Analysis of Homeless Individuals and Families Information Management System (HIFIS) Data HIFIS is a web-based system to collect, store and retrieve client information and can be used to facilitate efficient access to shelter services. The use of HIFIS 4.0 or any subsequent versions should be mandatory for City funded shelters and strongly encouraged for non-city funded and other homelessness-serving agencies. The City should conduct regular analysis of HIFIS information to provide insights for policy development, shelter system planning, and service provider and system reviews.

To ensure that funding is directed to the services the City intends to fund, the City should require an audit or review of shelter service providers’ financial statements on an annual basis.

Service Providers

Service providers are responsible for providing direct support to clients experiencing homelessness. They must ensure that the shelter is a welcoming, safe and secure environment for all people staying, volunteering and working in the shelter facility. Shelter providers (that receive funding from the City) work in partnership with the City to provide input into emergency shelter standards and should be required to work in compliance with the shelter standards. To do so, they should create their own policies and procedures that align with City standards. Non-funded shelters should be encouraged to adopt the same standards and practices.

Future shelter needs

The following recommendations on the number of shelter beds required across the shelter system assumes that if diversion supports were fully implemented across the system, 30% of clients seeking homelessness services in locations where diversion has not fully been implemented (ie. Salvation Army and Downtown Mission) could be diverted from shelter and supported to address their long-term housing needs without shelter. The recommendations also assume that if housing-focused supports were increased where they are currently “light” (ie. Downtown Mission), there would be a 15% reduction in the number of clients staying at that location at any given time. The recommended number of beds also assumes an 80% average occupancy to account for periods where demand is above average. The intent is that requests for services when at capacity will occur less than 10% of the time.

The recommendations are based on shelter demand prior to the pandemic, as although shelter demand has decreased in recently amidst the pandemic, it is anticipated to increase again after the moratorium on evictions ends and CERB is no longer available. A sustained lower level of demand would be required before a recommendation could be made to reduce beds.

While the recommendations suggest a specific number of beds, there should be flexibility in the shelter system to accommodate surges in demand, whether they are due to a pandemic, more refugees, changes in the housing market, or other reasons.

Adults

It is recommended that the City work towards a shelter service system with approximately 60 beds for single adult males and 30 beds for single adult females or 90 mixed (co-ed) beds for single adults.