Health and Home

A research report on the situation and needs of homeless Francophone women, and the role of community organizations in addressing these needs. It includes a brief literature review on women and homelessness and short discussion of research limitations when addressing this population. On the basis of contacts with BC organizations and 15 interviews with organizational representatives, the second section identifies key social needs and corresponding gaps in services for homeless persons and homeless women in general, and homeless Francophone women in particular. The third section outlines outreach approaches used by various organizations in Montreal, suggesting that these approaches could be replicated in British Columbia. The final section provides recommendations to organizations, including the need for more Francophone professionals, Francophone volunteers, better information sharing with francophone professionals and volunteers, increasing public awareness of services available, and creating an organization to work towards the development of a Francophone women's transition house. Each of these recommendations are listed in a table, and examples of activities to be done in the short- and long-term in order to meet objectives are provided. The appendices include information about the interviews conducted, the organizations participating in the research, and a directory of organizations providing services to homeless people in British Columbia.

A 2001 bulletin from the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee (RSCH) on Homelessness on its accomplishments since its initiation in 2000. The RSCH was formed under the federal government's National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI). This news bulletin describes the committee's work with stakeholders in the past year to develop a preliminary regional homelessness plan for the GVRD. The preliminary plan's policy directions and strategies for alleviating homelessness in the GVRD are listed and described.

The Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee (RSCH) was formed in March 2000, under the federal government's National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI). Its primary objective was to develop a Regional Homelessness Plan to provide a region-wide framework for community based programs and services that address homelessness and its root causes. This draft Plan identifies urgent priorities and a series of other problems and service gaps that need to be addressed to alleviate homelessness in the GVRD. Key statistics are presented to illuminate shortcomings of current housing, employment and social programs policy, service and housing needs of the population. Policy statements and strategies for action and change are provided for each key issue identified.

Reports on injection drug use in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver; health disparities of DTES residents compared with other Vancouver and BC residents; crime related to drug use; BC Methadone Program; needle exchange and the proposal for a safe injection facility; rates of HIV and Hepatitis C infection; Methamphetamine Response Committee. Describes the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU).