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.
Provincial official say 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.
“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,” stated Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in a media release.
“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.”
Provincial official say 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, Provincial official say, adding that 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, in a media release.
“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.”
Ontario is also requiring service managers to conduct a homeless enumeration any time before December 15, 2021, Provincial official added.
