CMAJ • November 6, 2007; 177 (10). doi:10.1503/cmaj.071455.
© 2007 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.
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NEWS

Homeless in Toronto

Ann Silversides

Toronto

Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, angina, asthma and arthritis are more prevalent among the homeless in Toronto now than 15 years ago, according to a new research report by Street Health, a nursing care and outreach organization.

The intervening years have been "nothing short of brutal" for homeless people because of cuts to social assistance rates and looser tenant protection laws, street nurse Kathy Hardill told a press conference in September.

In 1995, welfare rates were cut by 22% (rates are now 46% less in real terms than in 1992), while average Toronto rents increased by 30% between 1997 and 1992, adds the report.


Figure 9
"If people were housed, they could take care of their medical problems more easily," says Nancy, a homeless person. Image by: Keneisha, ©2007 NFB

In 2006, about 6500 individuals stayed in a Toronto shelter on any given night, according to research by the Wellesley Institute, which, along with the United Way and the Metcalf Foundation, funded the $100 000 Street Health report.

The report surveyed 368 adults — 73% male — with an average age of 42 years. The research "was truly community-driven and community led," said Dr. Stephen Hwang, advisor to the study and researcher at the Centre of Inner City Health at St. Michael's Hospital.

It paints a grim picture. Those surveyed were 20 times more likely than the general population to have epilepsy, 5 times as likely to have heart disease, 4 times as likely to have cancer and twice as likely to have diabetes.

The full report is available at www.streethealth.ca.





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