Houselink Community Homes is now Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing.
Imagine for a moment when people living with mental health challenges and/or addictions could be housed to help them recover. There is a connection between mental health, addictions and homelessness. Some 86% of homeless people have had either the diagnosis of mental illness or are struggling with substance abuse.
At this moment, over 19,000 people are registered on a city-wide waiting list for supportive housing in the City of Toronto. At Houselink & Mainstay, a house is so much more than a roof over your head; it represents dignity, security and hope.
The economic impact of inadequate housing and homelessness is high. According to the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA), it costs $69 per day for a shelter bed, $143 per day to keep a person in prison and $665 per day for a psychiatric inpatient bed. Compare this now to the cost of supportive or social housing at $25 – $31 per day.
Supportive housing is the solution helping to save taxpayer dollars. Beyond the cost savings, getting people off the streets improves their physical and mental health.
See the impact you can make in your community:
- $100 feeds 35 people a healthy balanced meal. You can Adopt-a-Kitchen today for the price of a meal in a Toronto restaurant
- $50.00 per month will help a child join an arts, cultural or sports group of their choice