The Lawson Health Research Institute has received $223,000 in funding from the Federal Government. Parliamentary Secretary, Adam Vaughan announced Monday morning that this funding will go towards the “No Fixed Address” project which aims to provide assistance to hospital patients in finding stable homes after their discharge.
Phase one of this program began in July and Lawson Research Institute assistant director, Dr Cheryl Forchuk explained that they have already helped 17 people so far. She spoke very passionately about the issue of homelessness after discharge and was very grateful to receive the funding needed to start phase two. The funding should help towards creating innovative solutions for the problems patients face when they are transitioning back into society.
During the announcement, Adam Vaughan stressed how important it is to keep patients from falling through the gaps in the system and ending up without a suitable place to live.
“The goal of the Homelessness Partnership Strategy and the National Housing Strategy is to find a way to bridge those gaps that people fall between, and one of the gaps is exiting institutional care and finding housing that’s suitable and supportive for them in the general community.”
Vaughan explained that proper shelter is imperative in healing and becoming healthy enough to re-enter back into the community.
This funding is part of the Federal Government’s $2.2B spending program to reduce homelessness by 50% over 10 years.
