Idea Camp developed and implemented a communications strategy to create a voice for the NHC. The objective was to centralize information on homelessness for service providers, governments and the general public, becoming the lead source of information on homelessness.

• Help the public understand the complexity of homelessness as a social issue

• Provide accurate, up-to-date and timely information

• Support service providers and governments by amplifying programs and investments

Deliverables

• NHC brand identity and visual standards

• Established communications channels: website, Facebook and newsletter

• Executed educational campaigns to break stigmas about homelessness

• Worked with local government, service providers and engaged citizens to share information

Results

• NHC brand identity and visual standards guide
• NHC website build and content development
  • 700 users per month
  • 1.7k page views per month

Homelessness Action Week is the second week of October. Idea Camp launched an informational campaign for Homelessness Action Week 2021 under the theme: How Homelessness Happens.

The aim was to educate the public about the contributing factors to Nanaimo’s homelessness crisis; to help people see the crisis as the result of many intersecting systems failures, rather than a personal or individual shortcoming.

During Homelessness Action Week, Idea Camp created 16 Facebook posts that were shared through the NHC Facebook page and distributed NHC members to share through their own networks.

These posts included short videos from people with lived experience telling their own stories about homelessness during the pandemic, as well as SEO optimized blog posts on various pathways into homelessness.

Campaign Results (October 10 – 17, 2021)

• Facebook posts reached a total audience of 36,000 people

• 4000 clicks on Facebook posts

• 927 shares and comments

• 100% increase in website users:
  • 871 new users to the NHC website
  • 579 views to SEO optimized blog posts