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30 deaths among homeless people in Victoria raise questions

March 7th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on 30 deaths among homeless people in Victoria raise questions)

Law students and members of the University of Victoria’s Poverty Law Club have asked the regional coroner to conduct an investigation

picture 461Members of the University of Victoria’s Poverty Law Club have drawn public and media attention to thirty deaths among Victoria’s homeless people. The deaths occurred over a four month period during the summer of 2012 and the number of deaths is three times higher than in previous years, according to Don Evans, executive director of Our Place Society. Evans told the Times Colonist that most of those who died were in their 40s, adding that without proper shelter, nutrition or medical care, infections and diseases thrive. (more…)

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High profile visit shines a spotlight on youth issues

February 21st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on High profile visit shines a spotlight on youth issues)

Laureen Harper, wife of Canada’s prime minister, and Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubley praise the programs of Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau downtown drop-in centre

picture 456METRO NEWS OTTAWA, February 11, 2013

After years of neglect, youth mental illness is getting the attention it desperately needs, said Laureen Harper as she toured Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau downtown drop-in centre on February 11, 2013. (more…)

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‘Frequent flyers’ get specific help

February 14th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on ‘Frequent flyers’ get specific help)

The Edmonton Homelessness Commission reports that a chronically homeless person costs taxpayers $100,000 annually — but one night’s accommodation in an emergency shelter costs only $42

picture 451Some of Canada’s homeless people are being described as “frequent flyers”–people frequently picked up by emergency services and taken to hospitals or police stations, often multiple times–and the costs associated can be staggering.

The Edmonton Homeless Commission reports that a chronically homeless person costs taxpayers $100,000 annually. 1 in 5 visits by EMS/Fire was to a homeless person–and a homeless person is forty times more likely to use an emergency room in severe weather than the general population. The average length of stay in hospital if homeless is 66 days (compared to the general population average of 9.4 days). The top ten ‘frequent flyers’ to emergency rooms averaged 66 times per year. (more…)

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The real cost of homelessness

September 27th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on The real cost of homelessness)

What happens if we shift our energies from managing the problem to actually trying to end homelessness?

It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that it is cheaper and more cost effective to provide people who experience homelessness with the housing and supports they need, rather than simply provide them with emergency supports through shelters and soup kitchens. But research reviewed by Stephen Gaetz of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network indicates that this is actually the case. (more…)

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Can empathy be taught?

September 20th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Can empathy be taught?)

Empathy, compassion, understanding, awareness—what happens when we try to put ourselves into others’ shoes?

Empathy is a relatively common word, but it’s also a concept that is poorly understood. It’s sometimes confused with sympathy, pity, or feeling sorry for someone. According to Edith Stein, a German phenomenologist, empathy can be facilitated. It also can be interrupted and blocked, but it cannot be forced to occur. When empathy occurs, we find ourselves experiencing it, rather than directly causing it to happen. [Reference here in PDF] (more…)

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Nanaimo shelter changes raise concerns

September 6th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Nanaimo shelter changes raise concerns)

Homeless shelter was overwhelmed by demand last winter, so now it will only be open during extreme weather conditions

The First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo has decided to scale back its shelter operations this year, after being overwhelmed by demand last year. The organization’s extreme weather shelter for homeless people had been made available every night between November 1st and April 1st last winter, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. But despite increased funding for the increased availability, volunteers were taxed beyond their limit, with up to 25 homeless people seeking shelter at the 24-bed facility each night. (more…)

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