https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2020/11/25/final-days-of-hamiltons-emerald-lodge-neglect-disrepair-and-dysfunction.html Service providers have known about the condition of the RCF for years. Reading about the final days is horrifying and I am relieved that this facility was evacuated, yet I'm sick to my stomach... 1/9

RCFs often "cherry pick" their residents and clients deemed "hard to house" wind up at places like these because no other facility will take them. We will try to complain with the city, but it is difficult because resources are so scant. 2/9

Furthermore, residents often fear complaining due to possible retaliation. It is absolutely infuriating that it took such a crisis for the loopholes in the RCF system to be exposed. This is what I believe needs to be done: 3/9

1. Reduce the role of for-profit operators, we have first hand seen that they have not been equipped to handle a pandemic, because y'know profit over people. 4/9

2. Increase monitoring from Public Health to ensure basic needs are being met. I believe it should be on the same, if not increased level of scrutiny that restaurants receive. 5/9

3. Hire a system navigator specifically to provide support for RCF residents, ensuring they are connected with proper resources and to act as an advocate. RSWs and RSSWs know a thing or two about this stuff ;) 6/9

4. Open government, we should be able to easily access inspection reports, facility status so we can place folks in facilities that are being well managed. 7/9

5. We need to increase the personal needs allowance, folks living in RCFs currently receive approximately $140 a month for expenses not related to food or housing, this is paltry and impossible to live on. 8/9

I don't know who will see this thread, but this is what needs to be done. The system has failed and we cannot let another Emerald lodge happen again #HamOnt #onpoli @cityofhamilton @FredEisenberger @NrinderWard3 @JasonFarrHamOnt 9/9