CNH3 Open Letter: Housing is Healthcare
Housing is key to returning the country’s economy and entire population to good health. Sign our open letter to Canada’s federal decision-makers, today.
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Ministers Hajdu and Hussen:
Having a home is a critical determinant of health – a fact particularly well displayed since the start of COVID-19. That is why we, the undersigned health professionals, join thousands of Canadians and dozens of national organizations calling on your government to make ending homelessness a core element of Canada’s pandemic recovery plan.
As health professionals, we have long seen the harm and ill effects of homelessness as we care for the people who experience it. Bearing a disproportionate burden of physical and mental health difficulties and living in crowded spaces under substandard conditions, people experiencing homelessness face greater risks of contracting COVID and possess less power to combat it. If you are COVID-positive and homeless, you are more vulnerable to becoming seriously ill.
COVID has also compounded the every-day struggles and indignities that people experiencing homelessness endure. It has introduced new risks, unmitigated by the universal public health advice, ‘stay home, socially distance, wash your hands, and seek medical attention if sick.’ This refrain, reinforcing the marginal status that society gives people experiencing homelessness, continued while park washrooms were closed, water fountains were drained, and services and community spaces crucial to the homeless community disappeared.
We acknowledge and applaud the funding your government has flowed so far to support people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. It has meant more access to some services and has helped mitigate the disproportionate risk that COVID presents to them. But it is not enough. Every year, more than 235,000 people living in Canada are homeless and over 1.7 million people living on low incomes have some housing need. Thousands more are about to face homelessness in the fall when CERB ends and non-emergency housing evictions begin, privileging the economic security of landlords over the stability and safety of renters.
None of this need be. Decades of public policy decisions created Canada’s homelessness crisis. We can, and must, make policy choices today that are better and more just, that will create a post-pandemic Canada that is healthier, safer, and resilient. We urge you to take the path to recovery that yields a robust economy that all people who call Canada home can enjoy, a recovery that will truly and finally shelter everyone in health and dignity. Housing for all must become the new normal.
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness has laid out that path with Recovery For All. By embracing it, you can begin now to protect vulnerable Canadians from further COVID-19 risk, you can create the conditions to save lives, and you can set off to end homelessness by 2030.
By acting on Recovery For All: Proposals to Strengthen the National Housing Strategy and End Homelessness, you spur Canada’s pandemic recovery, stimulating the economy by investing in housing, creating nearly 500,000 much-needed construction and social services jobs over the next 10 years, and saving taxpayers over $18 billion.
The policy choices your government makes will determine if Canada creates a recovery for all, or only some. As health professionals, we simply cannot support actions or omissions that deliberately exclude the most vulnerable from meaningful and effective recovery.
Housing is key to returning the country’s economy and entire population to good health. To make the millions who experience homelessness and endure substandard housing part of the recovery, make your pandemic recovery plan hinge on housing. Do that, and better health and dignity for all follows.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andrew Bond
Steering Committee Co-Chair
Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness (CNH3)
Healthcare worker? Add your support by signing this letter to the Prime Minister.
Current Signatories
Dr. Ann Collins BSc MD
President
Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Andrew Bond, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Medical Director
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Christy Sutherland
Medical Director
PHS Community Services Society
Dr. Sumantra Ghosh
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Alberta, University of Calgary, O’Brien Institute of Public Health, Matheson Institute of Calgary, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute of Alberta
Mrs. Janet Gasparelli
Portfolio Lead
SNHS
Dr. Gary Bloch
Family Physician
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Tim Aubry
Full Professor
University of Ottawa
Dr. Rahat Hossain
Resident Physician
University of Toronto
Neela Rafati
Case Manager
Canadian Mental Health Association
Dr. Erica Roebbelen
Family Physician
Shelter Health Network RN
Wanda Menzies
Medical Street Health
Dr. Michaela Beder MD
Assistant Professor
University of Toronto
Dr. Nicole Kozloff
Psychiatrist
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Dr. Karen Weyman
Family Physician, Associate Professor, Department of Family and Com Department of Family and Community Medicine
St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Sandy Buchman MD CCFP (PC) FCFP
Freeman Family Chair in Palliative Care
North York General Hospital
llijah Pearce
Registered Nurse
St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Wendy Muckle
CEO
Ottawa Inner City Health
Dr. Edward Xie MD
Emergency Physician
University Health Network
Dr. Irfan Dhalla
Unity Health Toronto
Dr. Howard Ovens
Professor, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine
Universiy of Toronto
Mr. Lee Dorion
Supervisor
Care for Health and Community
Ms. Liz Kamler RN
MPH
Ottawa Inner City Health
Mrs. Lynn Landis
Director of Health Services
The Ottawa Mission
Alison Telford
Front Office
Cornerstone Housing for Women
Mrs. Parvattee Proag Rpn
Ottawa Inner City Health
Nada Murad
Medical Clinic Manager
Ottawa Mission
Miss Renée Godard
Client Care Worker
Care for Health & Community Services
Joshua Bridges
Residential Coordinator
John Howard Society of Ottawa
Shawna Larabie RPNOICH
Amanda Mills
Ms. Lesley Dewsnap
Ottawa Inner City Health
Ms. Kim Van Herk
Mental Health Team Lead
Ottawa Inner City Health Inc.
