Photo: Contributed

Local researchers, academics and service providers have received $218,000 to explore improved services for the homeless.

Researchers at UBC Okanagan, Interior Health, Okanagan College, the Central Okanagan Journey Home Society and several health service sectors received the federal funding via the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Combined with funds from UBC and the Vancouver Foundation, the work will involve scholars and grad students in engineering, medicine, neuroscience, management, nursing, the social sciences and social work.

The group is evaluating three priorities, says John Graham, director of UBC Okanagan’s School of Social Work.

“The first: improvements in technology — including database management improvements, and phone apps,” says Graham. “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.”

Second, the group is examining how the homeless experience stigma and how business owners, neighbours, and service users and providers might better understand each others’ viewpoints.

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

Graham says they should be able to leverage funding to "quickly get over the $1-million mark within a year."

Partners in the initiative include:

• BrainTrust Canada
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Central Okanagan Journey Home Society
• Central Okanagan School District
• City of Kelowna
• Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
• Interior Health
• John Howard Society
• Kelowna Community Resources
• Kelowna Friendship Society
• Kelowna Gospel Mission
• Ministry of Children and Family Development
• Okanagan Boys and Girls Club
• Okanagan College
• Okanagan Nation Alliance
• A Way Home Kelowna
• Westbank First Nation