Re: Invitation To Participate In Consumer Consultations

Hi there:
I believe the voices that are needed to be heard the most, those who are underhoused or homeless will not be through this process. There are a number of rooming and boarding home residents, those still in shelters etc. that cannot access webinars or computers, but have the most experience in dealing with the atrocious housing and often discriminatory practises within their housing and so called supports. How unfortunate, this will end up becoming a middle class consultation, geez I don't even know how to get into a webinar, and my housing is fine.
I strongly recommend each province host a cosultation to hear from those folks most impacted.

Re: Invitation To Participate In Consumer Consultations

I thank Diana for her commernt and I agree with her. Those in better circumstances will praise the initiatives taken so far, and those on the sidewalks, in jail, or in rooming houses infected with cockroaches and bedbugs, and harassed by drug dealers will continue to suffer.

Re: Invitation To Participate In Consumer Consultations

Hi Diana,

I fully agree. The means by which this survey will be completed will not gather information accurately regarding the homeless. Perhaps the intention of this survey is to develop a consultation similar to the one you mentioned? I do not see anywhere that it is required that a person be homeless in order to successfully participate in this survey. Hopefully then, you will participate and bring this concern to the attention of those running the survey. If you participate the reality of the situation is likely to be reflected more accurately. Personally, I think a person working in the field of supportive housing (who may not even have a personal homelessness experience,) would be a the best fit for this survey. Such a person would be able to reflect a variety of service successes and failures across a range of individuals.

Response to feedback received on using webinars as a vehicle for consumer consultation

We wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide us with feedback on using webinars as one way of getting consumer input into the Housing and Related Supports project. You have raised some excellent points. We recognize that people living with mental health issues are a diverse group of people, and that participating in an online consultation may not be accessible for everyone. To that end, the project research team is using a number of ways to obtain consumers’ perspectives on housing and related supports, including:
• participation in an online blog;
• participation in webinars (online consultations), with an option to participate via telephone;
• participation through completing an online survey (these are in the pilot phase), with the option of completing a paper questionnaires (if preferred);
• inclusion in reference group membership (this project has developed reference groups across the country to inform this project); and,
• face-to-face meetings with consumer groups as part of site visits the project team is doing across the country.

What we have tried to do, using the strategies outlined above is to offer opportunities for people to give us their input directly in as many different ways as possible. We have been very fortunate to have the support of the National Network for Mental Health, which links consumer groups and consumers from across the country, in supporting the online blog, webinars and the online surveys.

We are also trying to obtain consumers’ perspectives indirectly. For example, we have linkages with other MHCC projects, including the Homelessness Demonstration Project and the Family Advisory Committee, and where possible will incorporate themes on consumers’ perspectives from these projects in our final work. As part of our literature review, we are looking at previous work that has obtained consumers’ perspectives on housing and related supports. Finally, we are also asking service providers who work most closely with consumers and family members about their views on the needs of people living with mental health problems and illnesses.

We do recognize that there are both strengths and limitations in these approaches. Unfortunately, we are not able to conduct face-to-face interviews with consumers across the country, due to the finite resources allocated to this project. This limitation will be acknowledged in the final report, and recommendations for future work will be made.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the team if you have any other suggestions for the project.

Re: Invitation To Participate In Consumer Consultations

I regret I missed your Housing seminar this year. I only just discovered your site.
Please include my name if you ever have another seminar.
I'd would also be more than happy to participate in any surveys.
Compensation is not necessary nor expected.
I have some mental health issues and recently had a horrible experience (housing related) that has completely altered my life (and to a great degree destroyed it).
Thank you
Mary-Frances