Mental Health Partners Spotlight Supportive Housing at Queen’s Park
- boudreaue0
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
On November 20, Mental Health Partners (MHP) and community partners convened at Queen’s Park to highlight the urgent need for supportive housing for people living with mental illness and substance use disorders, spotlighting patients designated Alternate Level of Care (ALC) and those with a dual diagnosis.
Led by Cara Vaccarino, President & CEO of The Royal and MHP Chair, delegates engaged with government leaders, opposition critics, policy advisors and ministry officials to share how supportive housing is the most effective solution to prolonged hospital stays — driven by ALC backlogs — that can diminish recovery, tie up scarce resources, and place immense strain on families and care teams.
The day began with recognition in the House, while MHP members and community partners met with MPPs across parties to discuss solutions, emphasizing the need for cross‑ministry collaboration and sustained funding. A break in the day allowed for a lunch reception attended by over 50 elected officials, community partners and supporters, which featured a lived‑experience speaker and an innovative housing partnership between CAMH, Reena, and Surrey Place. The Hon. Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, provided formal remarks, and greetings were also shared by MPP Alexa Gilmour NDP Critic, Ontario Autism Program, MPP Lee Fairclough, Liberal Party Critic, Addictions, Homelessness, Hospitals and Mental Health and MPP Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party.
The message for the day was clear: supportive housing is the most effective intervention to meet the needs of people with mental illness and substance use disorders and to address Ontario’s ALC crisis. With targeted investment and intentional coordination, Ontario can build a more responsive, equitable, and sustainable system — one that restores dignity to patients, supports families, and strengthens health system capacity.
To achieve this, Mental Health Partners are calling for:
A full continuum of housing with supports — expanding transitional and permanent options that meet diverse needs, including those with developmental disabilities, complex health conditions, and co‑occurring substance use challenges. Linking housing to developmental, health, and community‑based services will ease pressures on emergency departments and improve long‑term outcomes.
Dedicated, multi‑year funding and cross‑ministry coordination — scaling hospital‑to‑home ambulatory models that ensure successful transitions to community care. Sustained investment in outreach, residential supports, and discharge planning is essential to reduce emergency department returns and provide continuity of care for individuals and families.
Funding for stepped care models — strengthening supports during transitions from hospital to primary care, while ensuring timely access to specialty mental health and developmental services. These models build primary care capacity, enable proactive monitoring, and connect individuals to higher‑intensity supports when needed.
Together, these measures will help Ontario move beyond short‑term fixes toward a system that truly meets the needs of people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.
