Agencies say they must work together to help homeless
Latest survey finds youth prominent among those struggling to find shelter
Numbers found during the national Point in Time Count of Homelessness on Windsor’s streets remain unchanged from two years ago, but don’t tell the full story of the spinoff issues and related problems that continue to grow locally. A lack of affordable housing, increasing and more severe drug addictions and a shortage of resources to address mental health issues are all major hurdles for local help agencies.
As the homeless survey results were unveiled Wednesday, officials from nearly a dozen agencies discussed how they are joining forces to tackle problems and help those in need.
The count — taken during the week of April 16 — showed 197 people were experiencing homelessness. But officials said it’s difficult to get exact numbers because many homeless people are “couch-surfing ” for a night with friends or may remain hidden in empty buildings or alleys throughout the city.
Led by the city in partnership with several local agencies, the survey — conducted every two years — does provide demographics that can help better direct services, funding and support. “The important thing (with the survey) is how it’s just one tool to evaluate and gather data on homelessness in our community,” said Jelena Payne, community development and health commissioner for the city. “We approached people directly to identify their needs and how long they have been homeless.”
The last survey two years ago pointed to higher-than-expected numbers of veterans who were homeless, so the city was able to reach out to specific organizations that could help, she said. This time around, it appears youth — those 24 and under — have shown up in greater numbers, Payne said. Of those surveyed, 27 per cent fell within the youth age range. “We have programs out there, but this tells us we need to make a collaborative strategic effort to address this, do more outreach to reach the youth,” Payne said. An ongoing problem for those struggling in the community or their families — especially when dealing with mental health or addiction issues — is figuring out where they can quickly find help before they end up on the street, said Janice Kaffer, CEO for HotelDieu Grace Healthcare.
The health-care centre has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to address that issue, she said.
“The question is whether our investments are better (spent) in hospital or community-based programming,” Kaffer said. “I am a hospital CEO, but I believe the need is in community-based programming. We need the support where people are living and working. Coming into a hospital is not always what people want to do.” An increase in community wellness centres would go a long way to address mental health or addiction issues that often lead to homelessness, she said. “(Centres) can provide clinical expertise across the region and get people linked up to services,” Kaffer said.
City administrators are doing what they can to increasingly bring agencies together to solve the issues, said Debbie Cercone, executive director of housing and children’s services for the city. “The city has a responsibility as service manager for homelessness,” she said. “We are stewards of funding, so we are trying to bring people together. Whenever we are invited to the table, we are there. “Everybody has recognized housing is a basic need. You can’t do anything else in your life in terms of income, holding a job or being healthy without a roof over your head.
“Agencies are starting to recognize they can’t do it all on their own, so we are trying to bring people together.”
We need the support where people are living and working. Coming into a hospital is not always what people want to do.