Since 2007, the Homelessness Network assists individuals and families find and maintain stable housing.
Sudbury’s Homelessness Network is a partnership of five community-based agencies :
The Homelessness Network is committed to helping individuals experiencing homelessness find and maintain stable housing through a case management program that follows the Housing First approach. People experiencing homelessness include those living on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation, as well as those staying in emergency shelters.
The Network is guided by the core principles of the Housing First approach:
1-Immediate access to permanent housing, with no housing readiness requirements.
2-Client choice and self-determination.
3-A recovery-oriented approach.
4-Individualized, client-centred support.
5-Community and social integration.
Note: All clients to be supported by the Homelessness Network will have been registered through the City’s Coordinated Access System central By-Name List and referred to the Homelessness Network through the City’s prioritization process.
Participants must be willing and able to take part in a program that includes weekly home visits by a Housing Case Manager.
Individuals and families may refer themselves or be referred by other service providers.
They will first meet with our Central Intake Worker (located at the John Howard Society) or a member of our Community Outreach Team, who will collect their personal information and complete a Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) assessment.
The SPDAT is a nationally recognized assessment tool used to evaluate the level of vulnerability of individuals experiencing homelessness. If a person consents to being added to the By-Name List, their information is submitted to the City of Greater Sudbury's centralized list and reviewed on an ongoing basis through the City's Coordinated Access System.
An individual's or family's level of vulnerability—including their needs and barriers—along with other factors, determines their priority for receiving housing support services.
The Homelessness Network does not have a wait list. All referrals to the Network are made through the City's By-Name List and Coordinated Access System.
Once individuals are enrolled in the City's Coordinated Access System and By-Name List, those who meet the eligibility criteria and choose to participate in the program are assigned to one of the Homelessness Network's seven (7) Case Managers.
Case management support includes:
-Assisting individuals in resolving their experience of homelessness by helping them find stable housing.
-Providing weekly (or more frequent) home visits.
-Connecting clients with specialized services when mental health, substance use, or other health-related challenges affect their ability to maintain housing and achieve long-term housing stability.
Case Managers are trained to help individuals obtain and maintain housing while supporting them in achieving their personal goals for community integration and overall well-being.
