Safe Housing 'is' Humane

Affordable housing, access to nutritious food, education, public safety, equity, and the built environment are all important factors that contribute to the health and wellness of each person, family and community. Early states that “The health challenges people face are greatly influenced by the wider health determinants which are social, cultural, environmental, economic and political” (Early, 2016). The impact that these social ecological health determinants has can negatively affect our lives if access is not equitable. or available. Those that face inequity have predictable outcomes that can impact their quality of life, morbidity and mortality.

An example of a system failure for those who face homelessness is highlighted when discussing a situation where someone is staying in a shelter. The current environment of someone in a shelter service is not a stable living environment. In the media since the pandemic housing for the homeless has become a priority due to the contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus. In Toronto encampments were pulled apart and people have been displaced further, and community members have been campaigning to have the temporary shelters in hotels be discontinued. Further example of this the situation in Brampton in November 2020 where the temporary use of a hotel for overflow homeless people from the shelter served eviction notices (Brampton men experiencing homelessness to be evicted from hotel shelter - CityNews Toronto) resulting in loss of housing.

The ongoing risk of loss of housing continues to add stress onto a vulnerable population who are already suffering from many social determinants based on their lives and life experiences that lead them to the current state. While be a consumer of the social housing service they are also be exposed to the shelter environment which may include exposure to drugs, violence, risk for sexual abuse, injury or attack. These factors further contribute to poor health (including mental health) outcomes due to lack of sleep, security, privacy, safety, and nutrition. Those using the shelter service may also be facing mental health and/or addictions (MH&A). “The disadvantages tend to concentrate among the same people and their effects on health accumulate during life. The longer people live in stressful economic and social circumstances, the greater the wear and tear they suffer and the less likely they are to enjoy a healthy old age” (Wilkinson & Marmot 2003).

Prior to the pandemic the use of shelters was already in place however due to the pandemic the shelter overcrowding was highlighted, which was why the use of hotels became required to provide humane living conditions for the homeless. Why do we insist on providing 'humane' environments for pets and we do not for humans. The Dictionary definition for humane is "characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, especially for the suffering or distressed: humane treatment of prisoners" (Dictionary, 2021). By this definition one would think that humans would all be provided fair and equitable care and housing, however a factor of whether the person deserves 'humane' treatment weighs in whether they are provided 'humane' care. This lack of compassion is driven by judgement at the least. “Health care systems, public health systems, and the higher education systems that prepare individuals to work in these sectors must continue to evolve in order to support more effective preventative and population based engaging approaches. It is only then that we can truly create and support a “culture of health” (Early, 2016).

Over the years as a health care provider I developed a few helpful mantras that guided my care that I will share. "There by the grace of God go I" and "This person is someone's loved one" and "This person could be my mother/father/son, etc" and how would I want them to be cared for. These words guided me to be compassionate, considerate and thoughtful in my practice and care. I recommend adopting a saying or mantra that works for you so that you can "do no harm" in your care in your "CAREer".

References

COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY - COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED 2012 DIGITAL EDITION © WILLIAM COLLINS SONS & CO. LTD. 1979, 1986 © HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Brampton men experiencing homelessness to be evicted from hotel shelter - CityNews Toronto https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/11/27/homeless-eviction-brampton/

Early J. Health is More than Healthcare: It’s time for a Social Ecological Approach. Journal of Nursing Health Studies. 2016, 1:1. ISSN 2574-2825. DOI: 10.21767/2574-2825.100002.

Wilkinson, R.G. and Marmot, M.G. (2003) Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts: World Health Organization. https://www.scirp.org/(S(lz5mqp453edsnp55rrgjct55))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=1879534