We were so thrilled to have so many of you join us at this year’s Friendship Dinner, held at Lot 42 on Oct. 26.
We honoured the past 80 years of service and what has inspired us in our mission so far. Executive Director John Neufeld and Housing Services Director Jessica Bondy also shared ShelterCare, a vision that is compelling us forward.
John and Jessica shared the humble origins of House of Friendship while sitting at a dining table.
“In the midst of this incredibly challenging time, on the brink of the World War, on the brink of economic failure, a small group of women in our community came together and did something about the issues they were starting to see,” said John. “And that’s why we’re all here, today, 80 years later.”
John noted that the challenges of today — poverty, the opioid crisis, mental health — can feel overwhelming, “and part of us just wants to be numb to it all, because we don’t know how to fix it.”
Jessica shared how many of the men at the Charles Street Men’s Shelter have experienced childhood trauma and overcome incredible challenges in their lives.
Sharing the voices of some of the men, Jessica highlighted the need to do more to address the issues facing Waterloo Region’s homeless community:
“We feel judged everywhere we go… it’s no different in hospital, and you can feel everyone staring at you when you walk in to wait, like we are on display. Another homeless junkie. That’s what we feel like.”
Jessica and John shared the need to provide an integrated approach to health care to those in our community – an approach that needs the support of caring people like you.
“Many of the individuals we serve at the Shelter are in no position to walk in to a doctor’s office,” said Jessica. “The steps of going to see your doctor – booking an appointment, showing up on time, bringing your OHIP card, checking in, waiting… it is just too many steps for the folks we are working alongside.”
SHELTERCARE
ShelterCare is a vision to more broadly and permanently integrate health care in Shelter services, following the successful model in Ottawa. The goal is to bring health care and Shelter together for those in our community who need both.
Initial beginnings are in the works locally through the work of the Inner City Health Alliance (of which House of Friendship is a member), with a pilot project in our Charles Street Men’s Shelter, as well as health services being provided by doctors and nurses right in the community, including Sanguen’s mobile health van and new Safe Consumption Treatment Site that is saving lives of those who struggle with addiction, as well as health care being provided at St. John’s Kitchen by The Working Centre.
ShelterCare extends this vision to Shelters for those who are experiencing homelessness as well as significant health challenges.
Moving health care for the chronically homeless out of emergency rooms and in to Shelters is a win for all of us – it eases an already overburdened emergency health care system, making the hospital emergency experience better for everyone, as well as providing health care for men and women experiencing homelessness in a way that works for them.
This short video highlights the need for ShelterCare, as well as provides a glimpse at how it might work.
WHAT ROLE CAN YOU PLAY?
While House of Friendship is championing the ShelterCare portion of healthcare for those who are homeless, there is a role for you to play as well – join us at the table! We need the support of everyone in this community to make it happen!
You can:
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