New centre to give the homeless transitional housing following ER visits
Posted January 12, 2023 3:57 pm.
Last Updated January 21, 2023 5:36 pm.
Last year, emergency rooms in Edmonton saw more than 25,000 distinct visits from patients experiencing homelessness. They get treated, only to end up back in need of care again.
“And then you are discharged, and we don’t have any place to send you. So what do we do? We discharge you to homelessness again. That system is really broken. What today says, is those days are over,” said Dr. Louis Francescutti, ER physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. “A lot of these, are unfortunately patients that come through the system over an over again.”
But a first-of-its-kind centre is opening next week in west Edmonton. The short-term transitional housing will be for those discharged from the ER.
According to the province, “those experiencing homelessness while also struggling with a chronic illness or health issue are often more susceptible to complications and repeat emergency department visits.”
“The goal, this is a program. People are completing steps to acquire the housing that they need, that’s going to look different for every individual,” explained Taylor Soroka, JPWC Co-Founder and Vice President of Strategy and Engagement.
Before this announcement, Jasper Place Wellness Centre had fundraised to open their first 12 beds. But now all 36 can open with the backing of Alberta Health Services.
It comes as data shows amputations due to frostbite are at a 10-year high in Edmonton. Most of those patients are homeless – a population that activists say grew during pandemic.
READ MORE: Amputations due to frostbite in Edmonton more than doubled, reached 10-year high
“Frostbite isn’t just people being out in the cold, there is a reason they are out in the cold,” said Dr. Francescutti.
This new centre is hoping to help not just frostbite patients, but those with mental health and addiction issues, as well as other chronic conditions.
Premier Danielle Smith credited the funding to reforms in AHS to be able to get the centre built.
“Partnerships in health care delivery help ensure that Albertans get the best care from our dedicated health care workers. I’m really pleased to see this partnership move forward because it will have positive health impacts for the most vulnerable Albertans, as well as the potential to positively impact the demand on emergency services. Albertans want to see improvements in our health care system and we’re committed to delivering that. This work is one more example of our commitment to improving access to health care services,” says Premier Danielle Smith.
While the opposition NDP took aim at the UCP for the recent rise in homelessness, in a statement health critic David Shepherd saying they downloaded “costs onto municipalities while being derelict in their duty to build affordable housing.”
A statement which is backed, as the city of Edmonton, did provide initial funding for the centre.
RELATED: City and Province look to increase shelters in Edmonton
“The city has been asking the province to step up in the realm of housing and homelessness, the opioid crisis, for quite a while now. I think this is a start, but a lot more work needs to be done,” explained Ashley Salvador, Ward Métis Councillor.
The cost per person at the centre, is about $80 a day, which is much less than a hospital visit.
“Our rough estimate is this is going to save the system and society an enormous amount of money, but not only that, just think of the impact on the individual themselves,” said Dr. Francescutti.
The goal of the pilot project is to show it works, before expanding.
