Reported by Marvin Ross with input by Steve Liddycoat
There is an old saying “out of the mouths of babes” but in this case out of the bytes of artificial intelligence.
Most cities are grappling with the problems of the homeless and the growing homeless encampments. In the City of Hamilton, where I live, council recently discussed the issue and sought public input on how to resolve the issue. Council is not sure. One suggestion from a local counsellor is to create a registry where people could volunteer their home to house someone. Could luck with that.
My friend Steve Liddycoat, a long time advocate for the mentally ill, asked ChatGPT.
The computer’s solution:
It replied as follows:
Plan for Solving Homelessness in Hamilton, Ontario
Objective: To address and alleviate homelessness in Hamilton, Ontario, while recognizing the underlying causes such as untreated mental illness and addiction.
Comprehensive Needs Assessment:
a. Conduct a thorough assessment to understand the scope and specific needs of the homeless population in Hamilton, including demographics, root causes, and existing support systems.
b. Collaborate with local shelters, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations to gather data and insights on the homeless population.
Increase Accessible and Affordable Housing:
a. Develop and implement a strategic plan to increase the availability of affordable housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness.
b. Collaborate with housing developers, NGOs, and government agencies to create a range of housing options, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing, and affordable rental units.
c. Establish rent control policies and incentives for landlords to encourage them to offer affordable rental units to homeless individuals.
d. Explore innovative housing solutions, such as tiny homes or modular housing, to provide temporary shelter while long-term solutions are being developed.
Supportive Services and Treatment:
a. Strengthen and expand mental health and addiction treatment services for the homeless population in Hamilton.
b. Increase funding for mental health and addiction support organizations, ensuring that they have the resources to provide accessible and effective services.
c. Establish partnerships between healthcare providers, social workers, and outreach teams to provide on-site medical and mental health services at shelters and other locations frequented by the homeless population.
d. Create specialized programs that address the unique needs of homeless individuals with mental illness or addiction, including outreach, counseling, rehabilitation, and harm reduction strategies.
Collaboration and Coordination:
a. Foster collaboration among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, social workers, and community leaders to coordinate efforts and share resources.
b. Establish a centralized system for information sharing and case management to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services to homeless individuals.
c. Develop a task force or committee dedicated to addressing homelessness, with representatives from various sectors, to oversee the implementation of the plan, monitor progress, and make necessary adjustments.
Employment and Skills Development:
a. Create job training and employment programs tailored to the needs of homeless individuals, including skill development, vocational training, and job placement assistance.
b. Collaborate with local businesses and employers to provide opportunities for homeless individuals, including incentives for hiring and supportive workplace environments.
c. Offer financial literacy programs and support to empower individuals to manage their finances and work towards self-sufficiency.
Prevention and Early Intervention:
a. Implement preventive measures to address the risk factors associated with homelessness, such as poverty, mental health issues, and addiction.
b. Increase investment in social welfare programs, affordable childcare, education, and job creation initiatives to mitigate the risk of homelessness.
c. Develop public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around mental illness and addiction and promote early intervention and access to support services.
Data Collection and Evaluation:
a. Establish a robust data collection system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and measure progress in reducing homelessness.
b. Regularly review and analyze data to identify trends, gaps in services, and areas for improvement.
c. Use data-driven insights to inform policy decisions, allocate resources effectively, and make necessary adjustments to the plan.
Long-term Sustainability:
a. Advocate for sustainable funding from federal, provincial, and municipal governments to ensure the long-term implementation and success of the plan.
b. Explore partnerships with private sector organizations, philanthropic foundations, and community fundraising initiatives to supplement funding.
c. Continuously engage with stakeholders, community members, and individuals with lived experience to adapt and refine the plan based on changing needs and emerging best practices.
Implementing this comprehensive plan will require collaboration, sustained effort, and ongoing evaluation. By addressing the root causes of homelessness, providing supportive services, and creating a range of housing options, Hamilton, Ontario can make significant progress in solving the homelessness situation and improving the lives of vulnerable individuals in the community.
Mind You Reflections on mental illness, mental health and life 
I ask, whatever happened to supportive housing with rules, rehab and medication supervision for those that want it. A place to call home but with supports in place. A room to call your own with a community kitchen and lounge area. Sounds simple but people need a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose. In order to stay you have to obey house rules and contribute in some way within the home ie helping in kitchen, grocery shopping, cleaning duties of common areas. I suggest a good read of comments on the homeless situation in Kelowna B.C from the Castinet News recently. it expresses many different views and suggestions.
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I couldn’t agree more. My dear son had classic late-teens onset of schizophrenia in the late 1970s. As a family, we knew nothing at the beginning of his illness – except what we had seen in the movies. Added to our ignorance was a dearth of proper clinical psychiatric care.
We had no idea that we were, in fact, historically at the beginning of N. American society’s wholesale closure of psychiatric hospital beds in order to move “consumers” of psychiatric services into the community. Everything related to ‘the medical model’ was being disparaged & downsized. Community psych services emphasized ‘holistic’ approaches & patients’ rights. In short, it was a disaster.
During the next 15 years, my son spiraled slowly but surely down into dereliction– while we, his family who loved him, tried desperately to help but were mostly thwarted by “the system.”
Finally — after numerous catastrophes where he almost died — we managed to get him into decent, supported, supervised housing. He thrived. He had friends. We had our family back. He had kind, respectful help from dedicated staff at the boarding house – which turned out to be his home for over 22 years, until he became ill & passed away in 2020.
I am eternally grateful to all who continue to fight to end the horrific, shameful neglect & abandonment of our citizens with severe and persistent mental illness. A lot can be done if we just don’t give up!
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