"Housing is Healthcare"

“Housing is Healthcare”

Three simple words that speak volumes.

In a meeting earlier today I heard these three sensible words.

A profound statement to say the least.

Healthcare facilities across Canada are experiencing never seen before numbers of “walk-in” homeless patients seeking treatment.

Patients that in the majority of cases should have been treated by a family physician or walk-in clinic.

There being a nationwide “housing” crisis is fifty percent responsible.

The other half of responsibility lies in the lap of the Federal Minister of Health, the interprovincial Ministries of Health and the various Canadian Colleges of Physicians & Surgeons.

Their blame is due to the length of time they are taking in the vetting process of foreign educated physicians.

Yesterday I wrote about this in length. Here is the link to that post:

The Crisis In Canada’s Medical And Healthcare Systems Are Solvable

Physicians who cannot practice their trade here due to the government logistical procedures to obtain the proper paperwork and licences.

“Paperwork is costing lives.”

The cross country shortage of Family Doctors has burdened the Emergency Departments.

They are triaging and treating an excessive number of patients.

Patients who have no access to or the resources to find a Family Doctor.

Patients who eighty percent of the time are homeless or living in shelters.

“What does being homeless have to do with healthcare?”

The last thing on a homeless soul’s mind, who is feeling ill, is seeking out medical care.

Finding a doctor gets pushed to the end of the list as shelter and food comes first.

This often leads to them being forced to neglect whatever ailments that they may be inflicted with.

That ‘forced neglect’ then leads to minor ailments becoming far more serious and quite often requiring hospitalization.

Hospitalization that possibly may have been avoided had the patient been able to seek treatment by a family doctor or a walk-in clinic.

Canada’s existing walk-in clinics are suffering the same overload of patients as our hospitals are.

If the government would speed up the vetting process of these refugee doctors and medical technicians it would help tremendously with the medical system overload.

Especially in the much needed “Family Medicine” sector.

However, this would do little for those who are living in a shelter or homeless.

Shelters often have resources to get the residents ‘minimal’ healthcare and assistance to obtain a Family Doctor.

Some, not all, have resources in the housing sector.

Due to the high volume of clients these resources are limited.

Providing minimal support at best.

Nationwide there is an awakening to the severity of the need to find solutions to alleviate the strain on our hospitals.

Nationwide people have noticed the growing numbers of homeless souls.

Tent ‘encampments’ are prevalent in every city and even in most small towns.

Homelessness is at pandemic levels.

Medical care is at pandemic levels.

Streamlining the applications of foreign educated Physicians will definitely help.

If we really want to help then we must expidiate building more social housing and increase housing subsidies.

There are many civically, provincial and federal vacant properties that could easily be repurposed into affordable housing.

There are many organizations that would jump at the opportunity to repurpose these buildings.

Many of these organizations have experience with doing such. Some organizations such as “The Neighbourhood Group” and “Native Family Services” have existing buildings that have been successfully renovated and are in use.

These existing buildings would be excellent “models” for future such social housing endeavors.

If we really, really want to help then we will campaign for rent control and affordable housing.

We would be campaigning for the repurposing of vacant properties.

“WHY?”

Because ….

“HOUSING IS HEALTHCARE”