September 23, 2009
Assistance to Shelter Act
We have serious concerns about the proposed Assistance to Shelter act, as well-intentioned as it might be. The most recent Metro Vancouver homelessness count asked people who are homeless and don’t use shelters why they don’t use them. A full third said they didn’t like them; a much smaller group said they would but they were turned away or couldn’t get to one, meaning that even now people who want shelter beds aren’t getting them. Many homeless people have mental disorders that make shelters an extremely distressing choice and could trigger any number of mental health crises. Rather than a legislative response, a community response is needed that provides more trained homeless outreach workers, more affordable housing with supports, more of the effective assertive community mental health treatment teams. But these real solutions require resources—resources which we hope and expect to be built into the province’s pending 10-year mental health and addictions plan. Or if we’re going to have a legislative solution, let the new law be a right to effective treatment and support. People who are homeless who willfully choose not to use shelters in the winter are between a rock and a hard place. Isn’t it time we gave them a third option?
Bev Gutray
Executive Director
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
Vancouver, BC
