Tackling Homelessness in Calgary with Design Thinking Principles
In 2008, Calgary implemented an ambitious 10-year plan to end homelessness in the city, as it had been rapidly rising over the previous decade (Homeless Hub, 2008). Although the aim was for a ‘housing first’ initiative, policies were slow to be implemented, the housing market fluctuated greatly with the oil boom and bust cycles, and there was differing ideas between the public and private sectors that impeded real momentum (Markusoff, 2018). As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening economic situation the homeless situation is becoming worse yet again, with more individuals sleeping rough on a nightly basis (Kury de Castillo, 2022). In Canada, homelessness encompasses four types: unsheltered, emergency sheltered, provisionally accommodated, and at risk of homelessness (Homeless Hub, n.d.). Sleeping rough is an example of the most vulnerable type of homelessness: unsheltered. Calgary had some success in tackling homelessness during it’s 10-year plan, but an integrated, efficient and cooperative approach needs to be implemented. Countries such as Finland, have shown that — even during a pandemic — homelessness can be essentially eradicated with proper policies and implementation that has the needs of the homeless in mind (Kontrast .at., 2020; Boone et al., 2021).
The Calgary Homeless Foundation outlines some of the complex multi-faceted main issues as the causes of homelessness in Calgary to be: poverty, economic changes, lack of coordination between stakeholders, personal circumstances, impact of colonialism, unsatisfactory affordable housing policies, and housing availability (Calgary Homeless Foundation, n.d.). As this is part of a wider group project, my specific focus will be to take a closer look at the issues of personal circumstances and colonialism. Personal circumstances is an umbrella term for more specific issues such as domestic violence, trauma, chronic health conditions, and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
To apply a design thinking approach to tackle homeless in Calgary I had to think a little more about the problem. Therefore, I laid out the problem definition in order to clarify my priorities and focus on the key critical issues (Fig. 1). After I had a clearer view of the problem and different ways to reframe the problem, I then went on to map out an empathy canvas to get inside the head of a typical individual in Calgary that is experiencing homelessness (Fig. 2). After gaining this deeper insight to inform my design thinking approach to the problem of tackling homelessness in Calgary, I then dug into my specific topics of personal circumstances and the impact of colonialism through identifying main problems with these issues through researching news and public articles online as well as watching video interviews and documentaries of the people in Calgary experiencing homelessness. Ideally, I would have liked to interview people experiencing homelessness, or who have experienced homelessness first-hand. In the future, if there is more time for a project I would prefer to add that in-person form of information gathering. After the information gathering phase, brainstorming occurred where we later, as a team, worked through approaches or prototypes to help solve the specific problems that we each researched.
Chronic Health Conditions and Mental Health:
Living in an unstable living situation, especially if living unsheltered, makes it very difficult to access appropriate health care to manage acute and chronic medical conditions, as well as mental health issues. There are barriers to making appointments as many homeless individuals do not have a fixed address and have limited or no access to things like phones or internet services to keep track of appointments (Calgary Herald, 2018; The Alex, n.d.). This is literally a life saving or life extending matter for homeless individuals that have cancer or other serious medical concerns. Many front-line workers do not have the adequate resources or empathetic training to engage with, and assist individuals who are homeless (Calgary Herald, 2018; The Alex, n.d.).
Possible Solutions: Dedicated doctors and nurses in an inclusive environment that are flexible, compassionate and offer more convenient services to homeless folks. These doctors and nurses are specially trained to deal with trauma and the unique and specific needs of the homeless population. An extended multidisciplinary staff can help assist with other care needs such as mental health support, hygiene and wellness. Addiction services and trauma counselling can also be an integral part of the program concentrating on the specific individual and making their concerns feel heard while also respecting their independence and autonomy. An apparent regimented and structured approach can seem scary to some people so care needs to be taken to respectfully engage those in need (Calgary Herald, 2018).
Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation:
LGBTQ2S+ youth are at a much higher risk for homelessness, and are overrepresented in the homeless population making up 25–40% of homeless youth in Canada (Abramovich, 2015). Main factors contributing to this overrepresentation includes family rejection, inadequate social services, and discrimination in housing, employment, as well as education (Abramovich, 2015). These factors lead to higher mental health concerns and increased risk of physical harm, suicide, exploitation and homelessness (Abramovich, 2015).
