partnering with policymakers and community leaders. Advocating for policy changes and leveraging existing resources, partnerships, and collaborations to maximize the impact of their programs and services for homeless youth. By strategically allocating and mapping resources, coordinating with other service providers, and leveraging community assets, organizations can effectively support homeless youth in navigating tough housing markets.
How can organizations collaborate with Landlords and Host while following the Housing First model?
Working with landlords and hosts is essential for providing stable housing for homeless individuals, including homeless youth. Landlords and hosts play a crucial role in offering affordable and safe housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness, and their partnership is key to the success of the Housing First approach.Grant funding: Service providers can apply for grants from government agencies, foundations, and private donors that specifically support programs and services for homeless youth. Grant funding can help cover the costs of housing, supportive services, outreach efforts, and other essential resources for homeless youth.
Building relationships: Establishing positive relationships with landlords and hosts is critical to creating a network of housing options for homeless youth. This involves effective and transparent communication, trust-building, and collaboration to ensure that both parties understand and support the goals of the Housing First approach.
Providing incentives: Offering incentives to landlords and hosts can encourage them to participate in the Housing First model. This may include financial incentives, such as rental assistance programs or security deposit guarantees, as well as non-financial incentives, such as support services and resources for both the youth, Host and/or the landlords.
Educating landlords and hosts: Providing training and education to landlords and hosts on the needs and experiences of youth can help them better understand how to support and accommodate them. This may include information on trauma-informed care, youth development, communication strategies, and conflict-resolution techniques.
Ensuring support services: Landlords and hosts may have concerns about renting to homeless youth, including potential challenges related to up keeping of the property, substance abuse, or lack of rental history. Ensuring that support services are in place to address these issues, prior to connecting the youth to housing, can help alleviate these concerns and provide a safety net for both the young person and the landlords or Host.
What are some ways service providers can protect youth against tough housing markets and discrimination?
Is crucial for organizations to lead the housing search and navigation with transparency of what youth should expect while working and building relationships with landlords and property owners.
Learning Spaces and Raise awareness: Educate the youth of what they should expect when attempting to do their own housing navigation, housing providers, and policymakers about the unique challenges faced by homeless youth in accessing housing and the importance of protecting their rights. Use social media, community events, and advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and promote understanding of the issues faced by homeless youth.
Housing First programs are oriented toward harm reduction. What tools and trainings have you found to be most effective to support Hosts in this practice?
Providing Host with organizational support and resources can reinforce their hosting connection and help hosts provide effective support to homeless young people in housing first programs. Organizations can create a catalog of tranings and resources for host to lean on and deepen their understanding of supporting young people.
Begins by establishing clear guidelines and protocols for Hosts to understand their role and responsibilities in providing support and assistance to young people. Expand their knowledge on the population and open discussions on creative engagement strategies by providing regular training on topics such as Motivational interviewing with young people, trauma informed approaches and engagement with youth and Positive Youth Development.
Offer regular check-ins and spaces of support to Hosts to discuss challenges, provide guidance, and offer feedback on their support and connection. Ensure that Hosts, specially those with lived experience, have access to necessary resources in addressing vicarious trauma and provide open conversations on mental health services and support, substance abuse treatment programs, and housing and financial assistance.
Finally build a community of host to support one another. Encourage host to collaborate and learn from each others expertise and experiences. Have flexibility and options for community allies to identify how they can best support; outlining volunteers opportunities and ways to lead learning spaces.