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It is unclear what the provincial task force addressing homelessness and mental health problems has achieved so far.
The Graphic received documents through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP), which were supposed to contain meeting minutes from a task force put together last June, however most of the minutes were redacted from the documents.
The task force was created from a recommendation from Carlene Donnelly, hired as a special advisor to the Premier to lead a provincial review of a client-centred model of care for Islanders with complex needs.
The task force put together by the Department of Housing met four times between June and December.
An action committee stemming from the task force met five times from September to January of this year and the minutes of those meetings were also heavily redacted.
April Gallant, communications officer for the department said the information was protected under FOIPP. “I believe Ms. Donnelly’s final report will also touch on what has been accomplished through that work as well,” Gallant said. The report is expected to come out sometime this spring. The request for an interview with a task force member was not approved before press time.
Susan Hartley, a psychologist and an activist for affordable housing and mental health said differentiating people on the basis of having “complex needs” is “othering” vulnerable people in communities.
“They are the same as all of us, they need the same things. They need housing, physical safety, education, transportation, healthcare, and we’re making the problem more complex by thinking of them as being different from us,” said the Georgetown Royalty resident.
Housing, mental health and addiction are intertwined, she added.
There are three categories of people who are suffering, she explained: people with severe mental illness, people with compromised mental health and people who are homeless. All of these three states are dependent on access to basic needs, like affordable housing and healthy food.
“If we’re already compromised with mental health issues, the lack of basic needs only exacerbates it,” Hartley said.
She points out in eastern PEI people living unhoused are not visible to the public because they’re couch surfing, living in cars or in trailers. There are also many women and children escaping domestic violence who are living in their cars.
Some outreach services, such as PEERS Alliance, food banks, John Howard Society and the Native Council exist in rural areas, however, in terms of shelter or housing, the resources are very minimal, she said.
Donnelly’s five recommendations also include improving coordination of service, appropriate primary care, mental health and addiction access, developing housing options and adopting a prevention philosophy.
Hartley said the most effective preventive measure is to address the cost of living, which involves people getting livable wages, inexpensive food, transportation, and access to affordable housing.
She said a lot of people will be helped with their mental health just by having a place to live and the privacy that offers. But some people might need access to additional support like with food insecurities, transportation, employment, and counselling.
“Our mental health is largely shaped by the conditions in which we live. So, if we can provide stable conditions for people, then they will be more resilient. When faced with stress, they will have more resources to cope with.” Hartley said.
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