housing first: a project for homeless people with mental illness in lisbon
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given by Inês Almas, Portugal, at a FEANTSA Research Conference on "Homelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe", Pisa, Italy, 2011TRANSCRIPT
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Interdisciplinary Center 'Sciences
for peace’
CASAS PRIMEIRO Program in Portugal – a community approach
José Ornelas/Inês Almas
AEIPS
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
What is “Casas Primeiro”?
The "Casas Primeiro" Program supports homeless people with mental illness in Lisbon in accessing and maintaining independent apartments, rented from community landlords in mainstream neighborhoods.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants
Criteria of priority:
People with mental illness
People who are living on the street
People who are the longest in the situation
of homeless
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
What is “Casas Primeiro”?
Provides immediate access to individualized and permanent housing
Consumer are not required to participate in psychiatric treatment or attain a period of sobriety in order to obtain housing.
Rental subsidy
Provides – off site – services (7-24 on call) to help consumers keep housing, facilitate recovery and community integration.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Independent Apartments
• Scatter site independent apartments. Apartments are not in the same building or street
• Mainstream neighborhoods in Lisbon
• Rental units available on the open market (350€ a 400€)
• Tenants pay 30% of their monthly income towards rent.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Independent Apartments
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Landlords as program partners
The partners have common goals: quality, safety and well managed apartments
• Agency that ensure rent is paid on time
• Agency and landlord communication responsive to
landlord concerns
• Agency responsible for tenant damages
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Others partners
Outreach teams
Social services
Plataform PSA Lisboa
Health services
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Support services
• Team (5 staff for 50 participants)
• Home visits at least 6 times per month per participant. All tenants must agree to regular home visit.
• Support services are provided in the community (access to community resources and services)
• Team use a recovery focus and assist with community integration. Participants can beneficiate from others AEIPS programs (e.g. supported employment)
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants
36%
64%
Man
Woman
Sex
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants
Diagnosis
19%
10%
71%
Schizophrenia
Bipolar
Others
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants
Alcohol16,7%
Drugs17%
Alcohol and drugs4,8%
Not applicable59,5%
Additions
40.5% of participants have dual diagnosis
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
<1 year 1-2 years 3-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years
Length of homelessness
62% were homeless for more than 6 years
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Length of housing
80% of the participants were housed for more than seven months.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Housing stability
Yes90,5%
Housing stability
No9,5%
90.5% of participants remained in their houses
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Neighborhood and housing satisfaction
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Neighborhood satisfaction Housing satisfaction
Participants are satisfied with their current housing and neighborhood.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Most valuable support
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%Dealing with the landlord
Social benefits
Listening to concerns
Budgeting
Accessing health services
Grocery shopping
Finding employment
Connecting to services in the neighbourhood
Legal issues
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Changes in need for follow-up support
Increased Stayedthe same
Decreased Don’t know
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
The majority of participants considered that they will need to maintain the support of the team, but for new projects (training, employment and other activities in the community).
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Wellbeing and quality of life improvements
Personal safety
Food
Level of stress
Sleeping habits
Mental health
Health
Social interaction
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Changes in emergency service use
Before After
Call 112 41,7% 4,2%
Ambulance 45,8% 4,2%
Hospitalization 45,8%
Get arrested
4,2%
12,5% 0%
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Overall changes
0%
20%
40%
60%
Improved a lot Improved somewhat
62,5%
32,5%
All participants feel they have more opportunities to study, get a job or develop other activities in community.
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Participants voices“This project addresses the practical situation of the homeless. "
"We recovered our personal and human dignity. "
"Life needs foundations. Home provides the foundation to realize our dreams. "
“Housing opens a range of possibilities for our life. "
"Housing is fundamental to regain individualized citizenship: we are holding a key, we are neighbors, we have rights.”
(Casas Primeiro participants)
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCEHomelessness, Migration and Demographic Change in Europe
Pisa, 16th September 2011
Film