Supportive Housing
Guest: Julian Somers
On this edition of Journal, Dr. Julian Somers joins me to examine the need for a province-wide plan to support those with Complex Co-occurring Disorders, or CCDs. This refers to those individuals with substance abuse and mental disorders at the same time. The care required is complicated, involving “medical, psychiatric, housing, social and legal issues,” according to a paper co-written by Dr. Somers.
Mayor Ken Sim of Vancouver shocked many when he announced the city would no longer permit net-new supportive housing. On the surface, this seems crazy when we see the homelessness on our streets, the criminality, and the crying need for mental health support. How could we say no to more supportive housing?
However, surprisingly to me, Dr. Somers sent a letter of support to the mayor, complimenting him on this initiative to put the brakes on more supportive housing in Vancouver. As a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in addiction who has worked in this field for 37 years, one would expect him to say give us as much supportive housing as you can.
His perspective on what we are doing wrong is illuminating.
Why are we concentrating so much of our support systems and services in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver?
Why are rural areas so under-serviced that people feel they must come to Vancouver to get help?
Why do we see crime and violence increasing in these areas rather than decreasing despite the concentration of services?
Perhaps we are offering the wrong kind of support in the wrong places?
Enjoy this episode via podcast or YouTube:
