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Access to health and dental services is severely limited for those in our community who live on the street. Many barriers stand in the way of homeless people trying to find a doctor or dentist – from lack of information about services to stigma and discrimination in practice offices.
Clients of the ACCESS Community Health Centre will be able to walk into the Centre and meet with a doctor or dentist without having to make an appointment or go through complex registration procedures. They will be able to sit down and discuss the complex challenges facing them without the pressure of time constraints or fear of stigma. Clients of the Health Centre will know that all staff are committed to working with them to find solutions to their health and welfare concerns. Where appropriate clients will be referred to the other agencies and services in the building – a short step to further support and information, a chance to connect with people facing the same challenges and an opportunity to make positive choices with the support of a range of service providers under one roof.
For all of us maintaining a balanced diet is both an essential part of our health and wellbeing, and a daily struggle. The challenge is far more acute for people living on the street, with low incomes and the complicating factors of concurrent health issues, HIV infection and/or addictions.
Clients of the ACCESS Community Health Centre will able to bring their specific dietary needs to a nutritionist and be supported in making the best choices to enhance their health and wellbeing. If appropriate, clients can be referred to AVI’s Positive Wellness Program where they will be able to attend the daily drop in and be eligible for a hot meal – prepared in the commercial kitchen on the top floor. Through this program clients will be able to sign up for the nutrition group and learn how to select and prepare food that will meet their particular nutritional needs. From the detailed information from a nutritionist to the practical advice on where to buy produce and how to cook it the ACCESS Health Centre will support clients in making healthy choices.
Without up to date information and the skills to put knowledge into practice many of the people we serve have a hard time making decisions that lead to positive outcomes. Education lies at the heart of making informed choices.
The ACCESS Community Health Centre will provide a space where a wide range of educational and informative sessions will be run. Responding directly to the needs of the clients we serve the teams of AVI and Cool Aid will be able to adapt and create sessions that will meet the needs of the clients – whether a workshop about hepatitis C or a one to one session about the realities of homophobia in school. Using the 713 Johnson Street as a base the teams will also reach out to the community with targeted messages in a range of formats – ensuring that if someone is in need of the information and training we offer - they will get it. Our education team ranges over the whole region – bringing
Loneliness and isolation are difficult to cope with for all of us – but for those struggling with addictions, who may be HIV+ or have hepatitis C, or are living on the street, isolation and loneliness become deadly enemies. Without the care and support of a community it is hard to maintain healthy choices, to choose to minimise risky behaviours or to continue with a course of treatment.
The ACCESS Community Health Centre provides a space where separate individuals can come together as a group and face their challenges together. |
