Resolving the collision of public and private interests

Issue #129

HOMELESSNESS – Causes and costs, cures and prevention

Whether it be corrections, addictions, immigration, mental health, child welfare, health, including education – people “served” are unprepared to transition from public services to communities that are also unprepared to receive them. Homelessness is the result and it is growing.

Fusion Energy Workshop 24OCT23 – FOR MORE

KEI LIBRARY

Last week – Visit

Healthcare Reform –  Making It Real This Time!

WEBINAR

HOMELESSNESS (Episode #1) – Housing First. Exploring the fix and the future featuring Tim Aubry

4:00PM MST Thursday

October 5th, 2023

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82390691947

Last week’s concluding episode webinar HERE of HEALTHCARE REFORM – Making It Real This Time! featured a panel chaired by Denis Vincent, with the panelists: Ted Ball, Perter Fenwick, and Shawn Whatley.  The discussion featured each panelist’s views about INNOVATION, CHOICE, PRIMARY CARE and LEADERSHIP for transitioning Canada’s healthcare system from one dominated by supply considerations to one that is focused and accountable for patient care. Waiting for change and waiting for service has become intolerable. Action must speak louder than words.

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HOMELESSNESS – Failed public service transitions

Few communities are free of the growing problem of homelessness. We hear of affordable housing shortages as a contributing factor for the general population. But the problem of homelessness starts with the failure of public service programs. Communities not ready to receive  people not ready to integrate. Deinstitutionalization often leading to the “dumping” of people on the communites when neither are prepared. Prisons – former prisoners reoffending. Addictions – recidivism is over 80%. Mental health – medicated but no where to go. Child welfare – children dumped at age 18. Immigration – overwhelming public services. Education – K-12 and advanced education graduates unemployed.

Geraldo Rivera in 1972 videoed the conditions in a public institution on Staten Island , “I’ve shown you what it looks like. You’ve heard what it sounded like. But I can’t tell you what it smelled like!” HERE The video served well those advocating for the closure of institutions – the mass housing of marginalized populations. Advocates – including the governments saw the opportunity as one of cost-savings, closing expensive facilities but ignoring the relevance of preparing the people, preparing the community, and developing the service infrastructure. The consequences – the homeless, were anticipated in a warning by Michael Foucalult in his book Madness and Civilization. In his history of insanity, he explores the origin of institutions that served to purge communities of leprosy and the subsequent cyle of de- and re-institutionalization, from back wards to back alleys… and back again.  Geraldo may not dare today to visit the public spaces of some of our communities. Michael may reflect “I warned you!”

The consequences on everyone are horrific and growing. Who cares? Many communities have drafted programs with deadlines to rid their alleys and public places of the homeless. The deadlines are rarely met. Governments today are encouraging communities to prepare. For a start many are adopting an array of housing options – yes, even starting with tents.  HERE  Caution though, are institutions – the mass housing of marginalized populations far behind?  Too often the preferred solution is one that offers to save money, regardless of the social consequences.

We’ve ventured into the chaos, often overwhelmed by the complexity and shear volume of the problem. We learned that compassion is not enough, and while housing and treatment programs help, few identify the necessity to fix the public service programs that are so ineffective in helping people make the transition to community. The welfare state is in crisis – the evidence is overwhelming and clear – the homeless in pubic places. Public service programs are failing to prepare people and communities for the transition – just go downtown and take a peek.  – Editor, Perry Kinkaide

HOMELESSNESS WEBINAR (Episode #1) –

Housing First. Exploring the fix and the future

As we venture into an exploration of homelessness it is only apropos to get a handle on who are the homeless and how to address this growing and complex problem in our communjities today. The homeless have been the subject of extensive research by Dr. Tim Aubry HERE  He is well spoken and a strong advocate for Housing First. He has agree to participate in an interview to open the series of episodes through October exploring the causes and cosst, cures and prevention of homelessness.

   Tim Aubry is a Full Professor in the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa.

He is currently Co-Chair of the Canadian Housing First Network – Community of Interest. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated on research projects with community organizations and government at all levels, contributing to the development of effective social programs and policies. Dr. Aubry was a Member of the National Research Team and the Co-Lead of the Moncton site in At Home / Chez Soi Demonstration Project of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. In 2012, he received the Contribution to Evaluation in Canada award from the Canadian Evaluation Society. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association). Dr. Aubry teaches graduate courses at the University of Ottawa in community psychology and program evaluation.

WORKSHOP

Fusion Energy: where are we at?

 The Canadian Workshop on Fusion Energy science and Technology (CWFEST-2023) is proud to present 12 global experts on the latest news from the global fusion energy ecosystem on 24 October 2023.

This virtual workshop will feature Omar Hurricane present on how the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) was able to keep the fusion reaction running for a second time, replicating their landmark experiment in December 2022.

Megan Wilson from Canada’s General Fusion will present on their new Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) machine to be developed in Vancouver, Canada and Andrew Holland from the Fusion Industry Association will speak on the commercialization of fusion energy globally, which may be quicker than you think.

Listen to experts from: Commonwealth Fusion Systems, First Light Fusion, Marvel fusion, Thea Energy, Helion Fusion, TAE Fusion, Xcimer Energy and Avalanche Energy discuss their unique approaches to commercializing fusion energy ranging from magnetic to inertial to stellarators.

This workshop will be of interest to researchers, students, government funders, entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone wanting to learn more about where fusion is today and the next steps.

For more information and registration visit the CWFEST website  https://www.xcdsystem.com/cns/program/iP2V2Rk/index.cfm?pgid=1520

We look forward to seeing you at the workshop.

CWFEST-2023 is Cohosted by:

 Canadian Nuclear Society – Fusion Energy and Accelerator Science and Technology Division (CNS-FEASTD)

Fusion Energy Council of Canada (FECC)