An Open Letter from the Board of PHS Community Services Society

Regardless of how you believe we should tackle some of society’s biggest challenges like homelessness or the drug overdose epidemic, the dedicated staff in supportive housing deserve tremendous respect and gratitude. Yet increasingly, they are vilified by media outlets looking for a salacious headline. Poorly researched news stories, spotlighting the unbalanced perspectives of some troubled residents, casually label those who work in supportive housing as complicit in a “humanitarian crisis” or part of the so-called “homeless-industrial-complex.”

Supportive housing provides a place to stay for individuals with immensely complex needs. Many residents of these buildings struggle with significant and overlapping mental and physical health challenges, often including severe substance use disorders. It is the housing of last resort, providing shelter and care to thousands who would otherwise experience homelessness.

The work of keeping these individuals housed is harder than most people can imagine. In their day-to-day work, staff within supportive housing must de-escalate conflict, calmly and effectively respond to crises, manage life-threatening emergencies, and endure language and behaviours that almost no one else has to encounter in their workplace. They are trained to do this with compassion, empathy, resilience, and professionalism—all while navigating severely constrained resources.

What is often overlooked by critics is the fact that the nonprofits that run supportive housing are critically underfunded to appropriately manage the responsibilities placed upon them. In the midst of a toxic drug crisis, rising numbers of people experiencing homelessness, and deteriorating infrastructure, these organizations and their staff work tirelessly to improve the lives of residents that are truly struggling.

We must put an end to this shameful and demoralizing rhetoric directed toward people doing some of the hardest, grittiest, and most urgently needed work to address the needs of vulnerable community members. Instead, we should be applauding their efforts—because without them, many supportive housing residents would be sleeping on cold park benches, overdosing on sidewalks, or occupying in-demand hospital beds. There is always a place for healthy debate, but attacking the character of those on the frontlines helps no one and fixes nothing. Rather, it only exacerbates the challenges of homelessness, drug poisoning, public safety, and mental health that we must all address together.

With profound appreciation for the hard work, determination, and strength of our frontline staff, signed,

Donna Baines, Vice Chair, PHS Community Services Society

Penny Gurstein, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Chelsey Legge, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Jeff Brooks, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Bobbi Hoadley, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Dr. Perry Kendall, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society.

Dr. Christine Singh, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Dr. Jan Christilaw, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Lisa Lapointe, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Glen Clark, Board Member, PHS Community Services Society

Varun Banthia, Chair, PHS Community Services Society

Stan Fike, Board Chair, ASK Wellness Society, Kamloops

Bob Hughes, MA, MSM, Chief Executive Officer, ASK Wellness Society, Kamloops

Anne Kinvig, Board Chair, Atira Women’s Resource Society, Vancouver

Donna-Lynn Rosa, Chief Executive Officer, Atira Women’s Resource Society, Vancouver