Completion of Phase 3-7
Statement of Work
Title: Housing and homelessness needs assessment, Reaching Home – Inuit living out of Inuit Nunangat – Phases 3-7
Background and Objectives:
As the national voice for Inuit women in Canada, Pauktuutit fosters greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, advocates for equality and social improvements, and encourages Inuit women’s full participation in the community, regional and national life of Canada. One component of advocating for the social, cultural, political and economic betterment of Inuit women, their families and communities is to ensure that the necessary policy tools are developed and applied in a manner that reflects the realities and needs of Inuit women. This is particularly true for Inuit women living out of Inuit Nunangat for housing and homelessness through Reaching Home (ESDC) for advancing the needs of Inuit women, and their families who are not residents in Inuit Nunangat and may not be beneficiaries of Inuit Nunangat.
Access to safe, affordable housing is key to the health and happiness of Inuit women and their families. The Board of Directors of Pauktuutit has therefore made access to safe and adequate housing a top priority. Pauktuutit advocates that every Inuk woman, child and family across Canada have access to safe, culturally appropriate, and affordable housing. There is a significant gap in policies, programs and services for Inuit living out of Inuit Nunangat. With the health pandemic it is clear there was a lack of supports and services for Inuit women under the Reaching Home initiative.
Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness in Canada by providing direct support and funding to “Designated Communities” (urban centers), Indigenous communities, territorial communities, and rural and remote communities across Canada.
There is a need for culturally appropriate services and housing models to address Inuit homelessness.
- We know that that 40% of Inuit are living out of Inuit Nunangat, beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries.
- Displacement of Inuit men and women is occurring at increasing rates
- The percentage of Inuit living outside of Inuit Nunangat increased by 27.2 per cent since 2006.[1]
- Inuit have reported that Statistics Canada has undercounted Inuit living in southern urban centres and is more accurately estimated at four to six times the reported numbers.
- We know that Inuit live across Canada, in every province and territory and not restricted to urban centres.
- The rate of Inuit living in southern Canada is increasing and growing exponentially.
- Displacement for Inuit men and women for various reasons
- Inuit women
- Women represent 51% of the total Inuit population and experience violence at 14 times higher than the national average[2].
- Inuit women move out of Inuit Nunangat to flee from family violence, access to health care, for postsecondary education, access to safe and adequate housing, employment and training opportunities and the opportunity for ‘a better way of life’
- Inuit men
- Much like Inuit women, Inuit men move out of Inuit Nunangat for access to health care, for postsecondary education, access to safe and adequate housing, employment and training opportunities and ‘a better way of life’ for their children.
- Men also move away to distance their families from historic trauma and intergenerational trauma.
- Systemic deficiencies
- Both Inuit men and women are sent or moved south not by choice but by systemic social service Inuit Nunangat deficiencies to provide in community care for their resident population. It is fundamental to understanding the Inuit diaspora that the reason many Inuit are no longer in Inuit Nunangat is not of their own design or self-determination. IE; Correction services, child welfare, intensive or speciality health care, long term health care, seniors’ services, disabilities and palliative care.
- Inuit women
Many Inuit families living outside of Inuit Nunangat face challenges related to social and cultural isolation, lack of access to culturally appropriate programs and services, and suffer high levels of mental distress.
The overarching goal of this project is to improve the socio-economic outcomes of Inuit living outside of Inuit Nunangat by better tailoring solutions to housing insecurity and homelessness.
This Inuit specific research and policy project will seek to better understand the impacts of homelessness and housing insecurity on Inuit living out of Inuit Nunangat. This project will take a phased approach and build on the strengths and capacity in each of the identified urban centres.
While adhering to health and safety practices for COVID-19 and by adhering to best practices for research with a vulnerable population, through innovation and safe practices.
This research project will collect and analyze feedback from diverse lived experiences of the growing Inuit women population in urban centres, and will provide an evidence-based assessment of the programs, services and supports required for them to build the good lives in urban centres
This research will build upon existing qualitative research to address barriers to the development of sustainable livelihoods, free from violence, homelessness, job precarity and poverty. The research will also explore the barriers experienced in accessing funding, including;
- Issues experienced by Inuit women outside of Inuit Nunangat
- Community capacity for proposal development and implementation
- A lack of Inuit data
The research is critical to understanding how the needs of Inuit women in urban centres have evolved and the impacts of prior initiatives as stated below.
