Saskatoon's Housing First a promising practice, report says

Saskatoon's Housing First program is being applauded in the province's 10-year mental health and addictions action plan. 

The report released this morning by Fern Stockdale Winder, the province's commissioner of mental health and addictions, said supportive housing is playing a key role — especially Saskatoon's Housing First program.

Launched in April, Housing First is focused on moving homeless people into housing as soon possible instead of having them go through a series of steps to find a permanent residence.

Myra Potter, interim CEO for the United Way of Saskatoon, said having a home is vital for people dealing with mental health issues.

• Saskatchewan adopts 10-year mental health and addictions action plan
• United Way of Saskatoon calls Housing First program a success

"It makes all the difference," she said. "I think any of us can just try and imagine how you would deal with anything in your life if you did not have a safe, warm, comfortable place to go home to at night."

Potter said that before Housing First, the 10 participants were hospitalized 161 times all together for acute psychiatric issues.

"After joining the program — none," she said. "Absolutely none. Because part of what Housing First does is from your home base, You're also connected with community supports, mental health supports to deal with the issues in your life that you want to deal with."

The report says that Housing First’s early six-month data shows an estimated costs savings of over $668,000. This is for people dealing with severe or complex mental health, addictions and homelessness issues.

 Stockdale Winder recommends creating even more safe and stable housing options.

• On mobile? Here's a link to the government 10-year action plan on mental health and addictions.