HKPR Regional HSJCC

The purpose of this project was to analyze three regional Situation Tables located in Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough. A literature review was conducted to explain the history, working practices and Provincial guidelines of Situation Tables. Data that each regional Situation Table records was analyzed in order to identify trends among the three regions in regards to which human services and justice organizations are most involved and what risk factors are most commonly present. Surveys and interviews were completed to capture the experiences and opinions of individuals who participate at each regional Table and gather their ideas for improvements. Findings include that police services are heavily involved in both the referral process and intervention responses across all three regional Tables. Mental health services are also very commonly involved in the intervention responses as mental health was found to be the most common risk factor discussed and actioned at all three regional Tables. Ideas for improvements such as ensuring a more fulsome understanding of Situation Tables among all members are presented. Additionally, possible missing agencies for each regional Table are suggested based on the survey and interview responses of participating Situation Table members. Potential future research and limitations in this study are also discussed.

This report has two main purposes. The first is to identify which social service providers are involved in finding rental accommodation for clients and determining the challenges which are faced by these organizations as a consequence of landlord's concerns about renting to marginalized individuals. The second is to identify the approaches social service providers use to mitigate these landlord concerns to create best practice recommendations for the Haliburton- Kawartha Lakes-Pine Ridge (HKPR) region. Research was completed using an extensive and thorough literature review, email fact-finding and an online survey. Findings from this research included the identification of organizations within the HKPR region that work in housing and with individuals who are marginalized. The mitigation methods these organizations use such as rent supplements, arranging for repairs, and paying for damaged property to mitigate different landlord concerns were also identified. The main concerns landlords have are non-payment of rent, damaged property, and neighborhood. Innovative programs such as RentSmart Ontario and the critical role these programs play is highlighted in addition to new adaptations on the previously established Housing First ideology with the Tiny Homes program.