More than finding a house; all about relationships
“A relationship is like building a house; Build it well, or it will collapse.” – Author Unknown
Finding someone a home is dynamic and complicated. But thanks to an extremely engaged and inspired team at CUPS who have spent countless hours building relationships with landlords around the city, it’s a process that allows hundreds of people each year to start their journey forward with a new home.
For CUPS Key Case Management, they focus on long-term housing stability and improved physical and mental well-being. For the 120 adults in the program, the goal is making connections in new communities, and ultimately building lasting resilience and independence.
But what does the journey really look like?
A step towards a permanent home
It all starts with a group of social agencies who are working together to find vulnerable Calgarians a place to live. The client starts with the Calgary Homeless Foundation, and in a collaboration with CUPS and other agencies, they find a place to live.
Every week partner agencies come together and pick from a list of individuals and families who have been assessed and are ready for housing.
This is where people like Gabriela from CUPS step in and start by touching base with the client. For Gabriela, the initial tracking down connection process is often one of the most difficult parts of the puzzle. Often clients show up once a week to get a referral — they aren’t readily available and many don’t have phones to be easily reachable. Sometimes that means visiting hospitals, or talking to the DOAP Encampment team and with all of Gabriela’s available knowledge, finds the person who is ready for a house.
Many people are really down on their luck and need a helping hand. That hand includes finding the right landlord.
“A lot come with no references, an awful housing experience in the past, they can’t pass a credit check,” explains Gabriela.
Once they are referred into the CUPS system, the client is presented with several housing options, and when they find a community and home they are happy with, they meet the landlord.
Relationships for success
It’s that relationship with the landlords that is key to the whole process working. The better the relationship, the more likely they are willing to waive their usual process when assessing whether a renter is suitable or not.
Once a client is matched with one of the dozens of landlords in the program, a meeting is arranged, and the two sit down so the landlord can ask them some questions to get to know them better.
With Gabriela and the other Key Case Managers working hard to develop and maintain these relationships, most landlords agree to take on the prospective tenant.
Gabriela says they try to do this all in a short period of time.
“Our clients are very hard to find, so time is essential. So, if I make things happen in less than a week, we're most likely to be successful.”
Graduating forward towards independence
Having a house to live in can be the first step for clients to regain their independence, but the support from CUPS doesn’t end when they move into housing. We continue to work with them, as our clients work towards earning a stable income and getting back on their feet.
Once they do, they can move to a more stable housing situation and move on from the program. At that point, a spot opens up in the program, and they can take on another referral.
There is a passion for this work at CUPS and for Gabriela, she still loves the feeling of signing the lease with a client and giving someone their new house keys.
“It’s magical; I have clients that cry; they are so happy. It can be overwhelming, too; it can be a big responsibility after being homeless. But, seeing that smile on their face makes my work a million times better.”