About the Toolkit
How to use the toolkit
THE TOOLKIT is organized into several modules: an overview, planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability. Each module is accompanied with videos and links to resource material. Users can access this material in several ways. First, individuals can access the materials via the interactive website that is hosted by the Homeless Hub and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Those who choose this option can pick and choose particular sections of each module to review, rather than reviewing an entire module.
How we put the toolkit together
THE TOOLKIT TEAM reviewed research and materials relevant to each of the modules. We relied heavily, but not exclusively, on the qualitative research reports of the At Home/Chez Soi research. However, we also used a highly participatory approach to the development of the toolkit.
At the beginning of the project, we conducted focus groups with stakeholders at each of the five At Home/Chez Soi sites, the senior managers of this project, and a group of people with lived experienced who worked in the project. We also contacted numerous groups and individuals to obtain information and resources that could be included in the toolkit.
We also assembled an expert panel of people working in the housing/homeless and health/mental health sectors who reviewed drafts of each of the modules. A structured approach was used to gather the input of members of this panel to improve the toolkit. Expert panel members reviewed not only the content of the modules, but they comment on the readability, language, appeal, and accessibility of the modules.
Acknowledgements
This product has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The views expressed herein solely represent the authors.
We are grateful to the Mental Health Commission of Canada who not only funded this project, but encouraged us to undertake it. In particular, we thank Catharine Hume and Cameron Keller for their role in supporting the toolkit development. We also acknowledge the Homeless Hub as a key partner, and thank Stephanie Vasko for her amazing work in graphic design and website development. We thank all of the people from the At Home/Chez Soi project who provided us with advice and materials, and others who also shared resources. We are also grateful to all of the members of the expert panel who generously shared their time in reviewing the materials and providing us with feedback.
Infographic design: Patricia Lacroix
Photo credits: Dan Cronin and Shane Fester.
Suggested Citation
Polvere, L., MacLeod, T., Macnaughton, E., Caplan, R., Piat, M., Nelson, G., Gaetz, S., & Goering, P. (2014). Canadian Housing First toolkit: The At Home/Chez Soi experience. Calgary and Toronto: Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Homeless Hub.
Toolkit Team Members
- Lauren Polvere, Ph.D., Douglas Mental Health University Institute
- Tim MacLeod, Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology – Community Psychology Program, Wilfrid Laurier University
- Eric Macnaughton, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
- Rachel Caplan, Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology – Community Psychology Program, Wilfrid Laurier University
- Myra Piat, Ph.D., Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University
- Geoff Nelson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology – Community Psychology Program, Wilfrid Laurier University
- Stephen Gaetz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, York University
- Paula Goering, Ph.D., University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Expert Panel Members
- Tim Aubry, University of Ottawa
- Claudette Bradshaw, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Lucille Bruce, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Jody Brown, Brantford Social Services
- Sonia Coté, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Dorothy Edem, Capital Health Authority
- Brenda McAllister, Saskatoon Health Authority
- Susan McGee, Homeward Trust, Edmonton
- Faye More, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Marie Morrison, Waterloo Region Social Services
- Tim Richter, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
- Ana Stefancic, Pathways to Housing
- Vicky Stergiopoulos, St. Michael’s Hospital
- Stephanie Vasko, Homeless Hub
- Jiji Voronka, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Juliana Walker, Pathways to Housing
- Dean Waterfield, Transitions to Home
- Shannon Watson, Government of Manitoba
- Alina Turner, Calgary Homeless Foundation
