About the Challenge

Strategically focused on individuals transitioning from unhoused to housed in the Moncton area, a Rapid Innovation Challenge was launched in January of 2024, to explore, develop and test solutions that connect individuals to the essential health and support services they need. This initiative aims to integrate resources from healthcare and community sectors to collaboratively address and resolve the urgent and diverse needs that are critical for long-term wellbeing and sustainable living situations.

A Systems Leaders group was formed representing leadership from UNB Nursing, the City of Moncton, GNB, Horizon Health, Vitalité, the Human Development Council, RCMP and the Northpine Foundation.

Challenge participants formed streams addressing three critical focus areas: addressing stigma to support access to long-term housing and healthcare; a supported workforce – supporting workers who work with those transitioning to housing; and, a connected system – a system that is aligned in addressing the diverse needs of individuals transitioning from homelessness. 

Prototypes have been developed and are currently being tested with the help of UNB nursing students. Testing will wrap up in the Spring of 2025. Check back for project updates.  

Guiding Question

A «How Might We» (HMW) statement is a creative problem-solving tool that frames a challenge as an opportunity for innovation. It is designed to encourage open-ended thinking and generate actionable ideas by posing the problem as a question.

We use HMW statements to track progress through the problem-solving process. As we uncover new insights, we refine our focus by creating new HMW statements, ensuring our approach remains adaptive and responsive to emerging learnings.

How Might We address the diverse and urgent needs of individuals transiting from homelessness to ensure their long-term well-being and the sustainability of their housing situation? 

Our Theory of Change

1. Support

If recently housed individuals in the Moncton area can easily access the services and care they need

2. Population needs

Their urgent and diverse needs can be meaningfully addressed

3. Resources

Enabling them to focus on their long-term well-being and be better equipped to maintain stable housing

4. Results

Which reduces inflow back into homelessness and brings us closer to eliminating homelessness in the Moncton area

Funders & Partners

This project was made possible by the UNB Faculty of Nursing, City of Moncton, and the Northpine Foundation.