Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

  • Community Matters (December 2022) — Taking Care: Mental Wellness

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    Note: This is excerpted from the December 2022 edition of our Community Matters publication. 

    Welcome to the fourth issue of our new quarterly publication, Community Matters.

    Community Matters aims to inform the community about social issues that impact citizens and connect the dots between social issues, evidence, and policy. We aim to use this space to give a voice to local agencies, ESPC volunteer writers, and staff members alike.

    Each edition will spotlight a specific social issue and demonstrate the intersectional nature and impact on equality. Our goal is to use evidence as we continue to inform on the issues affecting individuals and families.

    For our Winter 2022 issue, we are focusing on mental health and wellness. Just as the health and well-being of our physical bodies are important and in need of being taken care of, the same extends to our minds. Mental health exists on a spectrum, which can range from thriving to being in crisis. Just as we need to take care of our bodies with rest, medicine, fluids and medical care when we are not feeling well, we should also take care of our minds when a toll is taken on our mental health.

    Stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness is strong. There is a reluctance in many circles to acknowledge it let alone talk about it. Nevertheless, in recent years great strides have been made in working towards breaking these stigmas. Awareness of mental health issues is strong and with that, we are creating more spaces where we can be open and honest about our mental health in ways that would have been considered unthinkable even 10 years ago.

    Despite this progress, challenges to meaningfully address mental health persist. Barriers to accessing mental health services—such as a therapist—are still in place, whether it is affordability, long wait times, shortages of mental health professionals, or others.

    Mental health affects people in different ways. Whether you are an older adult, a post-secondary student, a racialized person, a newcomer, a child/youth, 2SLGBTQ+, and/or other demographic, mental health and the ways to address it will differ. This will also be impacted by circumstance whether from chronic stress, a major life change such as losing a job, home, or a loved one as well as the number of supports a person has in their lives. A comprehensive mental health system should take into account our diverse population, its needs and challenges.

    For this issue, we will delve in the ways mental health touches upon various demographics and offer ways in which we can work towards meaningfully addressing it.

    In the meantime, take care of yourself, your loved ones, and the wider community. Check in on others, especially those you may not have heard from in a while. Reaching out to let someone know that they matter, and you are thinking of them is beneficial for everyone’s general mental health!

    – Susan Morrissey, Executive Director

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    COMMUNITY MATTERS – DECEMBER 2022

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  • CM: Old Strathcona Youth Society – A Place Where Youth Matter

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    By Amanda Labonte

     

    Old Strathcona Youth Society (OSYS), located at 10325 83 Ave is a street-level, safe drop-in space for vulnerable youth who are between the ages of 14 –24. Youth are provided with support, resources, harm reduction materials, and fun activities.  

    We sat down with Shona Hickmore, a registered social worker and current program coordinator for OSYS, and Dill Prusko, the outreach worker with OSYS, to learn more about youth houselessness experience. 

    What are some of the impacts that OSYS has on youth? What does OSYS mean to youth? 

    Shona 

    We see about 160 unique youth in a month and sometimes up to 40 in a day. If it’s hard to hear about all their stories or to support them imagine how hard it must be to live their lives. When they come to OSYS they’re aware that the person who helps them pick out the outfit for the first day of school, the person that holds their hand while they do a pregnancy test, or the person who checks in on them, cares. They leave knowing that they can come back, and we want to hear how the rest of the story turns out. 

    Here in the building youth feel important and know they matter to somebody. Ultimately, I think that will be the legacy of OSYS. We opened in 1998 and youth still stop in to see Karen, our executive director, from those first few years because this was important in their lives because they felt supported.  I think that that speaks to the value of it, speaks to the value of connection of community, of basic human dignity, and treating people like people. 

    Dill 

    They like the staff here and it’s because we treat them with respect, and they feel safe here to let those walls down. They don’t have to be for the most part anything but themselves here. OSYS is so important because we can help them with further steps in their life, but we also are happy for them right now that they’re here with us. 

    How is serving youth experiencing houselessness or housing insecurity different from serving adult populations? 

    Dill 

    Their brain is still developing, as well as everything they’re going through, so you really have to scaffold life with them. They have very limited life experience, but they also have so much life experience in other ways. They have less exposure to the different kinds of resources that are available to them. There are so many things you have to know in order to access a resource. For example, how to get there, what is going to be asked if and when you get there, do you have to bring documents? 

     Shona 

    Legally there are a lot of adult resources youth can’t access until they’re 18. All of our best housing teams outside of YESS [Youth Empowerment and Support Services] are all adult focused. Another thing is if a youth is under 18 there is the barrier of a need for parental permission. 

    At 16 you can help a youth apply to become an independent minor which is helpful. I’m thinking of a particular youth we have now who’s not 16 until October and really needs to be able to control their own situation.  You do your best to navigate to resources that may not require [documentation]. We know YESS is not going to require youth to have ID to access the Armory Resource Centre or to access Nexus Overnight Shelter, but it really does limit what you can do especially with youth coming out of situations with huge trauma. 

    We are referring to youth as “being unhoused” why is that important and how does language have meaning? 

    Shona

    I like unhoused because a lot of our youth have, what I like to think of as, conditional homes. Some of them will say ” no I’m homeless” but some of them will say “well, no, I have a home I just can’t deal with that person.” A lot of it is for youth who use substances, their parents want them to be clean if they’re going to be back with their parents. The youth do still recognize oftentimes those places as home or as important places to them and we never want to diminish the importance of those places. 

    Dill

    The youth describe different places as home. They might say OSYS is my home, it does not necessarily mean home is where they are sleeping and living, but home is the community that they are in and the people that they surround themselves with. They have their community they just do not have a house right now. 

    We’ve talked a little bit about some of the barriers particularly around ID. What are some of the other barriers you see that youth experience when they’re trying to obtain housing? 

    Dill

    It can be hard to even get that process started because it’s difficult to do those basic life skills.  Something that I’ve noticed working here is that youth are asked to make appointments on time, have their paperwork filled out, and have it all together in order to get housed. Sometimes time does not exist for youth. In order to get housing, they must first go through an entire process when they are just focusing on being alive right now.   

    Shona

    Another really big barrier for youth is for a lot of resources, you need stable contact information. For Alberta Works, you need a phone number or an e-mail address. How are you supposed to set up viewings with Housing First if you do not have a phone or a way for your Housing First worker to contact you? If you’re a youth and you have to be back at the shelter to get a bed somewhere between four and five o’clock and you have all these appointments, how are you going to manage that? Especially when you have to take all your stuff with you. 

    Dill 

    Wait times just to get in the system. For example, trying to get somebody in with coordinated access and housing first, it’s sometimes one to three months or longer.  It’s really difficult to conceptualize three months when you’re trying to decide where am I going to sleep tonight. I’m not thinking three months in advance, I’m thinking about tonight. 

    There’s a lot of stigma around youth experiencing houselessness. How would you respond to those stigmas or what would you like to see the shift in that conversation be? 

    Shona 

    I don’t know if it’s around youth specifically, but I think I’d like to see a shift in conversation that brings the idea of dignity more to the forefront. We have this conversation with stigma like “oh, they must be unwell” or “they must be on something” or that these youth, these people are lacking in something. 

    Dill

    I don’t think many people realize how close they are also to being unhoused. If I missed two paychecks, for example, I would not have my place. I do have support but having support is not a choice.  We are all for the most part a few degrees away from being where they are. When it comes to stigma, you’re othering, but we are not others from them, we are all, for the most part, pretty close to being where they are. 

    What would you like to see the broader community do to help support youth? 

    Dill

    People need to start advocating for people who are not themselves. For example, writing your MLA, becoming more active politically but also doing small things, like donating to nonprofits or grassroots organizations or donating your time. Educating themselves, if you are living in a community know what’s in your community and know who is in your community.  

    Shona

    If you see a homeless or unhoused person on the street, you do not need to walk across the street. You do not need to send all those implied messages of worth or value. Do not treat them like they are lesser.  

    If you volunteer with an organization that supports the houseless population, do not assume that you suddenly understand what’s going on for those people, you don’t. If you go into those spaces, know that you are a visitor, know that you are privileged, and be respectful.  

    Also, knowing your privilege and using it. I can’t give my privilege back, I can’t give that to others, but I can use it for them. You can use your voice for other people.  There are important conversations to have in important moments, quiet moments, and small moments. To be somebody who advocates even when no one is looking at you, when you get nothing from it, and maybe even when you pay the price for doing it. 

    What is one message that you would like people take away from the work being done? 

    Shona 

    Our youth are human. They deserve safety, they deserve to be able to live in a place of their choosing where they feel safe. They deserve people around them in their community that are willing to work to help get them there. OSYS does some of that work, that’s great but we’re five people, they deserve 500 people around them. 

    Dill 

    I love my job so much it’s one of the best jobs in the world, but I also hope one day I never have to do it.  I hope people know that these are not poor little kids, these are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met in my entire life.  

     

    Volunteer with OSYS 

     

    In Alberta it is not illegal to leave home before the age of 18, however, if the youth is apprehended by the police someone will be contacted to take responsibility for the youth. This could be a parent, family member, guardian, or potentially children’s services. Should an agreement with Alberta Children Services  be made, the government is then responsible for the ‘parental role.’ Youth may receive help from the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Alberta if they are provided services under the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act (PSECA)  or Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. (1) Caseworkers like those at OSYS can help youth navigate these resources.  

     

    Note: This is an excerpt from our September 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

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    References: 

     

    1. Legal Resource Centre of Alberta. (2017). Youth FAQs – Family. Centre for Public Legal Information Alberta. https://www.law-faqs.org/alberta-faqs/youth-and-the-law-in-alberta/how-old-do-i-have-to-be/youth-faqs-family/ 

     

     

     

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    1. Vital Signs 2022 – A Look at Systemic Racism in Edmonton

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      Edmonton Vital Signs is an annual check-up conducted by Edmonton Community Foundation, in partnership with Edmonton Social Planning Council, to measure how the community is doing. 

      This Vital Signs report focuses on individual issues, that are timely and important to Edmonton, specifically Systemic Racism. These topics
      appeared in many issues of Legacy in Action throughout 2022, and are also presented here in the full issue of Vital Signs 2022.

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      A LOOK AT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN EDMONTON – VITAL SIGNS 2022

      [/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

    2. Statement on Danielle Smith’s Affordability Measures

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      The Edmonton Social Planning Council is cautiously optimistic after hearing the announcement from Premier Danielle Smith’s televised address to the province on November 22, 2022 on a suite of affordability measures to help low-income individuals and families address the rising cost of living due to the effects of inflation.

      We are particularly heartened to hear that several income support and benefit programs including AISH, PDD, the Alberta Seniors Benefit, and the Alberta Child and Family Benefit will be re-indexed for inflation, which was originally paused in 2019. While these measures are welcome news for many families living pay cheque to pay cheque, the prior freezing of these benefit payment rates has meant a lot of ground has been lost and it will take a lot of time to properly catch up.

      Missing from this announcement is indexing of the minimum wage. The current minimum wage of $15 per hour has been frozen since 2018 and falls short of being a living wage, which has been calculated by the Edmonton Social Planning Council to be at $21.40 per hour in Edmonton. Throughout the province, the Alberta Living Wage Network has calculated the living wage in various Alberta municipalities show it can range from $17.50 in Medicine Hat and $32.75 in Canmore. Other cities are somewhere in between those two extremes. All of these living wage calculations are above the current minimum wage and this gap needs to be addressed.

      We will continue to monitor these and other affordability measures to ensure it is positively impacting the lives of low-income Albertans.

      [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

    3. Edmonton Living Wage 2022 Update

      [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Living-Wage-2022-2.pdf” button_text=”Download the Edmonton Living Wage 2022 Update” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#008ac1″ custom_margin=”||19px|||” custom_padding=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

      A living wage is rooted in the belief that individuals and families should not just survive, but live with dignity and participate in their community. A living wage is defined as the hourly wage that a primary income earner must make to provide for themselves, their families, and reach basic financial security. It allows for a higher standard of living than what is included in the Market Basket Measure, which is based on subsistence living. It includes child care, allowance for one parent to attend school, extended health and dental plans, and a minor emergency contingency fund. However, it does not include items that would allow families to “get ahead”, such as putting away savings or paying down debt.

      This is the seventh year that the Edmonton Social Planning Council has calculated Edmonton’s living wage. It is based on the Canadian Living Wage Framework (2015) created by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

      Beginning in 2018, ESPC partnered with several organizations and municipalities across Alberta to create the Alberta Living Wage Network. ESPC has decided to adjust its methodologies to remain consistent with the Alberta Living Wage Network.

      [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][3d-flip-book mode=”thumbnail-lightbox” id=”166003″ title=”true”][/3d-flip-book]

      Click on image to view online.

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    4. CM: “I shouldn’t have to worry about going back in the closet”: Edmonton’s LGBTQ2S+ Friendly Retirement home

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      By Sydney Sheloff

       

      The Edmonton Pride Seniors Group Society’s mission is to ensure that seniors’ services, activity centers, and housing are safe for LGBTQ2S+ seniors living in Edmonton. The society is currently working on a project to develop a safe retirement home for LGBTQ2S+ seniors. 

