Posted On: February 21, 2025, Posted By: Michael Braithwaite, NewmarketToday, Original Article.
Chronic homelessness is not just about lacking a roof over one’s head — it’s a health crisis. Individuals who have been without a home for more than six months face a dramatic drop in life expectancy — from more than 80 years to just 47.
Studies indicate individuals experiencing homelessness are three to 10 times more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses.
Nearly 50 per cent of folks experiencing homelessness struggle with a mental health challenge, compared to just 20 to 30 per cent of individuals with a safe place to call home. These stark disparities underscore the urgent need for integrated health and housing solutions.
Organizations like Blue Door understand that the link between homelessness and health cannot be ignored and are advocating for changes. For years, Blue Door has partnered with community organizations to deliver holistic support that addresses both housing and health-care needs.
Through collaboration with York Region’s Community Paramedicine and Outreach Team (CPORT), weekly paramedicine services are brought directly to emergency and transitional housing settings. Yet gaps in primary care have led many to rely on emergency services for conditions that could be better managed in a community setting.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the critical importance of on-site health care. When Blue Door operated an isolation site for individuals with COVID-19 or related symptoms, immediate nursing care was key to stabilizing and guiding their health journey. The pandemic taught us many lessons, one of which was that having consistent nursing care and health care available to individuals in isolation can often lead to better outcomes.
These positive outcomes raised the question: Why are we not doing this for all of the individuals served?
Building on this success, in 2022, Blue Door launched the on-site Health Hub under the leadership of Alex Cheng, Blue Door’s director of programs, and supported by Dr. Melanie Henry and partners. This hub now offers weekly CPORT visits, biweekly access to a physician, and nursing services five days a week — resulting in a significant drop in emergency room visits.
Mariah Dizon, registered practical nurse, through a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, has had an incredible impact. She shares, “Being a part of the Health Hub is more than providing medical care. It’s about offering dignity, hope and compassion to individuals and families in their most vulnerable moments. Every interaction is an opportunity to bridge gaps, heal wounds, and restore trust in the health-care system. It’s a humbling reminder that health care is not just a service, but a lifeline.”
Further expanding on the impact, Blue Door partnered with Southlake Health to create an in-reach program, ensuring patients experiencing homelessness receive rapid re-housing support directly from the hospital.
In 2024 alone, Blue Door referred 650 patients to community services, diverted 256 individuals from the cycle of homelessness, and helped 106 individuals transition from emergency housing.
The ongoing collaboration with the Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team Primary Care Clinic continues to strengthen Blue Door’s Health Hub, further enhancing health-care access for vulnerable populations.
As Ryan Bhopalsingh, executive director of the Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team, explained, “This partnership is a meaningful step toward improving care for the most vulnerable in our community.”
Consistent access to health care is essential for maintaining housing stability and fostering long-term well-being. By integrating health support with housing solutions, we not only prevent homelessness but also reduce the burden on emergency services. Investing in housing and health care together isn’t just compassionate; it’s practical, and necessary.”
Everyone’s path to better health begins with safe, stable and affordable housing — but it doesn’t end there.
To learn more about Blue Door and the health supports provided, please visit bluedoor.ca.