Niagara West MPP brings $935K cheque to help the homeless get medical attention

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Published December 1, 2021 at 11:04 am

David van Velzen, Executive Director of REACH Niagara, and Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, with the REACH Mobile Clinic.

With the weather getting colder, life is about to get tougher for the homeless in Niagara Region. That shouldn’t include the right to get medical attention.

Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff visited REACH Niagara Executive Director David van Velzen today (December 1) with some tidings of good joy – a cheque for $935,000 to help expand medical services to the homeless through both REACH and the region’s Shelter Health Network, which have formed a partnership.

REACH Niagara partners with local physicians and nurses, community health clinics, family health teams, as well as Niagara Public Health, Niagara EMS, and local shelters, “to treat marginalized communities and individuals experiencing homelessness with dignity, kindness and respect.”

Oosterhoff said the additional support from the province will increase the annual base funding to up to $935,000 for eight to ten new service sites in St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls to provide primary care services to 1,500 patients in 2021-22.

The MPP added the commitment from the province includes an additional $425,000 in 2022-23 for two to three additional service sites to support another 500 disadvantaged patients.

“This new funding extends care to marginalized and homeless members of our community who do not have a doctor,” said Oosterhoff.

Both REACH Niagara and Shelter Health Network were glad to see the funding coming with the winter looming.

“The team at Shelter Health Network is very pleased with this funding announcement and the partnership we have with REACH Niagara,” said Dr. Kerry Beal, Lead Physician of Shelter Health. “The work of both of our organizations for the homeless and marginalized in Hamilton and Niagara is vital.”

“Increasing this funding will go a long way in providing increased primary healthcare to those without access to a family doctor, specialists and psychiatrists.  It is very exciting to see this come together.”

Van Velzen said the new partnership is a boon in extending their services.

“We are a small group working with community organizations to provide healthcare to the homeless and marginalized in Niagara.  We have experienced great support for this funding plan from our regional politicians, city leaders, our partners in the community health centres, family health teams, Niagara Health, Niagara Region and our MPP’s in the region, with MPP Oosterhoff assuming the lead for REACH,” he said.
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