Ford Government Taking Innovative Approach To Fighting Homelessness

By-name lists will collect detailed information and help match people with supports they need

TDS News – The Ontario government is directing municipal service managers to begin collecting detailed, up-to-date information from individuals experiencing homelessness and use a strategy called by-name lists. This innovative approach is being launched across Ontario following significant consultation, and will help connect people with local housing and homelessness supports that better respond to their needs.

“The enumeration strategy implemented by the previous government was filled with gaps and limitations, and our government understands that it’s critical to go beyond simply counting homelessness to actually understanding who is homeless, so we can help match them with the supports they need,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “The introduction of by-name lists is a critical step in ending homelessness, and it will provide us with the data required to make informed policy decisions, while allowing us to measure progress made on combatting homelessness.”

By-name lists are a real-time list of people experiencing homelessness that includes detailed information about the needs of each individual. They can help create a foundation to improve access to supportive housing, connect people to services, and provide a more standardized approach for assessment and referral protocols to make sure people are being matched to the services they need.

Ontario is partnering with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) to support service managers throughout the process. CAEH has significant expertise in this area and will develop a best practices guide to help service managers develop and implement effective by-name lists. CAEH will also deliver training and workshops, offer intensive coaching and provide a portal with online tools.

“By-name lists are a revolutionary and powerful tool for ending homelessness,” said Tim Richter, President and CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. “Bringing a whole community together around a by-name list’s real-time, person-specific data improves coordination, unlocks new solutions, creates a new energy for solving homelessness and most importantly, helps deliver better outcomes for vulnerable Ontarians.”

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