Possible Solutions: Making LGBTQ2S+ youth feel safe and inclusive is paramount. Appropriate housing and other support services are needed. Partnering with local LGBTQ2S+ societies can assist in offering services and support, while also fostering a sense of belonging and community for the youth. Here they can meet mentors that can assist them on their journey. Supportive education, job awareness and resources can be provided to help these at-risk youth succeed and flourish.
Trauma and Domestic Violence:
Homeless shelters are temporary, short-term solutions that many homeless are scared of utilizing (BeTheChangeYYC, n.d.). A large portion of homeless couples or families particularly feel scared to utilize shelters in the city as they are afraid of being split up, in addition to fighting within the shelter, mental challenges, and addiction problems (BeTheChangeYYC, n.d.; Horwood, 2022). Women are worried about further abuse at general shelters (BeTheChangeYYC, n.d.; Calgary Police Services, 2012).
Possible Solutions: Keep healthy families and partnerships together, do not split them up. Find affordable and steady housing for these individuals and offer them support services to make a successful transition. Services may include budget management, employment and job search assistance, childcare assistance, and health services access. Building community around these families and partners to keep them integrated with society. Provide trauma and support/counselling services for women that have experienced trauma and domestic violence. Also offer support to the people helping these women, as women of domestic violence are typically ‘transitional homeless’ living from home to home versus on the street (Calgary Homeless Foundation, n.d.). The aforementioned housing and services can be an integrated community housing initiative that gains the support of the community where there can be community-based initiatives to help these individuals.
Trauma and Foster Care:
Currently in Canada, the foster system is set up as a band-aid solution. The mindset around foster care in Canada is that “children who grow up in the system are not expected to do well.” (Treleaven, 2019). This mindset sets a child up for failure from the moment they are taken from their biological parents. Calgary Police Services (2012) and Calgary Homeless Foundation (n.d.) indicate that “39% of homeless have a history of foster care”. Indigenous children make up a disproportionate number of foster children in Canada (Treleaven, 2019), and are therefore put at a disadvantage later in life, based off the mindset around foster care and indigenous people in general.
Possible Solutions: There needs to be a gross overhaul of policies surrounding the foster care system in Canada to change the perception of foster care. A stable home environment, possibly favouring adoption rather than fostering, would be important to minimize youth trauma and promote greater friendship and community connection. As foster children have a high likelihood of high school drop out and not attending any further education, they need to be supported with appropriate services to transition them into proper post secondary education once they transition out of the foster care system (Treleaven, 2019). An integrated approach between support services, the child, and post secondary or trades schools would be beneficial to successfully transition children out of the foster system and give them a leg up in society to help them be the best they can be. The solution regarding the overrepresentation of indigenous children in the foster care system will be addressed in the next section.
Impacts of colonialism:
Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in Calgary’s homeless population, as is true across Canada (Belanger et al., 2019). There are many issues that cause this overrepresentation — from structural barriers to discrimination from landlords — but many of the factors are a result of the negative impacts of colonialism (ASCHH, 2012; Belanger et al., 2019). Colonialism has resulted in intergenerational trauma through such oppression as residential schools and the “60’s Scoop” (Baskin, 2013). These long-term negative colonial effects impact indigenous youth that are unfairly subject to discriminatory treatment that carries on into adulthood where these individuals re-live past traumatic events and may struggle with issues such as substance abuse or further discrimination, which in turn then gets passed down to their children once again. These children may subsequently be unjustly targeted and put into such systems as the foster care system (Baskin, 2013; Treleaven, 2019).
Possible Solutions: Government policies need a hard review, and reparations need to be acknowledged. Involving indigenous leaders at the municipal, provincial and federal level to meetings on homelessness allows them to offer invaluable knowledge and expertise to form a better integrated system. At a community level, indigenous and elder led programs are key to passing on cultural knowledge and aid healing that can bring a sense of belonging and pride in indigenous practices. Landlords can become better informed on their own apparent biases. Getting the general community to participate in reconciliation and understand indigenous ways of life and culture would also be advantageous. Healing Lodges and Indigenous Friendship Centre of Calgary are great supportive centres and integrated resources to aid in preventing indigenous homelessness. The aim is to start to heal intergenerational trauma and give indigenous youth a voice and be proud of who they are, thus supporting and giving strength to the next generation of indigenous youth.
