The issue at a glance
Everyone deserves to have a safe place to call home and to access health care and other supports when they need it. Sadly, for many people who live in London that is not their reality.
In a review of LHSC data, 1,645 unique patients were identified as living unsheltered. They account for more than 6,300 visits to LHSC Emergency Departments every year. Roughly 20 per cent of those patients leave against medical advice or decline to be admitted for care. Of the patients who are admitted, they tend to stay in hospital roughly 40 per cent longer than people who are not experiencing homelessness. Unfortunately, we also know that these statistics are an underrepresentation of the actual number of people experiencing homelessness locally. LHSC recognizes housing is a pillar and foundation of health and it is why we have committed to being part of a new game-changing plan – London’s Health & Homelessness Whole of Community System Response.
The plan
Seeded by an anonymous $25 million donation from a local family, with an additional pledge to match up to $5 million in community donations, the campaign calls for up to 15 low-barrier 24/7 hubs to be scattered across the city. They would offer access to primary and mental health care as well as a number of other resources. The system would also work to build hundreds of high-support housing units in the coming years.
“At LHSC, we recognize our responsibility to support vulnerable populations in our city and to nurture the health of all community members,” said Brad Campbell, Corporate Hospital Administrative Executive, LHSC. “We are honoured and humbled to play a role in the development of this innovative and London-made whole of community approach, which will improve health for the entire community.”