Miss Kandie Conroy PSW
Inner-City Health
Ms. Megan Delaney
Data Management Coordinator, Digital Health Services
Ottawa Inner City Health Inc.
Alexis Stern RN
Canadian Mental Health Association
Miss Krystal Lortie
Clinical Coordinator
Inner City Health
Bernice Kamano
Indigenous Outreach Coordinator
Portland Hotel Society
Dr. Anil Chopra MDUHN
Dr. John Simmons
Resident Physician
The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa
Myriam Harper
Medical Student
University of Ottawa
Mrs. Halimo Isak RPN
Ottawa Inner City
Alicia Beaudoin
Coordinator
John Howard Society
Dr. Vanessa Redditt
Family Physician
Women’s College Hospital
Ms. Deborah Gardner
Executive Director
CNH3
Noora Badr
Coordinator, High Intensity Services
Homeward Trust Edmonton
Mr. Tom Ebdon
Alberta Health Services.
Dr. Pierre Lauzon
Chef médical du service de toxicomanie et médecine urbaine Hôpital Notre-Dame CIUSSS du Centre Sud de Montréal
Ms. Meagan MacQuatt
Peer Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos
Physician in Chief
CAMH
Sanderica Quesnel
Frontline Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Lana Frado
Executive Director
Sound Times Support Services
Ms. Cheryl Prescod
Executive Director
Black Creek Community Health Centre ED
Diane Walter
Executive Director
Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services
Mr. Kevin Nyembo
Supervisor
Ottawa Inner City Health
Jasey Soto
Nurse Coordinator
Ottawa Inner City Health
Mr. Mark Aston
Executive Director
Covenant House Toronto
Ms. Elisa Simpson
Healthcare Manager
Covenant House Toronto
Dr. Claire Kendall
University of Ottawa
Lydia Ndayizigiye
Student
Alexandra Piatkowski
Epidemiologist
Heather McDonald
CEO
LOFT Community Services
Mr. Thomas Barry
Client Care Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Suzanne Pellerin
Dr. Susan Crouse
Executive Director
Salvus Clinic
Dr. Jill Wiwcharu
Shelter Health Network
Dr. Robin Lennox
Family Physician
McMaster University
Ms. Danielle Szabo
Clinical Operations Manager – Assisted Self Isolation Site (ASIS)
The Alex Community Health Centre
Dr. Rachelle Sender MDHHSC
Alyssa Schamerh
Peer Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Ms. Andrea Laing
Manager, Communications
South Riverdale Community Healthe Centre
Dr. Simon Hatcher
Professor of Psychiatry
The Ottawa Hospital
Rose Patterson
Nurse Practitioner
Good Shepherd Non-Profit Homes
Hallie Streith
Nurse Practitioner
Shelter Health Network
Mr. Raymond Landry
Coordinator
Homelessness Network
Meghan Perrin
Francophone and Resource Policy Lead
Alliance for Healthier Communities
Dr. Sarah Canham
Associate Professor
University of Utah
Christoph Draenos
Research Manager
CBRC
Dr. Stefan Baral
Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Trevor Morey
Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless
Angela Robertson
Executive Director
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre
Colin Hipditch
Supportive Housing NLHC
Dr. Naheed Dosani
Palliative Care Physician
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Layli Sanaee
Emergency Physician
University Health Network
Dr. Ritika Goel MD
Family Physician
University of Toronto
Dr. Deborah Pink
Psychiatrist
Inner City Health Associates
Ray Lawinger
Hungry Food Bank
Ms. Crystal Helene Bone
Client Care Worker
Carefor
Monika Tochman
Manager of Housing Services
Tungasuvvingat Inuit
Sophie Wheeler
Manager of Corporate Support
Ottawa Inner City Health
Susan Broder
Staff Nurse
Ottawa Inner City Health Inc.
