MENTAL HEALTH MANDATE
1 in 4 Canadians have been touched by the hand of Mental Illness including myself. I lost 15 years of my life to mental illness but fought hard to recover like so many silently do. Our current mental health system needs to be updated. The Mental Health Commission of Canada has made several recommendations that need to be implemented. Please watch the few videos on the Videos Page.
THE HOMELESS
This is a huge problem and every year it gets worse. I propose we sell off the city run Homeless shelters which are ill equipped to really help these people. The work should be contracted off to professional organizations that specialize in Housing and Rehabilitation like The Salvation Army.
Did you know it costs the city almost $300. A night to “Warehouse” our homeless like animals? No Rehabilitation, Nothing. Ideas from our leaders? Same old. It is easy to forget these are people who once had dreams, hopes and productive lives. I've made friends with some homeless and their stories are heart wrenching.
The warehousing of our homeless is not working anymore. In fact it is making the problem worse. I propose we sell off all the Shelters and use that money to build a new facility. A facility with proper housing, work programs, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mental health and substance abuse support.
Italy for example has used this approach and now has the highest rehabilitation rates in the world.
The sign at the Seaton House, Canada's largest homeless shelter says it all. "Only 3 kinds of men, somebody's father, son or brother".
Did you know it costs the city almost $300. A night to “Warehouse” our homeless like animals? No Rehabilitation, Nothing. Ideas from our leaders? Same old. It is easy to forget these are people who once had dreams, hopes and productive lives. I've made friends with some homeless and their stories are heart wrenching.
The warehousing of our homeless is not working anymore. In fact it is making the problem worse. I propose we sell off all the Shelters and use that money to build a new facility. A facility with proper housing, work programs, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mental health and substance abuse support.
Italy for example has used this approach and now has the highest rehabilitation rates in the world.
The sign at the Seaton House, Canada's largest homeless shelter says it all. "Only 3 kinds of men, somebody's father, son or brother".