COVID and Program transition?

Moving and transforming a program would be tough at the best of times. During a COVID pandemic is definitely not the best of times. Still, that’s what the Christopher’s Place team accomplished just as the pandemic lockdown started in Alberta. And, within a month of closing Christopher’s Place, the team had the innovate Scattered Site Permanent Supportive Housing (SSPSH) program up and running.

For five years, Christopher’s Place operated in a 25-unit apartment building in the west end. Early this year, staff learned the property owner would be going in a new direction and the building would be closed on March 31st. Eleven residents would need new homes. By the end of March, 5 residents had moved into other PSH sites in Edmonton, 5 were grandfathered into the SSPSH program, and one left due to an eviction.

We know how demanding a personal move can be. Now imagine moving people out of 10 apartments and into new locations, then packing up, moving, and unpacking offices for over 10 staff. And, imagine doing that while following pandemic social distancing and PPE guidelines. “The only way we could have done all this”, says Nicole Webber, SSPSH Program Manager, “was with amazing teamwork.”

SSPSH started operating in early April in its new home at the 81st Avenue site where CAT, Housing First, and the Administrative team are also located. Of 12 Christopher’s staff, 9 moved over to SSPSH. Setting up a new program is demanding and intense, but the team got at it. Sixteen staff are in place now including 6 Case Managers for weekdays, 8 Mobile Support Workers to cover evenings and weekends, and a Program Support staff and the Program Manager. The SSPSH team will support clients living in market housing throughout Edmonton. 

The team is taking referrals now and, with 5 intakes expected a week, expects to reach its maximum caseload of 60 by the end of August. Clients will come to SSPSH already housed, in the process of being housed, or will be referred to Housing First. Individuals will differ from typical Housing First clients; they will have higher acuity levels and more complex needs so the SSPSH team will have more intensive supports in place.

In thinking about the effect of COVID on this transition, Nicole decided the main impact was on relationships: “The moving process was all rushed and people couldn’t linger and say goodbye like they would have without restrictions.” Then, once the residents were settled into new places, COVID kept relationships from being maintained. “It’s not appropriate”, she says, “to just stop into another PSH site to say hello like we would otherwise.” Nicole found that social distancing makes starting a new program more challenging too. Conference calls are not ideal ways to connect with new referral sources, landlords, and other stakeholders.

But, the move is over, the team is in place, and the new office is settled. It will obviously take more than a pandemic to stop this SSPSH team.