Breaking the Cycle: Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4) in Windsor Essex

The Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee presents "Breaking the Cycle: Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4) in Windsor Essex"

Individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction are disproportionately impacted by the justice system, often denied bail at higher rates and forced to navigate a complex web of appointments to avoid returning to custody.

To address these systemic issues, Windsor Essex has established the Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4), a centralized day-service center designed to support those experiencing homelessness. The hub offers on-site access to housing support, medical care, mental health and addiction services, and income assistance. By providing flexible appointment times and low-barrier service delivery, H4 has become a critical "one-stop shop" for individuals re-entering the community post-custody.

The program integrates justice services from daily court monitoring, probation and parole, John Howard Society and Release from Custody case management.

Presenter: Whitney Kitchen

Whitney is a dedicated Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Waterloo, earned in 2021. She currently serves as the Coordinator of Housing Administration and Development with the City of Windsor, where she oversees housing, health, and support services for over 100 individuals daily. With a strong foundation in frontline social work, Whitney's extensive experience spans justice, mental health, addictions, and homelessness. She has spearheaded numerous impactful initiatives, including chairing the local situation table to address risk mitigation collaboratively, delivering mental health training for law enforcement, and leading seminars on justice involvement's effects on marginalized populations. Driven by a deep commitment to underserved communities, Whitney is passionate about advocacy and system reform, striving to create meaningful and sustainable change for those most in need.

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