Pubdate: Sat, 08 Dec 2012
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2012 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact: http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: David Fraser

HOMELESS ADDICTS HAVE FEW OPTIONS

On Thursday, a man walked into Carmichael Outreach, just like he does 
most days. Frostbitten, he announced he couldn't find a place to rest 
his head that night.

Danielle Goulden, executive director of Carmichael Outreach, made 
eight unsuccessful calls to six different health-care branches in 
hopes of helping the homeless man she described as "severely 
incontinent" and "in declining health." At each turn, she was 
directed to someone else.

Goulden estimated the 54-year-old has been admitted to hospital more 
than 100 times in the last six months. Thursday night, he ended up 
staying there again.

By Friday afternoon, the man - who has lost fingers and toes to 
frostbite - had made his way to detox for the evening. "It's rough. 
I've slept in bins, alleyways. I've had a rough life. Now, I regret 
how I've lived," he said. "He is not an isolated client of ours," said Goulden.

With winter approaching, many single males suffering from substance 
abuse and mental illness are similarly struggling to find housing. 
Last year, Regina's Mobile Crisis unit received 1,651 calls from 
people listing housing for that night as their biggest problem. Out 
of those calls, 1,129 came from single males.

There are 87 shelter spaces in Regina, not including overflow beds.

According to Jeff Redekop, executive director of income assistance 
and disability services for the Ministry of Social Services, males in 
need of emergency shelter can go to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission or 
the Salvation Army's Waterston Centre. Thirty-two emergency beds are 
available through the Salvation Army and an additional 28 beds are at 
Souls Harbour.

Neither accept men who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 
leaving many of Regina's homeless with nowhere to go.

"Although we don't allow intoxicated people to stay in the shelter, 
we will make sure they have a place to go," said Rebecca Cochrane, 
development director for Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.

Often, the only place left to go is to the drunk tank or an emergency 
room. Goulden suggested both are costly to taxpayers. The average 
overnight stay in a hospital is $1,300 and a night in the drunk tank 
is roughly $775.

The Canadian Homelessness Research Network recently published a paper 
suggesting transitional and supportive housing for a homeless person 
could cost anywhere between $32 to $110 per day.

"There aren't enough resources for people who are intoxicated and in 
need of a place to stay," said Cochrane.

Capt. Ben Lippers with the Salvation Army said his shelter is 
chronically over capacity, but echoes Souls Harbour's commitment to 
not turn anyone away who has no where to go.

"We find them something, somewhere. That sometimes is getting on the 
phone, and it could be to the police," he said.

Redekop said the Ministry of Social Services engages regularly with 
emergency shelter systems so that they can be aware of the needs of 
organizations.

"We provide funding to shelters to provide those benefits. We also 
expect individuals to come to us and let us know their needs," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom