Ok, I'm cheating on this one. I realized I haven't posted in here in almost a month and a half. Honestly, it's depressing when you have to consciously think about depression for a couple of hours. There's still topics that I want to talk about, but like I said, it's not easy to get yourself into that mindset. So I'm cheating. This is a direct lift from another blog that I write on more general topics, but I think it's worth posting here too, especially since it touches on a federal program that affects the mentally ill:
Welcome Home / Bienvenue Chez Soi
As I promised a few days ago, this post will not focus on hockey or the NHL...actually, it will focus on something a whole lot more important.
If you know me, I'm generally not a fan of current Conservative ideology when it comes to anything related to their social projects (think the Safe Streets Act and all the crime prevention measures it entailed - here's a hint - there were none.) General Conservative values place more emphasis on punishment than prevention, and view social programs that benefit the most disadvantaged in our society as not cost-effective.
(As a bit of an aside, I recently came across old news reports of a couple of studies done in Britain and Australia that both identified a link between right-wing governments and increased suicide rates - and the studies corrected for other factors such as economic slumps, wars, and the like. I haven't seen anything for Canadian rates, but it would be interesting considering all three countries share basically the same political systems. Here are the links: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2817-rightwing-governments-increase-suicide-rates.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2263690.stm)
So, back to my main post today - I try to be nothing, if not fair. I stumbled upon an article released this afternoon (and for anyone reading this not from Canada - today is statutory holiday (Boxing Day) and for the most part the country is focused on the World Junior Hockey Championships being held in Alberta). It's a slow news day and a day when most of the country only cares about sports or Boxing Day shopping if their community allows it. So, needless to say, I was a little surprised to see there wasn't much fanfare with this program, given that it's one that should provide some positive PR for the federal government.
The federal government has recently received some well-deserved criticism over its handling of the housing crisis in Attawapiskat - enough that I don't need to go into it here. (But again, to be fair, this country has historically bungled its handling of affairs with our First Nations peoples at all levels of government, regardless of the government's political ideology). And on further reflection, that might be why this was released today:
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/national/details.asp?c=37309
There is a very quiet program being backed by federal funds ($110 million - pocket change, really) that is focusing on providing housing to homeless people. And it seems to be producing some very positive results. It's half-way through its 5-year life, and the money is being channelled through the Mental Health Commission of Canada. http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/
Now this program - called At Home/Chez Soi - is still experimental, and it's focusing on the mentally ill (from a Conservative government? WTF?) It focuses on providing housing first - with no strings attached. A support team of professional service providers is immediately available. In Toronto, it's seeing a success rate of between 70-80%. Nationally, 1030 people are enrolled in this program, and almost all of them have stayed housed. Sounds pretty successful to me.
However, it's never that easy. Hopefully at the conclusion of this project, the government can be convinced that in the end it saved enough money in other areas (policing/courts/jails/health care) to continue the program past its 2013 end-date. Early indications are that it will.
To learn more about the program, check it out: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/Pages/homelessness.aspx
