Table 1 Culturally-Responsive Planning (CRP) Tool

Implement HF 1: Rapid housing with supports

Supported by

CRP 1: Tackle structural issues for appropriate housing

1.1 Consider options for safe, supportive built environments

• Consult with local housing, health, and social service providers to identify needs of different populations, and local issues and benefits (risks, resistance, resources, transportation, schools, housing options)

• Work with providers to develop culturally-responsive, population-specific housing and programming based on needs for gender-safe spaces, safe living (perhaps in group settings) for youth, senior-safe spaces, substance dependence services, youth awareness and mentorship, life-planning for youths, population-specific skills development, and mental health support such as counseling for past trauma

1.2 Plan to mitigate structural challenges

• Work with government agencies to identify population-specific subsidy needs; ensure easy and supportive application processes are in place; collaborate with housing providers to review criteria for housing for specific cases

Cultural safety and humility consideration

• Recognize how the system is built on a design informed by a dominant culture, gender, or age group that is situated in positions of power, thus tailoring to the needs of individuals with more access to housing and related supports and services

Reflexive question(s) for responsive planning

• What planning tasks, relationships, or situations have been neglected in everyday practice at work and in the community when addressing needs of persons experiencing homelessness?

• What other ways can structural challenges to housing be viewed (i.e., for youth, older adults, and women)?

Suggested existing resource

• Canadian Housing First Toolkit [9]

Implement HF 2: Offering clients’ choice in housing

Supported by

CRP 2: Enact person-centered

choices

2.1 Consider for ‘choice’

• Explore with government agencies and developers: mixed-use housing and needs of community; available housing resources assessing whether needs are met; sustainability of housing and resources; and intended & unintended impact of new housing developments (i.e., neighborhood gentrification)

2.2 Plan for person-centeredness

• Resource cultural and other knowledge brokers with communication capability (ideally across cultures) and understandings of different cultural norms, values, and beliefs

Reflexive cultural safety and humility consideration

• Reflect on how your own position might limit understandings of the community and the needs of individuals

Question(s) for responsive planning

• What can planners do to be more aware of their positions and associated values, beliefs, and practices?

• How do planners consider the diverse cultural and individual needs of clients so that their practice is person-centered?

Suggested existing resource

• Housing First Europe Guide [40]

Implement HF 3: Separating housing provision from other services

Supported by CRP3: Challenge stigma and discrimination

3.1 Consider for stigma and discrimination

• Consider how some communities may not be aware of or refuse to acknowledge issues of homelessness; and some persons experiencing homelessness (e.g., youth, older adults and women) may be at greater risk of stigma from landlords and healthcare providers, making the journey to stability more difficult

3.2 Plan for addressing social injustice

• Explore ways to tackle clients’ experiences of stigma and discrimination to first point of access; develop services and resources that all people can benefit from (e.g., walkability, accessibility, local amenities); normalize diverse social experiences (e.g., substance use, single motherhood, being poor, living with co-morbidities); and develop and deliver cultural sensitivity training involving introspective reflexive-working

Cultural safety and humility consideration

• Create culturally-responsive housing and supports that considers the culturally diverse needs of youth, older adults, and women

Reflexive questions for responsive planning

• What culturally-responsive housing, health, and social services are available to support diverse sub-populations of persons experiencing homelessness?

• How can these be shaped to become culturally-responsive?

Suggested existing resource

• Planning for Equity Policy Guide [41]

Implement HF 4: Providing tenancy

rights & responsibilities

Supported by

CRP 4: Equalize differences in power

4.1 Consider power imbalances

• Consider that some persons experiencing homelessness may have less ability to enact agency and power when accessing housing and support services (such as single mothers, women fleeing violence, youth, older adults, persons identifying as Aboriginal, transgender men and women, and persons living with co-morbidities, including mental health and substance use disorders)

4.2 Plan for power differences by engaging in self-reflection

Work across sectors to explore more options for empathic and respectful housing providers / landlords; mechanisms to create supportive living environments with accessible and tailored supports; and develop cross-sector partnerships to enable multisystem supports for clients with complex needs

Cultural safety and humility consideration

• Reflect on how power imbalances between planners, service providers, and clients can escalate when there are differences in age, gender, education, income, language, culture, and ability that contribute to diverging socio-cultural beliefs

Reflexive questions for culturally-responsive planning

• What culturally-responsive training and supports do planners and service providers need to be reflective and aware of their positions of power? How can planners and service providers be better supported?

Suggested existing resource

Reflexive Strategies in Planning [42]

Implement HF 5: Integrating housing into the community

Supported by

CRP 5: Work with the community

5.1 Consider idea of ‘not in my backyard’

• Consider how some landlords may avoid renting to youth, single mothers, older adults, visible minorities, people on social assistance, people with mental health or substance use disorders, or persons with physical disabilities

5.2 Plan for community resistance

Develop mechanisms to: (1) work with communities on new housing projects (i.e., consultation, transparency) towards buy in; (2) partner with housing, health, and social service providers across sectors and communities to create integrated working and shared resourcing; (3) collaborate with local council / government to leverage more funding and incentives for people who live and work in the community; and (4) deliver knowledge and education on person-centeredness for people who live and work in the community

Cultural safety and humility consideration

• Address negative stereotypes and misconceptions of individuals and groups fueled by historical and political contexts that have influenced and normalized structural inequity

Reflexive questions for responsive planning

• How can planning include strategies for encouraging community awareness of historical and political contexts that have shaped homelessness and lived experiences?

• How can planning mechanisms promote responsibility and care for all members of the community?

Suggested existing resource

Model for Culturally-Responsive Housing Provision [43]

Implement HF 6: Strength-based & promoting self-sufficiency

Supported by

CRP 6: Empower Wellness

6.1 Consider ways to enable agency

• Consider strategies for resourcing ambassadors or navigators and wrap-around services that support and empower clients to ensure success; and onsite and person-centered services and staff to increase clients’ sense of accessibility, safety, and belongingness

6.2 Plan to empower

Develop a community empowerment plan focused on working with housing, government and health sectors, clients, and family members towards solutions for ambassadors or navigators and wrap-around services; onsite supports; transportation accessibility; safe access to variety of services. The plan should leverage existing resources, while planning for the lack of other resources and identify ways to build skills, confidence, emotional and psychological resilience and maintain self-care

Cultural safety and humility consideration

• Build supportive environments to empower clients by focusing and building on clients’ strengths; respecting and learning clients’ values, beliefs, and everyday realities; and working both with and for them

Reflexive questions for responsive planning

• What is your knowledge about the community and people you are working to help? What are ways to work with and for them, building on their strengths?

• Are there existing resources available to develop and implement a community empowerment plan? What is already available and what more is needed?

Suggested existing resource

Developing a Neighborhood Empowerment Plan [44]