Thank you, Mr. May, and my thanks to the committee for inviting the Mental Health Commission of Canada to speak here today.
This week in Canada 500,000 Canadians have called in sick to work because of a mental illness. This week isn't special. The same thing happened last week; the same thing will happen next week. While it's not the same 500,000 people every week, some are. Some will be experiencing a protracted illness, and some will not be able to return to their work. Not being able to sustain employment leads, of course, to financial difficulties, which can spiral into poverty and homelessness.
The timing of my being here today is excellent, because it comes on the heels of the release of the final sustainability study on At Home/Chez Soi, released in November. As many of you may know, At Home/Chez Soi was the largest research project of its kind in the world and has since been replicated internationally. It involved more than 2,000 participants in five cities across the country over five years, and proved beyond a doubt that a Housing First approach can rapidly end homelessness for those experiencing mental illness, who account for approximately 64% of homeless people.
The study proved beyond doubt that Housing First works and has had an impact on improving housing policy, especially as it relates to reducing poverty. I can't stress strongly enough how gratified we are that our voice has been heard. In fact, earlier this year the mayor of Medicine Hat announced that a Housing First approach has been used to eradicate homelessness in that community in Alberta.
Access to safe, affordable, secure housing has been proven to be cost-effective. In fact, we know that it costs less to provide stable, permanent housing augmented by social supports. It's not housing only; it's Housing First, and even with supported housing and subsidized housing and the augmentation of intensive case management or assertive community treatment, it's still cheaper than having people cycle through shelters, temporary accommodation, emergency departments, and even incarceration.
Just yesterday, our president and CEO, Louise Bradley, released a statement congratulating the federal government for engaging Canadians in the development of a national housing strategy. When we are crafting a national plan, the urgent challenges faced by people living with mental health problems and illnesses must be top of mind, since the need for affordable housing among this vulnerable population is nearly double that of the general population. We know that safe and secure housing has a profound and life-changing impact on a person's health and well-being, which is why it's enshrined in the mental health strategy for Canada, Changing Directions, Changing Lives.
At the commission we often say that everyone needs a home, a job, and a friend. That's of course an oversimplification of the broader social determinants of health, but I mention it here because housing is only one component of the puzzle. Recovery from mental illness is not only possible, it's expected. When I say “recovery”, that always raises some eyebrows, because people sometimes hear “cure”. I don't mean cure; I mean recovery—leading a full, healthy, fulfilling life despite some limitations in much the same way that people with chronic physical illnesses do.
I myself have a heart condition. I had a heart attack in 2006, yet when you look at me, I hope you don't see a heart patient. I hope you see a fully functional Canadian. I'm healthy and I'm recovered, but I'm not cured. I will always take medications every morning. I will always have a regular exercise regimen. I will always see a cardiologist. I will always lie to my cardiologist about my diet.