Canada-Housing 23 homeless saves taxpayers $2M

[Lady Freedom Returns]

LFR note: Yes, you read the tittle right. It SAVES taxpayers money.


By Charles Hamilton, The StarPhoenix June 14, 2013 8:05 AM

A new study released by Saskatoon's Safe Streets Commission tracked the usage of 23 of the city's chronically homeless. What they found was shocking. These people are not criminals. They are people on the street, often panhandling for dimes and nickels. Most of them are mentally or physically disabled. And they cost taxpayers $2.8 million a year.

The Numbers

"My mouth dropped when I first saw the numbers," said Paul Gauthier, a retired manager of the city's community services department who is a prominent member of the commission.

"It's just a revolving door. We are not doing the right thing. We are not applying the right resources to the needs that these folks have. And the status quo isn't free. It's $2.8 million worth of resources that isn't giving you anything."

Read more @ http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Housing+homeless+saves+taxpayers/8523908/story.html

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Wow - a must read

At the end of article - a break down in cost savings . . .

THE COST

23 people: $2.8 million per year

Emergency room: 2,389 visits - $1.9 million

Ambulance: 1,185 trips - $385,125

Brief Deto 1,200 times - $168,000

Psychiatric Hospital: 222 visits - $222,000

Jail: 229 times - $44,850

THE SAVINGS:

95 per cent reduction in ER visits: $1.8 million

83 per cent reduction in ambulance rides: $370,000

83 per cent reduction in brief detox visits: $138,000

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Housing+homeless+saves+taxpayers/8523908/story.html#ixzz2WDTUkCGG


And I love the fact that they are acknowledging that folks aren't less deserving just because they are so addicted or mentally ill that they CAN'T get clean/straight/together enough to qualify for long term housing assistance. I.E. They are still human beings whether they are sober or have a mental health condition under control or not.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. +1. One of the reasons I wanted to post it.

[Shrike47]

3. So Pukes will propose stopping the services as the answer.

No insurance? No ambulance for you, just lie there and die or whatever.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. I don't know if the Conservatives

In Canada are taking that approach though. Who knows. Hopefully some of our Canadian members will weigh in.