Ultimately, the solution to homelessness in Calgary is a complex, multi-faceted issue that needs an integrated and inclusive approach with cooperation of multiple stakeholders in an efficient manner. However, I am optimistic that forward thinking people from a variety of backgrounds can unite in order to tackle a design thinking approach that is appropriate to their region to help eradicate homelessness in Calgary and beyond.
References:
Abramovich, A. (2015, June 30). A focused response to prevent and end LGBTQ2S youth homelessness. A report for the Government of Alberta. 30 p.
ASCHH. (2012, November). Plan to end aboriginal homelessness in Calgary. http://www.aschh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ASCHH-Aboriginal-Plan-Final.pdf
Baskin, C. (2013). Chapter 24. Shaking Off the Colonial Inheritance: Homeless Indigenous Youth Resist, Reclaim and Reconnect. In: Gaetz, S., O’Grady, B., Buccieri, K., Karabanow, J., & Marsolais, A. (Eds.), Youth Homelessness in Canada: Implications for Policy and Practice. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.
Belanger, Y.D., Dekruyf, K.A., Moncrieff, A., and Kazakoff, T. (2019, September 30). The Urban Indigenous Housing Experience of NIMBY-ism in Calgary, Alberta. http://neighbourhoodchange.ca/documents/2019/11/belanger-urban-indigenous-housing-experience-of-nimby-calgary.pdf
BeTheChangeYYC. https://www.bethechangeyyc.org/
Boone, L, Cournède, B., and Plouin, M. (2021, December 13). Finland’s Zero Homeless Strategy: Lessons from a Success Story. Ecoscope. https://oecdecoscope.blog/2021/12/13/finlands-zero-homeless-strategy-lessons-from-a-success-story/
Calgary Herald. (2018, March 14). Dignity, at the end of life, for the homeless [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TKLjEOA4IQ
Calgary Homeless Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.calgaryhomeless.com/
Calgary Police Service. (2012, November 19). Homeless in Calgary; Meet Rose and Roy [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2TUnkj8_Hw
Development Impact & You Toolkit. Inspired by Julier, J., Kimbell, L. (2012). Problem Definition. In: The Social Design Methods Menu. Page 30. https://mspguide.org/2022/03/18/problem-definition-worksheet/
Gray, Dave. 2018. “Updated Empathy Map Canvas.” Medium. The XPLANE Collection. July 21. https://medium.com/the-xplane-collection/updated-empathy-map-canvas-46df22df3c8a.
Homeless Hub. (n.d.). Who is homeless? https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/who-homeless
Homeless Hub. (2008). Calgary’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness 2008–2018. https://www.homelesshub.ca/resource/calgary%E2%80%99s-10-year-plan-end-homelessness-2008-2018
Horwood, J. (2022, February 22). ‘Don’t look down on us’: Calgary woman shares story of homelessness. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/lisa-grigolato-drop-in-centre-mustard-seed-alpha-house-homeless-1.6359480
Kontrast.at. (2020, November 10). Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need. https://scoop.me/housing-first-finland-homelessness/
Kury de Castillo, C. (2022, April 29). Number of people sleeping rough in Calgary increases. https://globalnews.ca/news/8797214/homeless-housing-sleeping-rough-calgary/
Mahboob, T. (2020, January 24). Housing is a human right: How Finland is eradicating homelessness. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday/the-sunday-edition-for-january-26-2020-1.5429251/housing-is-a-human-right-how-finland-is-eradicating-homelessness-1.5437402
Markusoff, J. (2018). Why Calgary’s 10-year bid to end homelessness was a valuable failure. Maclean’s. https://www.macleans.ca/news/why-calgarys-10-year-bid-to-end-homelessness-was-a-valuable-failure/
The Alex (n.d.). https://www.thealex.ca/
Treleaven, S. (2019, November 12). Life after foster care in Canada. Mclean’s. https://www.macleans.ca/society/life-after-foster-care-in-canada/