This research will build upon Pauktuutit’s previous work to collect evidence on the needs and challenges of Inuit women and their access to programs. Pauktuutit’s 2016-17 Urban Aboriginal Strategy Project Understanding the Needs of Urban Inuit Women, created the initial research and baseline of needs of Inuit women across Canada and living outside Inuit Nunangat. A 2015-16 UAS project titled Engaging Inuit Women in the Canadian Economy, explored the needs, challenges and priorities of Inuit women across Inuit Nunangat from which it developed clear and realistic recommendations. In addition, the recent study completed “Needs Assessment for Creating an Inuit-Specific Urban Women’s Shelter in Ottawa, ON”
Goals of the Project
Several vulnerabilities are apparent for Inuit women and children living outside Inuit Nunangat. The pandemic has deepened pre-existing gendered inequalities and exposed vulnerabilities in social, political, and economic systems which compound one another.
The objective of this project is to develop evidenced-based research and data around the specific needs of Inuit women in urban centres as they relate to housing stability and homelessness.
Scope of Work:
This is an open call to individuals, firms, or organizations to explore viable options for Inuit families and their children.
While working within the restrictions of the pandemic and using safe practices, the research will identify gaps, increase understanding and guide the development of substantive equity by identifying the funding barriers faced by Inuit in urban centres.
The research outcomes will inform recommendations regarding equitable access to programs, supports, and funding for Inuit women and their families. It will also produce gender and Inuit-specific data regarding housing stability and homelessness, and subsequently suggest funding mechanisms for Inuit specific supports and services in urban centres.
The research will provide a better understanding of the current capacity and supports available to Inuit women across the country in addition to serving as an advocating tool for a more equitable representation of Inuit women and their children provincially and nationally.
Specifications of Work and Deliverables:
Building on Phase one and two of this extensive project, the following are the deliverables required under this RFP.
| Phase 3: Community needs assessment | ||
| Activity/Task | Description | Anticipated output |
| Engage with Inuit service providers in twelve (12) communities across Canada | Assessment and defining community status of needsSeries I – Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, TorontoSeries II – St. John’s, Edmonton, Halifax, Yellowknife, Goose BaySeries III – Frederickton, Vancouver, Regina | Local community engagement and participation |
| Design and develop interview (and potentially, survey) framework for urban partners | An interview framework to gather information regarding Inuit housing and homelessness capacity be developed. The focus of the questions will be based around the items such as:Equitable access to programs, supports and funding; Capacity and supports for the delivery of housing supports and homelessness supports in the community Where are there barriers? What issues are being encountered when trying to support Inuit? What is the average # of interactions with individuals who are experiencing homelessness or housing stability issues?Is this a priority area identified by board members and community? | An interview framework to gather informative data about community needs for capacity in address Inuit housing and homelessness needs. |
| Conduct interviews with Inuit organizations | Interviews will be conducted with Inuit organizations.Once completed, the interviews will be written up for clarity and accuracy. | Data, key findings for each identified region. |
| Engage with Inuit representational organizations | For an environmental scan of the Reaching Home priorities from each IRO | Identify and summarize points of IRO priorities including Inuit beneficiaries in urban centre.Complete a high level summary of items that may be of interest for mutual awareness and information sharing purposes. |
| Draft a high-level summary of key findings and common themes | A high-level summary of key findings and common themes found during research will be drafted. | A high-level summary of key findings and common themes synthesizing all regional findings to form a non-Nunangat national placemat, including a GBA+ analysis |
| Phase 5: Surveys, and Interviews with individuals | ||
| Activity/Task | Description | Anticipated output |
| Collaboration with Inuit community groups | With information gathered in phase 3 work with each community who has identified there are gaps and needs for housing supports and require further research to identify gaps and barriers. | Examine experiences receiving Housing First and other homelessness supports or homelessness |
| Design and develop interview and survey framework for individuals | An interview framework to gather information regarding Inuit and their experiences of housing supports and homelessness. The focus of the questions will be based around the items such as:Equitable access to programs, supports and funding; is there equitable representation and consideration for Inuit?What issues have individuals encountered when trying to access housing supports? Are there eligibility or criteria for support programs that have proven to be restrictive for Inuit, or reduced their likelihood to apply to such programs? Have Inuit encountered gaps in support? | A participant driven interview framework for Inuit to gather informative data about Inuit homelessness and housing needs |
| Conduct interviews with individuals with assistance and collaboration from local Inuit group/organization | Interviews will be conducted with individuals identified by the local Inuit organization or group. Once completed, the interviews will be written up for clarity and accuracy. | Data, key findings and common themes disaggregated by gender and age groups |
