Okanagan researchers given $218K to improve services for homeless people

Researchers have been backed with $218,000 to figure out ways to improve services for homeless people in the BC Interior.

Scholars and graduate students from a variety of fields will work together on the project.

Among them are specialists in engineering, medicine, neuroscience, management, nursing, social sciences and social work.

The researchers come from UBC Okanagan, Interior Health, Okanagan College, Central Okanagan Journey Home Society and more.

The funding has come from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, UBC and the Vancouver Foundation.

They are working with three priorities.

“The first: improvements in technology—including database management improvements, and phone apps,” said John Graham, director of UBCO’s School of Social Work.

“These are important in helping to make homelessness strategies more responsive, efficient, and at the same time, increasing the number of people who are able to be off the street.”

The second priority is to look at the ways in which homeless people experience stigma and how they might be better understood.

“And finally, we are developing and evaluating a number of health and human service improvements,” explained Graham.

“We need better delivery of the specific service needs of those who have experienced traumatic brain injury, versus a major mental disorder, a substance misuse, generalized trauma, each of which often frequently co-occurs.”

He added: “We now have a team in place that will significantly contribute to service improvements and reductions in homelessness,” says Graham.

Graham said that, within a year, the team can expect to have more than $1 million in funding.

“Throughout, we are engaging with service providers, service users, and broader community members in direct ways that bring all parties to the table to co-develop regionally-specific solutions,” Graham adds.

“Together with myriad partners across the city and region, we will make a difference that will be informed by rigorous empirical evidence.”