Up against the elements, health issues are made worse by highly stressful restless nights living on the streets, and poor nutrition brought on by a lack of access to food.
By improving people’s mental and physical health, Blue Door’s health supports ensure people are able to successfully retain employment and housing, ultimately escaping homelessness.
Blue Door’s Health Hub offers on-site access to health services for individuals, and families supported by Blue Door. Led by a Registered Practical Nurse, and family physician, the Health Hub offers a variety of services, and supports including health referrals, basic care, requisition filling, mental health, and addiction support, dental hygiene, and medication support.
Through an innovative partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre and York Region’s CPORT team, Blue Door’s hospital In-Reach Worker works directly in the hospital to support patients experiencing homelessness in finding a safe place to recover, and live upon being discharged from the hospital.
Poor mental and physical health can lead to homelessness; however, homelessness rapidly worsens people’s health.
Faced with stigma, shame, the overwhelming stress of trying to survive from one day to the next, and unbearable loneliness, 64% of people experiencing homelessness report having a mental health issue.
Living on the streets, up against the elements, and with limited or no funds to purchase food, 30% of people experiencing homelessness report having a chronic health condition.
The average life expectancy of a person experiencing homelessness is roughly half that of the national average. According to Charity Intelligence Canada’s Homeless in Canada report, the average life expectancy for a person experiencing chronic homelessness is 39.
People experiencing homelessness face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare services including:
The importance of access to healthcare was spotlighted during the pandemic when Blue Door operated one of the only COVID-19 isolation sites for people experiencing homelessness in York Region. At the isolation site, families and individuals were able to quarantine on-site while receiving healthcare provided by nurses.
Blue Door quickly realized that when vulnerable people experiencing homelessness have access to emergency housing and are triaged by healthcare professionals who ensure their medical needs are taken care of, their journey into permanent housing is not only faster, but much more successful.
Lifting people out of homelessness and poverty, your gift will provide employment training propelling people into well-paying careers in the trades, a bed for the night, a warm meal, psychotherapy, onsite basic healthcare, longer stays to overcome trauma and barriers, and much much more.
