THUNDER BAY -- Accessing health care and other support services is nearly impossible when homeless.
“Without the stability of housing, if you have other concerns or needs be it health, mental health, addictions issues requiring support, getting that support when living on the street or in a shelter can be very, very difficult,” said Susan McGee, the CEO of Homeward Trust Edmonton.
McGee addressed about 100 people at the Thunder Bay Housing and Homelessness Coalition’s executive breakfast at the Italian Cultural Centre Thursday morning to talk about her organization’s work to address homelessness in her community and how those strategies could work for Thunder Bay.
“It’s been really critical for us as a community to have a plan, to have a plan that is to end homelessness, not just manage homelessness,” said McGee.
“The approval of that plan has been the impetus for a lot of change.”
From that plan came a Housing First Program, which McGee said embraces a harm reduction model.
“It really supports individuals in their own recovery and in developing their own plans and getting housing as quickly as possible so they can deal with the obstacles they’ve had in their lives,” she said.
The breakfast wrapped up a series of events the homelessness coalition has run the last few months to raise the profile of the issue in Thunder Bay.
The group’s vision is for all people of the city to have access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing, said Anne Ostrom, the acting coordinator of the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy.
While there are many organizations and individuals working together to address the issue in the city, Ostrom said it’s a complex issue and it’s important to hear from other communities.
“It’s important for different sectors to work together and that’s what Edmonton has done. They talked about the business sector, the church sector, social service agencies and the municipality – all three levels of government – and that’s what we need here in Thunder Bay,” said Ostrom.
Between 2004 and 2011, Shelter House Thunder Bay saw a 35 per cent increase in bed usage at the George Street shelter and the need continues to rise.
Ostrom said the program in Edmonton is called Housing First for a reason.
“A shelter is one option but it’s critical Thunder Bay think about what else is needed.
Supportive housing is also needed. Lots of people live with additions.
They need extra supports and a roof over their head will mean they have a better opportunity to embark on their journey of recovery and success,” she said.