Mrs. Lisa Parkinson
Client Care Worker
Inner City Heath Care
Ms. Kim Simon PCCW
Carefor Inner City
Mr. Samuel Murdock
Student
Algonquin College
Karen Hama RN
Parkdale CHC
Dr. Caroline Jeon
Family Physician
University of Toronto, DFCM CCW
Eva Banura
CCW Carefor
Miss Liza Amrani
Medical Student
University of Ottawa
Ms. Sarah DelVillano
Peer Support Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Noah Tunnillie
Peer
Ottawa Inner City Health
Ms. Laura Guerrero
CEO
WellFort CHS
Carina Karamaoun
Nursing Student
Ottawa Inner City Health
Mya Gledhill
Nursing Student
Inner City Health
Mr. Peter Tilley
CEO
The Ottawa Mission
Dr. Ayesha Malik
Physician
St. Michael’s Hospital
Laura Gapski RN
Inner City Health Associates
Taralea McLean
Executive Director
Bridges Community Health Centre
Mr. Dawit Belay RN
ICHA
Dr. Philip Berger
Associate Professor
University of Toronto
Dr. Angela Ho MD, FRCPC
Inner City Health Associates
Melissa Flores RN
ICHA
Ms. Sasha Hill
Nurse
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Laurissa Slobodian MD
Lakeridge Health
Madison Joyce RN
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Joel Lexchin
Emergency Department Specialist
University Health Network
Christina Sherriff RN
Hamilton Health Sciences
Rebecca Davey
Nurse
VIHA
Dr. Donna Spaner
Physician
Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless
Lindsey Lenters RN
Inner City Health Associates
Ms. Lisa Gordon
York University
Ms. France Maillet-Gagnon LNP
Salvus Clinic
Bianca Castellano RPN
Spectrum
Dr. Kelsey Lawson
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Aniko Varpalotai
Alliance for Healthier Communities
Dr. Paul Ellis
Emergency Physician
University Health Network
Priyanka Sheth
Executive Director (Interim)
Sistering
Dr. Jennifer Bryan
Assistant Professor
University of Toronto
Dr. Priya Vasa
Associate Medical Director
Inner City Health Associates
Mr. Jim O’Neill
Operations Director
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Tracy Sarmiento MD
University of Toronto
Dr. Antoinette Wertman
North York General Hospital
Dr. Michael Anderson
Regional Indigenous Cancer Lead
Toronto Regional Cancer Program
Nadine Sookermany
Executive Director
Fife House
Dr. Mona Haidar
Family Physician
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Najib Safieddine
Thoracic Surgeon
University of Toronto
Vanika Chawla
University of Toronto
Dr. Jay Shaw
Scientist
Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Yezarni Wynn MD
University of Toronto
Dr. Riley Rose
Psychiatry Resident
University of Toronto
Dr. Jessi Dobyns MD
Haley Long
Student
Kat Tannock
Array Services
Dr. Sam Sabbah
Medical Director of Emergency Medicine
University Health Network
Mr. Bill Dare
Social Worker
Step Down from ACTT, Community Mental Health Program, The Royal
Jeanette Blair
Program Manager
Sistering
Dr. James Fairbairn MD
University Health Network
Karine Rogers
Social Worker
Mr. Sahand Ensafi PA
UHN
Amanda Ahmed
Coordinator
Ottawa Inner City Health
Shivanee Nadarajah
Director of Operations
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Alissa Tedesco
University of Toronto
Dr. Jennifer Hulme
Emergency Physician
University of Toronto
Eric Larock
Community Support Worker
Centretown Community Health Centre
Cherie Adie
Peer Worker
Ottawa Inner City Health
Cherie Durksen RN
Staff Nurse
Inner City Health Associates
Dr. Farah Marani MD, CCFP, MPH
Physician
ICHA
Jan Aikins
Registerd Psychotherapist
Canadian Mental Health Assoc. Simcoe Branch
Shannon Friesen
Community Service Worker
Manitoba Department of Families
Kathryn Loftus RMT
