People who experience homelessness are at greater risk for acute and chronic illnesses and the chance of living until the age of 75 is approximately 32% in males and 60% in females. Regardless of homelessness type, these people experience significant challenges in finding a job, living a healthy lifestyle, and maintaining relationships with others. Accordingly, 2.3 million Canadians report experiencing hidden homelessness at some point in their lives.
The hidden homeless lack permanent housing and frequently sleep in their cars or ‘couch-surf’ the latter involves relying on family, friends for providing sleeping accommodations. These statistics do not include the hidden homeless. One quarter of a million Canadians experience homelessness, and every night, 35,000 people sleep in parks and on the streets. Nearly one in five Canadians who rent housing spend more than 50% of their income solely on rent, putting them at risk of homelessness. In Canada, almost one-tenth of the population experiences low income. Low income is the most significant predictor of experiencing vulnerability. For the purpose of this study, we use these criteria as our definition of vulnerability. While there is debate surrounding the term ‘vulnerability’, its indicators include homelessness or housing insecurity, low-income, physical or mental frailty, social isolation, and having a physical or mental disability. Without resources, these persons become unable to protect or care for themselves, either permanently or temporarily, often due to physical, mental, emotional or other causes. Vulnerable populations experience significant barriers accessing social, economic, political, and environmental resources. Student volunteers may benefit from experiencing and responding to the needs of a community’s most vulnerable members. Volunteers are often untapped health and social care capital that can be mobilized to promote the health of vulnerable persons. ConclusionĬompassionate Communities can address the holistic, personalized, and client-centred needs of people experiencing homelessness and/or low income and social isolation. The big and little things were achieved through three key processes: taking time, advocating for services and resources, and empowering clients to set personal health goals and make authentic community connections. The ‘little things’ often had the biggest impact on client well-being and care delivery. The findings suggest that the program acts as a safety net that supports people who are falling through the cracks of the formal care system. An iterative analytic process was applied to understand what aspects of the program work where and why. We collected and analyzed focus group and interview data from 16 program stakeholders: eight program clients, three program coordinators, two case managers from the regional health authority, one administrator from a partnering community program, and two nursing student volunteers in March through June 2018. This applied qualitative study was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a compassionate community intervention for vulnerable persons in Windsor Ontario, Canada. Compassionate Communities apply a population health theory of practice wherein citizens are mobilized along with health and social care supports to holistically address the needs of persons experiencing vulnerabilities. The cost of health and social care services escalate when these individuals live without appropriate supports. Vulnerable people often receive a patchwork of health and social care services that does not appropriately address their needs. Vulnerable persons are individuals whose life situations create or exacerbate vulnerabilities, such as low income, housing insecurity and social isolation.
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