Identifying Shelter and Housing Models for Older People Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Limited research has identified the types of shelter/housing and supports for the growing population of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) and the extent to which existing models align with their needs. To redress this gap, we conducted an environmental scan and three World Café workshops to identify and characterize shelter/housing models for OPEH in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver (Canada). Fifty-two models were identified and categorized into six shelter/housing types based on the program length of stay and level of health and social supports provided onsite: (1) Emergency, transitional, or temporary shelter/housing with supports; (2) Independent housing with offsite community-based supports; (3) Supported independent housing with onsite, non-medical supports; (4) Permanent supportive housing with onsite medical support and/or specialized services; (5) Long-term care for individuals with complex health needs and; (6) Palliative care/hospice, offering end-of-life services. Models that met the unique needs of OPEH had coordinated supports, social and recreational programming, assistance with daily tasks, and had a person-centered, harm-reduction approach to care. This typology of shelter/housing models offers a basis from which local and regional governments can audit their existing shelter/housing options and determine where there may be gaps in supporting OPEH.

Acknowledgments

We respectfully acknowledge that McGill University is situated on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehà:ka, a place that has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst nations. We respectfully acknowledge that the University of Calgary is on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta and home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. We respectfully acknowledge that Simon Fraser University is located on unceded Coast Salish Territory, the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible by the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) jointly funded Partnership Development Grant. The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CMHC or SSHRC.