The at home / Chez Soi project: Community partners' perspectives on the implementation of housing first in Moncton

Abstract

The At Home / Chez Soi project, funded by Health Canada through the Mental Health Commission of Canada, involves evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the Housing First (HF) approach, a complex community-based intervention that addresses homelessness in people with severe and persistent mental illness. This paper examines the perspectives of community partners on the implementation of HF in Moncton, New Brunswick. Engagement varied, but overall, HF was seen as fitting well within the network of existing community resources and filling a long-standing gap in services. Community will for sustaining HF was present, though concerns were expressed about sources for ongoing funding.