New apartments opening for homeless people with 'complex health needs'

People who have nowhere to live and are dealing with complex health needs will have 25 supportive housing units to go to so they don't end up on the London, Ont., streets or in hospital.

The London Health Sciences Centre and London Cares have partnered to offer the units starting this month at 362 Dundas St., also known as London Extended Stay hotel, just west of Colborne Street. 

"We know that housing is health care and we are committed to working with our system partners to redesign care and better address the needs of all Londoners, especially those community members who are marginalized and have difficulty accessing stable health and housing resources," said Sandra Smith, a hospital official. 

The fully furnished apartments will offer comprehensive 24/7 health and social support services to people with health needs, including hospital patients who are discharged but are at risk of readmission because of chronic and persistent homelessness, officials said. 

"When patients leave our hospitals, they should have a safe place to go. Implementing these supportive housing units in partnership with London Cares will help ensure more people have a roof over their head while they continue to heal and rebuild their lives," Smith said. 

Residents will get at least one hot meal per day, care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Voyago Health will take people to the building from the hospital once they're ready to move in.

Units will be either studio, one bedroom or two bedroom, and complete with safety measures like emergency access for support staff. The units come furnished, six of them are accessible and pets are allowed in the units, said Chantelle McDonald, director of service with London Cares.

"We want to provide dignity to individuals that have been at street level for over a decade," McDonald said.

"We customize units based on individuals coming into the building and what their needs might be. For example, if someone might not be able to manage a stove today, they'll work with our supportive housing case managers to build those life skills and eventually they might have a stove or a different means of making food."

Those living in units will also have the option of having care directly in their homes.

Cost-effective solution 

In addition to being an effective model, Smith said, it's a game changer from the standpoint of value. She pegged the cost of running the rooms at eight per cent of what would be spent to keep individuals in hospital beds.

"We're spending $2 million over a two-year period to make this happen," said Smith. "That's less than 10 per cent of the cost for us on the hospital side. Quite frankly, we'll change the trajectory of these people's lives."

As of Wednesday, all 25 units were already spoken for, with those set to live in the units scheduled to begin moving in on Thursday.

New beds dovetail with homeless hubs

"By integrating our expertise, resources and shared passion for helping others, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of people who have experienced chronic homelessness on our streets by providing them with the sustained support and housing they need to recover and move toward a brighter future," said Anne Armstrong, who runs London Cares. 

Mental health care, addiction treatment, educational resources and food help will be available on site. The program is supported by the London InterCommunity Health Centre and the provincial agency that co-ordinates in-home and community-based care. 

The 25 new beds are in addition to 24/7 homeless hub locations approved by city council earlier this month, though they're part of the same response to a crisis that has seen more than 200 people experiencing homelessness die in the last three years. 

The homeless hubs will be run by Atlohsa Family Healing Services, Youth Opportunities Unlimited and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley. They will focus on Indigenous people, young people and women. 

An estimated 15 hubs could service the city's unhoused population, depending on the success of the hubs leading to people finding permanent housing.