The social issues in downtown Prince George remains a hot button issue but what are cities of a similar size doing about it?
According to the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, about 1250 people who were previously homeless have found shelter through their Housing First Initiatives.
The program has recorded a success rate of 82% where residents are staying housed.
In many cases, the people they deal with that are on the street suffer from a mental health (68%) or physical health condition (49%), suffering from substance use issues (42%) or are exposed to or fleeing from family violence (37%).
“We have phenomenal success stories of people coming directly off the street and now are reunited with their children, going back to school or are gainfully employed and I think those successes vary from person to person,” said Jaime Rogers, Manager, Homeless & Housing Development Department.
A Point in Time Homeless Count was done in PG two years ago where the median age was 46.
Rogers is quick to point out the demographics in Medicine Hat vary a little.
“Our demographics of the homeless and those that are most vulnerable are between the ages of 25 and 45 and tend to be male.”
In the northern capital, a lot of business owners in the downtown core are fed up with the social issues where in many cases, entrepreneurs have either been robbed, assaulted or forced to pick up drug needles in front of their property.
Rogers states the issues aren’t that dissimilar in Medicine Hat.
“Our community absolutely has gone through this and actually we’re experiencing it to a high degree right now and that’s attributed to our changing demographic and we probably have the highest rate of homelessness we have had in our community in quite some time and that state of homelessness changes so it’s not a constant static thing.”
“Right now, our downtown community and business owners are experiencing a little bit more vandalism, more transient-natured people downtown and a little bit more concern about their safety because of all the new faces. The second phase of that is the amount of opioid use right now and I think we saw that as well throughout Alberta and Canada.”
Another thing that has worked in Medicine Hat is the implementation of their Landlord Roundtables where property management companies work closely with programs to ensure safe, appropriate, and affordable housing options.
She believes a program like this is badly-needed in PG.
“I think every community that is implementing a plan or looking at efforts to reduce or end homelessness in their community needs to have some form of network or roundtable with their landlords and actually help build that up. You don’t house people without units.”
Medicine Hat is also home to a Graduate Rental Assistance Initiative, which is a monthly subsidy provided to landlords that have graduated from the Housing First Program and require rental support.
“On average, we spend about $17,000 every month to support private landlords and that money is used to top up the rent, so we actually don’t pay people’s full rent but they are required to pay a portion of it. It is something that is absolutely critical if people are having affordability issues.”
Rogers supports Prince George’s proposed 100-unit housing project along 1st Avenue where the city partnering up with the BC Government and Northern Health, which is anticipated to get the green light very soon.
“What I would say is that housing with supports is critical, especially with a project that has 100 units. So, we found that people are better able to integrate into communities and that might be in the neighbourhood or in the building itself if there is actual supports available to help them through that process.”
Another suggestion Prince George residents have is turning any vacant lots or properties into forms of housing.
Rogers believes this could also be a step in the right direction, under the proper setting.
“I think one thing when it comes to vacant properties is that it can be a good move if it’s the right property, build and location for those types of individuals, that choice is really important. In terms of forms and types of housing in Medicine Hat, we use some rooming housing and private market among others.”
The Chamber of Commerce, Downtown PG, and the Gateway Business Improvement Association are submitting a presentation with their suggestions to Mayor and council at Monday’s meeting.
To view the MCHS’s Year 9 Progress Report, click here.