Biimskiinodin Transitional Home

1
Biimskiinodin Transitional Home

• March 2007
• Presentation to the
• London Aboriginal Housing Forum

2
Biimskiinodin

• Biimskiinodin Anishnaabe Turning something
  around such as the motion created by the wind and
  leaves in the air or the swirl in a piece of
  fabric.
• This is the name we gave the transitional home as
  a metaphor for helping Aboriginal families turn
  their circumstances around and move into suitable
  and stable housing for a better family life.

3
Can Am Urban Native Homes

• Established in 1988
• At the time Biimskiinodin began, Can Am
  administered a portfolio of 84 homes
• Provides Rent geared to income housing to
  Aboriginal Families, in Windsor ON
• Has a Tenant Liaison to work with and advocate
  for clients
• Has a Maintenance team to look after the day to
  day needs of the homes.

4
In the Beginning

• January 2002 Taking Action on Homelessness
  Together Coalition formed to roll out the SCPI
  (Supporting Community Partnership Initiative)
  Phase 1.
• Elayne Isaacs selected as the Aboriginal
  Representative to the coalition.
• No applications to SKIPI Phase 1 by the local
  aboriginal community as there was the Urban
  Aboriginal Strategy whereby funding was provided
  to Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre to support
  Aboriginal needs.

5
CLIENTS SERVED THROUGH THE Can-Am Indian
Friendship Centre NATIVE HOMELESS PROGRAM July
2002 Aug. 31 2003
6
In the Beginning (Cont.)

• Phase 2 of SCPI Introduced Oct. 2003 It did not
  include Urban Aboriginal Strategy funding for
  Windsor. The community plan was updated.
• Lobbying efforts of Can-Am Urban Native Homes
  produced aboriginal needs being included in the
  updated community plan.
• Lobbying efforts of the Homeless Coalition
  produced transitional housing as a priority for
  Windsor Essex County.
• Oct. 30 2003 Aboriginal Community Meeting
  co-hosted by United Way Community Development
  workers and Can-Am Urban Native Homes.

7
IDENTIFIED NEEDS of THE WINDSOR NATIVE COMMUNITY
8
IDENTIFIED NEEDS of THE WINDSOR NATIVE COMMUNITY

• Dec. 2003 May 2004 secured concrete
  partnerships with local community agencies
• Skana Family Learning Centre
• Housing Information Services
• Aboriginal Child Resource Centre
• Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre
• May 21, 2004 Can-Am Urban Native Non-Profit Homes
  applied for SCP1 Phase 2 funding. Focus on native
  homeless/at risk of homeless families.
• February 2005 Contract Signed with Service Canada

9
Biimskiinodin Home

• 1456 Albert Road
• Windsor, ON
• February 2007

10
Biimskiinodin Transitional Home

• 2 Units Upper and Lower
• 4 Bedroom Unit - Upper
• 3 Bedroom Unit Lower
• Utilities are included with rent
• Currently there is a rent supplement provided by
  the City of Windsor which allows us to offer the
  unit on a rent geared to income basis
• Includes a coin operated Washer and Dryer in the
  Basement
• Located less than one block from a Bus Stop

11
Living Room of the Lower Unit
12
Biimskiinodin Timeline

• Contract signed with Service Canada in February
  2005
• Took possession of the Property in April
• Board of Directors approved the policy in June
• Completed first round of renovations in July 2005
• Housed first participant July 2005
• Able to offer a rent supplement in September 2006

13
What Biimskiinodin does.

• Provides a safe clean home for 6 months while
  families look for a permanent home
• Stays can be extended on a month by month basis,
  but cannot exceed 1 year in length
• Develop a Plan of Care with participants which
  will outline all the referrals to supportive
  services with a timeline

14
Renovations Service Canada

• June 2005
• Electrical work, Outlets for fridge and stove in
  the kitchen and washer and dryer in the basement
• New circuit breaker
• New doors, porch railing, fence
• Replace furnace with High Efficiency with
  separate units for upstairs and down
• Renovate 2nd floor Bathroom
• Countertop 2nd floor Kitchen

15
Bathroom and main hall of the Upper unit in the
ceiling is the separate heater for this unit
16
Renovations CMHCShelter Enhancement Program

• October 2006
• Replace all the windows 20 1st 2nd floor 6
  Basement
• Restore foundation block and mortar assembly.
• Installation of perimeter drainage
• Water flows will be managed through raingear and
  grading improvements
• Security for the basement windows was enhanced
• Chimney Install proper flue lining and remove
  chimney clean out door and ensure air tight seals
• Replace plumbing fixtures in the 2nd floor
  kitchen sink
• Re-point Exterior brick facades

17
Renovations Service Canada

• February 2007
• Engineered painted steel fire escape stair case
  and landings on exterior of back wall
• Replacement of existing 2nd floor window with 30
  by 80 steel door
• Installation of certified interconnected smoke
  alarms, carbon monoxide detector

18
Can Am Maintenance Staff performed some of the
renovations, finishing work and maintenance
between tenancies
19
Snapshot of our Clientele

• 16 Applicants
• 8 Participants
• 2 Families currently residing
• 6 Families have left Biimskiinodin with 4
  obtaining permanent housing with Can Am Urban
  Native homes and 2 in the Private sector with the
  help of Housing Information Services

20
Demographic Profile of Applicants
21
Reason for making application
22
Clients Identifying Domestic Violence as a
factor in their Homelessness
23
Expectations of Clients

• While theyre in the home they work on the areas
  addressed by their Plan of Care and follow
  through on the recommended referrals
• Respect the homes drug and alcohol free status,
  which is expanded upon when we sign the lease
• Working, Actively looking for work, or attending
  school

24
Plan of Care

• Developed collaboratively with the client
• Start off with the two main objectives of finding
  permanent accommodations and either securing
  employment or completing their education.
• Add additional referrals dependant upon their
  situation
• Provide a timeline when their goals are to be
  completed

25
How do we help people transition to permanent
housing

• Provide support and service to clients with
  referrals to our community partners, which is
  outlined in their Plan of Care
• With an affordable rent which includes utilities,
  families have a financial respite, which allows
  clients to focus on other issues addressed in
  their Plan of Care
• With 3 and 4 bedroom units we can accommodate
  most families
• We do not require 60 days written notice to
  vacate allows participants to immediately accept
  a more ideal permanent accommodation, rather than
  settling for the first thing that comes along

26
What if Biimskiinodin was not available?

• Clients would have remained homeless
• Clients may have overcrowded the residence of a
  friend or relative
• Clients may have settled for accommodation not
  suitable for them
• Clients would not be free to focus on goals to
  assist them break the cycle of homelessness such
  as literacy, or employment
• Clients may return to an abusive relationship to
  avoid homelessness

27
Thank you to.

• We would like to take the opportunity to thank
  those who have assisted us with either renovating
  our home and those who provided valuable services
  to our clients.
• Aboriginal Child Resource Centre
• Can Am Indian Friendship Centre
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Central Housing Registry
• City of Windsor
• Credit Counseling Services
• Hiatus House
• Housing Information Services
• Information Windsor
• Metis Nation of Ontario, Windsor Office
• SkaNa Family Learning Centre
• University of Windsor, School of Social Work
• Urban Native Homes Inc., Hamilton, ON
• United Way of Windsor and Essex County
• Windsor Essex Waste Disposal Services
• Furniture Donations from the Community