January 20, 2025
Recipients’ position title followed by their name
Dear Minister NAME,
Please find below my proposal for a novel approach to address two urgent problems facing our communities: homelessness and addiction. This comprehensive initiative focuses on a sustainable, humane solution that not only improves the lives of those affected but also reduces the burden on our communities and public services. I invite you to review the proposal and consider the significant benefits this approach could offer to both individuals and the broader community.
Proposal: Comprehensive Rural Facilities for Addressing Homelessness and Addiction in Victoria, BC
Executive Summary
The homelessness and addiction crisis in Victoria, BC, has reached an unsustainable level. Individuals live in deplorable conditions, treatment options are all too frequently inaccessible, and emergency services remain stretched thin. This proposal advocates for the creation of comprehensive rural facilities designed to address the needs of the homeless population, particularly those struggling with substance use disorders. These centres would include humane living conditions, accessible detox and rehabilitation services, and opportunities for skills development and reintegration into society.
By addressing root causes rather than symptoms, this initiative provides a cost-effective, sustainable solution benefiting individuals, urban centres, and governments. It is a call to prioritise long-term recovery, dignity, and societal reintegration over temporary fixes that perpetuate the crisis.
While this proposal invites collaboration from all levels of government, it is primarily directed toward the provincial government, as they hold the primary responsibility and resources for addressing homelessness and addiction at scale.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this proposal and how your office plans to contribute to addressing these urgent issues. Meaningful engagement will not only guide further development of this initiative but also assure the public that government leadership is taking substantive steps. To maintain transparency, I plan to share all responses publicly to foster an open and constructive dialogue.
I. Key Objectives
1. Provide Humane Living Conditions:
Replace unsafe encampments with secure, supportive housing, offering dignity and stability to residents.
2. Improve Accessibility to Treatment:
Establish on-site integrated detox, rehabilitation, and continuous care services to address substance use and mental health challenges.
3. Reduce Urban Congestion:
Relieve pressure on emergency services and public spaces in Victoria by creating centralised, purpose-built facilities.
4. Foster Skills Development and Reintegration:
Equip individuals with vocational training, life skills, and employment opportunities to enable meaningful reintegration into society.
II. Proposed Facility Features
1. Housing Options:
Ranges from serviced camping areas to transitional housing units tailored to residents’ needs and progress. Individualised housing plans to ensure stability and safety.
2. Treatment and Support Services:
On-site detox and rehabilitation centres staffed by experienced professionals. Access to 12-step programs, counselling, and evidence-based treatment modalities. Integration with existing provincial and municipal services for streamlined care. Non-time-limited treatment options with discharge decisions based on defined clinical and functional criteria rather than arbitrary durations like 30 days.
3. First Responders and Safety:
Dedicated first responders stationed nearby for rapid response. Comprehensive safety measures to address emergencies and ensure community well-being.
4. Work and Community Engagement:
Incorporation of sustainable practices, such as gardens and farms, to promote self-reliance. On-site vocational training, workshops, and peer mentorship programs to build community.
5. Follow-Up and Reintegration:
Post-treatment follow-up for those recovering from substance use disorders, as well as housing support, employment training, and placement services. Partnerships with local businesses to provide opportunities for residents.
III. Implementation Strategy
1. Site Selection:
Rural locations offering sufficient space for self-contained, integrated care communities. Urban centres lack the capacity for large-scale, integrated facilities, leading to fragmented and ineffective care.
2. Stakeholder Engagement:
Collaborate with local governments, Indigenous communities, service providers, and individuals with lived experience to co-design the facilities.
3. Funding:
Combine provincial and federal funding with private contributions and grants while ensuring treatment remains entirely publicly funded and accessible to all.
4. Pilot Program:
Launch an initial facility for 100–200 residents, refine based on outcomes, and expand the model.
IV. Addressing Concerns
1. Not NIMBYism:
This proposal is not about displacing homelessness but creating real solutions where recovery is feasible.
2. Community Education:
Prepare surrounding communities to address misconceptions and highlight mutual benefits.
3. Cost Savings:
Demonstrate reduced reliance on emergency services, first responders, and the public health system, leading to significant long-term savings and freeing these resources to address broader community needs.
4. Prioritising Stakeholders:
Engage individuals experiencing homelessness as key contributors to programme design and decision-making.
V. Anticipated Benefits
1. For Individuals:
Safe, stable housing and local access to integrated treatment, fostering a team approach. Improved health, self-esteem, and prospects for reintegration.
2. For Communities:
Reduced strain on emergency services and public spaces. Enhanced public safety and economic stability.
3. For Policymakers:
Demonstrates leadership and commitment to solving systemic challenges. Offers a scalable model applicable to other jurisdictions.
VI. Call to Action
This proposal is not presented as a complete solution, nor does it claim to address every facet of the homelessness and addiction crisis. Instead, it is a starting point—an invitation to collaborate with policymakers, service providers, and individuals with lived experience.
As a retired physician, I have witnessed the devastating impact of homelessness and substance use, as well as the challenges people face in accessing care. Recovery is most achievable when individuals are either in crisis or actively seeking help. However, the current system often leaves individuals disillusioned, as they are given phone numbers to call only to encounter lengthy waitlists or unaffordable private care options. While these may reflect efforts to provide access, they frequently fall short of delivering meaningful help when it is most needed.
The time to act is now. Let us prioritise sustainable, long-term solutions over temporary fixes and restore dignity, foster recovery, and rebuild community for everyone.