      We sat down with Blair MacKinnon from the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group Society to learn the impact this housing would have on LGBTQ2S+ seniors living in Edmonton. 

      Can you give a brief overview the LGBTQ2S + friendly retirement home?  

      Around 2017 the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group Society (EPSGS) formed the housing development committee to get more focused on the housing project and what we could achieve for our community.  In 2015 we had consultants do a survey of our seniors in the LGBTQ2S+ community and found that they had fears about moving into any sort of seniors housing. Many people have been out for many years and never really thought about “OK what happens when I get older, and I can no longer live in my own house” which is what most people want to do. The survey pointed out that people had fears about moving into general seniors housing and that they might face discrimination. We’ve seen research from different jurisdictions that LGBTQ2S+ seniors did face discrimination when they went into seniors’ housing.  To have to go back into the closet again after they have been out for 20, 30 years, was pretty terrifying to people. 

      We did a survey back in 2020 where we contacted about 212 members of our community to find out what’s important to them in housing. The key thing is having safe housing for our community, where they can feel comfortable and that it’s their home. It was important that they be together with members of their community and can be who they are. 

      Throughout your research what needs did you find that LGBTQ2S+ seniors have that differ from other seniors? 

      A lot of people, when they get a certain age, they have a question “but where would I live” and then they pick someplace that’s appropriate for them. We have that same concern but also, a number of other worries: If I have a partner, I should be able to live with my partner in this housing. Would the residents and staff accept me? Would I be able to live free from discrimination? Would my sexual orientation be assumed? Would they assume that I’m straight? If there was healthcare like home care, how would I be treated by healthcare professionals? Some of them mentioned they are afraid of violence or harassment from residents. One of them said for example, “I shouldn’t have to be inauthentic to survive,” I should be able to be who I want to be, I shouldn’t have to struggle to get the care I want, I shouldn’t have to worry about going back into the closet. We’ve heard from people who were out, had a partner and all of a sudden had to hide that relationship when they’re in seniors’ housing. It was like going backward, and so they said, “I want to feel respected and comfortable and safe just like any other person.”  

      The housing that we would provide would be somewhat different in that we wanted it to be a Community Center too. They would provide programs and services and social events in the building, not just for the residents, but for other members of our community, so it would be the go-to place. In the design of our housing, our consultant made sure that we had space not just for the apartments, but for a community kitchen and a large open area where you can hold events. There would be a cafe for people in the building and residents’ friends and relatives. It would be more than just an apartment building, it would be unique and as far as we know, it would be the first in Edmonton. Social events are very important for the LGBTQ2S+ community because as seniors age they often get more isolated from the rest of the world and in our community even more isolated. 

      Why is it important to form community between LGBTQ2S+ seniors and other seniors? 

      In the survey over 90% of people said they didn’t want it to be just LGBTQ2S+ seniors, that they wanted their friends and allies to be there also. They didn’t want it to be what we call a gay or lesbian ghetto, that was very critical, they wanted it to be just like they are in their own life. Members of our community may have been married previously and have children, and so they interact with members of their family, and lots of us have straight friends. They wanted the home to be a community for everyone, that was very important.  

      What is the importance of aging in place in the context of this project? 

      Once people move from their home into this housing, they want to stay in their home. It was very critical, we heard from them that they shouldn’t have to move up and go to another higher level of care just because they need more services. That’s the whole concept of aging in place, the care that you need when you need it continues with you so you can stay in the same place. 

      What sets this home apart from other existing affirming facilities such as the Ashbourne? 

      While the Ashbourne is an affirming facility, anyone who is LGBTQ2S+ there is accepted, that doesn’t mean it was built expressly for the LGBTQ2S+ community. Whereas in our housing the majority would be LGBTQ2S+. Our members of the community would feel very safe, and I think that’s very important for them. It is important to feel connected to community. It’s almost funny in a way that our community never thought we would ever get old, and now we’re at this point in our life, we have fought for our rights for many many years and now we’re seniors and then we have to fight for those rights too. That’s what sets this apart from other general seniors housing. 

      What is one message you would like people to take away from this project you’re working on? 

      We want to have the same rights and feel safe and part of the community just like everybody else. It’s very important for our community, just like every senior, to feel welcomed, safe and comfortable. I’d say these are just basic rights, it’s not anything unusual, it’s something that members of our community deserve, and we just want to be who we are. 

       

      You can learn more about this project by reading the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group Society’s LGBTQ2S+ Friendly Seniors Housing Prospectus, and by signing up for their newsletter to receive updates on the project.  

       

      Note: This is an excerpt from our September 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

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