About time. This is the season where all of these encampments should go, and permanently. Without recourse to returning, for all. And I know the city is hard up for money ( thank you Doug) And this is an issue where the province could really make a difference - changes to accommodation (thank you NorthernLite), provision of more spaces, and changes to increased and enhanced provision or programs to be made available by mental health services.
Yes, not all of this is related to mental health issues, but much is, at varying levels of need. Getting people back up on their feet (so to speak) and functioning at a higher level, can need anything from a bank account, to medical care, to mental health care.
And so yes, crucially, changes to legislation to allow longer assessment and treatment periods, along with more provision for involuntary admittance to longer term assessment and treatment programs, especially in the area of mental health. And these changes in funding and legislation to be extended to First Nations run Programs as well, similar voluntary or involuntary programs for First Nations for those so obviously in need.
All roads lead to Doug in this instance, and I will cheerfully change three or four of his most prized programs - beer, spa’s, gambling and casinos, and tunnels under the 401, for long term dollars to be provided to the city(s), to hospitals and out patient clinics, and to CAMH ( and similar) for the facilities and programs needed.
Some will think the involuntary admission requirements cruel and unusual and somehow violating peoples rights. Nonsense. As part of a family that dealt with two cases of mental health issues for over 40 years, where resolution was only achieved through age and death, I would strongly argue that more complete and longer term involuntary intervention by professional treatment staff would have resulted in a much higher chance of achieving a higher level of functionality within society, a much higher level of personnel functionality, and far less stress and ongoing crisis intervention by far less trained family members and members of the police.
