Sangha of Auspicious Companions

One Hospital’s Unexpected Preventative Medicine

The University Health Network’s Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine is rolling out Ontario’s first hospital-based homelessness and eviction prevention program, which uses donations to pay off eligible UHN patients’ rent arrears, or pay first and last month’s rent so a patient can access housing. Decades of research show an inextricable link between evictions and worse health outcomes, says founding executive director Dr. Andrew Boozary. People with mental or physical disabilities, and older adults, are more likely to be evicted, and eviction can increase the likelihood of depression, substance use disorders, suicide, and premature death. UHN’s social medicine team is partnering with The Neighbourhood Group Community Services, in which people with lived experience of homelessness or drug use accompany and advocate for patients in the emergency department; as well as LOFT Community Services, which offers expertise in helping people access housing and stay housed. “This is preventative medicine,” says Dr. Boozary. “This is social medicine at its core.” The fund kicked off with $1 million raised from donors.

Be The Change

Think outside the box for problem you are trying to address. Are there indirect but proximate changes that can be made to help address the issue?