Editor: Re: Burnaby to get first homeless housing, Burnaby NOW, May 16.
The news about housing for the homeless with “support to address mental health and substance abuse issues” is truly good news. The living conditions of too many of those living in homeless shelters is as inhumane as admitting people with cancer into hospital, but not providing surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or any other treatment for the cancer that led to them being hospitalized.
The heartbreaking scenes on the streets of New Westminster, Surrey and Vancouver are evidence of the suffering of those who may have shelter but do not receive treatment for their mental illnesses and substance abuse.
We have met with our MLAs more than once in recent years to speak for the need of such treatment and also about our provincial government fulfilling their responsibilities regarding housing, which we have also spoken of with our MP in regard to the federal government fulfilling its responsibilities regarding housing.
We are encouraged that our provincial government is now working to address homelessness and years of neglect of those struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse/self-medicating.
When I worked in psychiatry during my nursing training, I cared for people admitted to hospital due to mental illness which every effort was made to treat. When those folks were well enough, i.e. their mental illness effectively treated, they were then released if, and only if, they were well enough and had adequate support in the community in which they would be living, not just existing. We did not have the homelessness or substance abuse/self-medicating in too many cases that we now do.
Quadriplegics/those “broken from the neck down” are not sent from hospital without adequate treatment and supports. Those broken from the “neck up” also deserve to have their health-care needs effectively treated.
Kudos to all involved in reaching this time where we are now treating the whole person who is homeless and struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse. It really does take caring people to ensure our communities are the best they can be for all.
Diane Gillis, president, Kingsway Imperial Neighbourhood Association
