An Open Letter from the Board of PHS Community Services Society
Regardless of how you believe we should tackle some of society’s biggest challenges like homelessness or the drug overdose epidemic, the dedicated staff in supportive housing deserve tremendous respect and gratitude. Yet increasingly, they are vilified by media outlets looking for a salacious headline. Poorly researched news stories, spotlighting the unbalanced perspectives of some troubled residents, casually label those who work in supportive housing as complicit in a “humanitarian crisis” or part of the so-called “homeless-industrial-complex.”
Supportive housing provides a place to stay for individuals with immensely complex needs. Many residents of these buildings struggle with significant and overlapping mental and physical health challenges, often including severe substance use disorders. It is the housing of last resort, providing shelter and care to thousands who would otherwise experience homelessness.
The work of keeping these individuals housed is harder than most people can imagine. In their day-to-day work, staff within supportive housing must de-escalate conflict, calmly and effectively respond to crises, manage life-threatening emergencies, and endure language and behaviours that almost no one else has to encounter in their workplace. They are trained to do this with compassion, empathy, resilience, and professionalism—all while navigating severely constrained resources.
What is often overlooked by critics is the fact that the nonprofits that run supportive housing are critically underfunded to appropriately manage the responsibilities placed upon them. In the midst of a toxic drug crisis, rising numbers of people experiencing homelessness, and deteriorating infrastructure, these organizations and their staff work tirelessly to improve the lives of residents that are truly struggling.
We must put an end to this shameful and demoralizing rhetoric directed toward people doing some of the hardest, grittiest, and most urgently needed work to address the needs of vulnerable community members. Instead, we should be applauding their efforts—because without them, many supportive housing residents would be sleeping on cold park benches, overdosing on sidewalks, or occupying in-demand hospital beds. There is always a place for healthy debate, but attacking the character of those on the frontlines helps no one and fixes nothing. Rather, it only exacerbates the challenges of homelessness, drug poisoning, public safety, and mental health that we must all address together.
With profound appreciation for the hard work, determination, and strength of our frontline staff, signed,
Donna Baines, PhD
Vice Chair, PHS Community Services Society
Penny Gurstein, PhD
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Chelsey Legge
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Jeff Brooks
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Bobbi Hoadley
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Perry Kendall CO OBC FRCPC
Board Member PHS Community Services Society.
Christine Singh MD CCCF FCFP
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Jan Christilaw
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Lisa Lapointe
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Glen Clark
Board Member, PHS Community Services Society
Varun Banthia
Chair, PHS Community Services Society