Dara Kennedy MLT
Instructor
Michener Institute at TGH
Dr. Patricia Cavanagh MD, FRCPC
Medical Director, Complex Care and Recovery
CAMH
Dr. Thomas Goff PhD
President
TWG Consulting
Melissa Handley RMT
CMT
Linda McConnan MN
Co-Chair
Pregnancy Pathways, Edmonton
Karol Henrotte RN
Registered Nurse (retired)
Health Care
Diane Gorman RN
Registered Nurse
CNO
Diane Graham
Occupational Therapist
KidsCan Therapy Services
Heather Warren
Life Coach
Blossoming Heart Guidance with Heather
Peggy Lathwell MD
Retired
L Tin
Pharmacist
SHSC
Denis Turgeon BA
Life Skills Worker
Canadian Mental Health Association
Joanne Doran
Psychologist
Doran Psychological Services
Heather King
Program Coordinator
Pace Sexual Assault Centre
Rosemary Fry
Counsellor
Sisters of St Joseph
Manu Sayani-Mulji BSW
Social Worker
McMaster University
Nesta Yeo RN
Registered Nurse (retired)
Nursing Officer , RCAF ( retired )
Beth Groombridge SSW
Social Worker
Ocswssw
Dr. John Lilley
Clinical Professor
University of Alberta
Delane Robertson RN
Registered Nurse (retired)
Health Canada
Peter Marrocco
Clinical Counsellor
Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC)
Linda Davies RN
Registered Nurse (retired)
Karen Rockwell M.Ed., RSW
Counsellor
OASWSSW
Rachel Jacobson
Shiatsu and Cranio Sacral Therapy Practitioner
Jeff Hanks RN
Nurse
London Health Coalition
Brenda Thomas
Psychothapist and Counsellor
OACCPP
Abby Akintade
Inner City Health Associates
Rebekah Lundy RN, CP, MHN
Psychiatry
Lisa Ogbomo RN
RN
ICHA
Dr. Adil Shamji
Emergency Physician
Michael Garron Hospital, Inner City Health Associates
Donna Maclennan RN
Registered Nurse
Bruyere Continuing Care
Krysta Nordin RN
Registered Nurse
Providence Health Care
Patricia Rahtjen
Nurse (retired)
Paula Young
Administrative Agent Supporting Social Workers & Educators
CROM and Batshaw Youth & Family Services
Dianne Acey
Professor of Psychology
George Brown College, retired
Joanne Uygur
Hospital Clerk
TOH
Dr. Bonnie Larson
Physician
Street CCRED Collaborative
Lynnette Annett
Nurse practitioner
Health Region
Debbie Rybalka
Laboratory Technician
Lifelabs
Dr. Elizabeth Robinson MDCM
Family Medicine and Public Health (retired)
Ester Brisch RN
Registered Nurse
BC College of Nursing Professionals
Dr. Vera Caine RN
Registered Nurse
University of Alberta
Kathleen Snow
Therapeutic Assistant
Recreation Therapy
MaryAnne Schmitt MLT
Lab technologist
CMLTO, MLPAO
Samantha Walsh RN
Nurse
Viha
Olivia Mancini
Addiction Attendant
St. Joseph’s Healthcare
Susan Andrews RN
Nurse (retired)
CNO, RNAO
Michelle Hawrylyshyn
Intensive Case Manager
Wesley Urban Ministries
Joanne Foote
Healthcare worker (retired)
Careaide
Sheryl Henry RSW
Social Worker
St Leonard’s Community Service
Meagan Parsons RN
Registered Nurse
Dominique Breton
Contact Centre Agent
The Ottawa Hospital
Bernice Kamano
Indigenous Outreach Worker
PHS (Portland Hotel Society)
Karyann Dorn
Pharmacy Technician and student
University of British Columbia
Dr. David Campbell MD
Assistant Professor
University of Calgary
Lucy Doan
Nurse Practitioner
Inner City Health Associates
Jennifer McGill RMT
Registered Massage Therapist
CMTO
Rhoda Taylor RCA
Community Health Worker
Megan Branchaud RPN
Staff nurse
OICH
Dr. Allison Grice MD
HHS
Pat Lewis RN
Joanne Thompson RN
Executive Director
The Gathering Place
Olga Tkachenko RN
Registered Nurse
University Health Network
Dr. Haider Saeed MD
Shelter Health Network
Dr. Claire Bodkin MD
Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team (HAMSMaRT)
Jessica Hales
Nurse Practitioner
Street Health
Dr. Kwame McKenzie
CEO
Wellesley Institute