| Draft a high-level summary of key findings and common themes | A high-level summary of key findings and common themes found during research will be drafted. | A high-level summary of key findings and common themes by region and nationally |
| Phase 6: Reporting | ||
| Activity/Task | Description | Anticipated output |
| Draft comprehensive report on the results of research | The information collected in each of the phases, along with the high-level summary developed upon its conclusion, will be used to develop a more detailed report on the findings and key issues found during the research. | Direct impacts resulting from the (lack of) housing and homelessness for Inuit Identifying the social impacts for Inuit and their families as a result of housing and homelessnessIdentifying gaps and barriers for Inuit accessing housing supports Addressing gaps and barriers for Inuit organization and groups in accessing or utilizing federal grants and supports for housing and homelessness supports |
| Hold a meeting to review draft report | A meeting will be held to discuss the draft report. Comments and feedback on the document will be gathered for inclusion into the report to ensure its contents are presented in an effective and appropriate fashion. | Draft review report with comments and feedback |
| Revise and finalize report | The report will be revised and finalized using the feedback collected during the conference call. | Finalized report |
| Phase 7: Develop Policy Paper and recommendations | ||
| Activity/Task | Description | Anticipated output |
| Develop a policy paper of potential options and recommendations to address issues found in research report | A policy paper will be developed to provide recommendations and options to better meet the needs and aspirations of Inuit and fill gaps identified. The goal of this document is to improve or enhance the delivery of support stimulus programs specific to Inuit and facilitate Inuit specific supports in housing and homelessness supports | Draft review policy paper with recommendation with comments and feedback |
| Revise policy paper based on feedback | This policy paper will be revised based on email feedback from select stakeholders, resulting in the completion of the project | Finalized policy paper with recommendations |
It is important for applicants to demonstrate an understanding of Inuit culture, the traditional and evolving nuances of Inuit women’s roles, in addition to the indicators unique to Inuit women. It is important that indicators ensure equitable consideration of all Inuit women.
Applicants must also have extensive experience working with Inuit and Inuit led organizations. They must possess effective communication skills and methodology and have the proven expertise to produce culturally relevant work.
Timeline
The duration of the contract will be from August 3, 2021 to March 15, 2022.
- Bids accepted until July 23, 2021;
- Contract begins August 3, 2021;
- Contract ends March 15, 2022.
*Depending on the Covid19 pandemic – timelines are subject to change with approval by both parties.
Pauktuutit’s Roles and Responsibilities
The primary contact at Pauktuutit for this project is Lema Ijtemaye, Manager, Social and Economic Development (lijtemaye@pauktuutit.ca). Pauktuutit commits to providing the information and materials necessary to complete the work and will respond to requests for information promptly.
Pauktuutit will provide all applicants with a final decision within five business days following the submission deadline.
Confidentiality, Privacy and Copyright
The successful applicant shall not disclose to any party any confidential information gained or resulting from activities undertaken under this project, nor shall the applicant disclose any information concerning Pauktuutit or their affairs while working on this project.
Pauktuutit and the successful applicant will agree to acknowledge and accord appropriate credit for each other’s contribution to this project, including any products developed and disseminated as a result. Both parties will agree on how credit is attributed, depending on the nature and degree of each organization’s contribution.
Pauktuutit retains ownership of all materials and intellectual property created, designed, or produced because of activities undertaken by the successful applicant when awarded this project.
The successful applicant will generate original work for this project.
Proposal Instructions
- Applicants must submit their company name, and confirm their incorporation, references, and/or portfolio;
- Submit by email to lijtemaye@pauktuutit.ca and clund@pauktuutit.ca,
- Word format or PDF;
- Estimates/budgets must remain firm until March 1st, 2022
- No payment will be made for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this RFP;
- No costs incurred before receipt of a signed contract can be charged to the proposed contract;
- Pauktuutit reserves the right not to award a contract as a result of this RFP.
Budget
The proposal must demonstrate:
- Expertise and experience of the Project Team who will be assigned to deliver the work (this may be included in the form of CVs)
- Include a detailed budget not to exceed $141,250 including HST and that demonstrates that the objectives and deliverables for the project can be met;
- Indicate the billing rate;
- List any other expenses that might be applicable; and
- Total bid MUST include 13% HST tax
Rights of the Organization
Pauktuutit reserves the right to:
- Enter into negotiations with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of this proposal.
- Accept any proposal in whole or in part.
- Cancel and/or re-issue this requirement at any time.
- Award one or more contracts.
- Verify any or all information provided by the bidder with respect to this requirement.
Contact Information
Please direct the application to:
Lema Itemaye, Manager, Social and Economic Development
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
520—1 Nicholas St., Ottawa ON K1N 7B7
[1] https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Inuit-Statistical-Profile.pdf
[2] https://pauktuutit.ca/wp-content/uploads/Pauktuutit_Addressing-Gendered-Violence_English_Full-Report-1.pdf