(Vancouver) Study tries new approach to homeless

[alp227]

Source: CBC News

A hotel for the homeless has opened in downtown Vancouver as part of a national effort to reduce the number of people living on Canadian streets.

The Bosman Hotel on Howe Street had booked regular guests through the 2010 Vancouver Olympics five months ago, but as of Monday, it became home to 100 homeless people with mental and physical health problems.

It's part of a federally funded, three-year experiment being conducted in five cities across Canada. Similar projects are underway in Moncton, N.B., Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg.

At the Vancouver hotel, new residents will have their own rooms, including bathrooms, and locking doors.

They also will receive treatment as needed from staff who include nurses and mental health workers. A pharmacy is on the first floor.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/08/23/bc-vancouver-bosman-homeless-hotel.html

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Carl Paladino, Republican governor candidate in New York, proposed workhouses for welfare recepients. This experiment in Canada is so much more compassionate given that Canada's also home to universal healthcare and same-sex marriage.

[sandnsea]

1. Housing First

There are programs like this in many US cities.

http://www.cityofseattle.net/housing/homeless/HousingFirst.htm

[eagertolearn]

2. I believe this is a great idea. Hard to get a job if you are on the streets.

Those who need help can have easy access to health care and mess fo
r mental illness, diabetes, thyroid problems and maybe they can add in couseling and job training. If it doesn't pay off then i think. if the homeless are law abiding they should always have food mess and shelter provided by their country.

[Wednesdays]

3. And if they *aren't* law-abiding

then they will get government housing and 3 meals a day. :P

[SpeechlessDem]

4. Nice!

Nice to hear some good news sometimes eh?