Providing connections & support for Islanders experiencing hardships.
Prince Edward Island’s homeless population deserve equality, support and access to vital services.
We provide connections to mental health services, housing, family & child services and case plans tailored to your specific needs.
Homelessness and mental health are closely connected and create a complex web of adversity. Both challenges worsen each other, compounding the struggles faced by those without shelter and exacerbating mental health issues. Homelessness intensifies isolation, despair, and hopelessness, straining mental well-being. Similarly, untreated mental health conditions heighten the risk of homelessness due to difficulties in finding stability, affordable housing, and support. To break free from this relentless cycle, we must address both issues together, recognizing their interdependence and providing comprehensive support. By acknowledging the link between homelessness and mental health, we can work towards equality and inclusivity for all in our communities.
Introduction
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Overview
Understanding the complexities of needs in our communities has become of vital importance to developing evidence based appropriate program deliverables for our populations most vulnerable. Our systems tell us to create timelines and deadlines to push our clients through.
For example, homeless men should only be in shelters up to 21 days, detox programs for addictions are 7, 14, or 21 days. Mental health crises require a doctor's referral before you can get the help you need.
Prince Edward Island is in a unique situation as a province and small island, lending itself to collaborate effectively and efficiently.
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Providing Purpose
Our program structures can change to become client-centered and most importantly, trauma-informed. A client in our program may be there for 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, and perhaps even a lifetime, depending upon his or her needs.
We need to accept that this is their reality and we need be okay with this. It takes stressors off the front line workers to push people through systems they readily admit are failing our communities. It can end this cycle.
The goal will also be to help identify individuals who have come through our Program to give back, providing purpose and a re-connection to community
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Connection
What is lost and almost never addressed is the importance of human connection. Research shows us that a lack of human connection can be more harmful to your health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. (CMHA 2019). Social connection improves physical health and psychological well-being (Seppala 2012).
People who live on the margins, without social connections require regular and scheduled visits to check in on their well being. They require program options to get people more engaged. Accompaniment and purpose will be our guiding principles.
Building personal connections can have a dramatic decrease in hospital or police visits by simply becoming trusted supports and a friendly face.