Metropolis investigating Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre after criticism about administration of housing packages

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The Metropolis of Ottawa is investigating the Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre after receiving a criticism in regards to the administration of its city-funded group housing packages.

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Among the many allegations is that Metropolis of Ottawa cash earmarked for group housing was not spent on the meant packages, this newspaper has been advised, and that workers weren’t employed and a few packages weren’t supplied to the group as anticipated.

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Group housing run by group well being centres or different organizations offers a wide range of packages reminiscent of homework golf equipment, after-school packages, arts, recreation and breakfast golf equipment to residents. The Metropolis of Ottawa is offering $1,571,096 from its Sustainability Fund to Pinecrest-Queensway in 2022. The United Approach additionally funds some packages at group homes.

“The Metropolis of Ottawa investigates all complaints acquired relating to city-funded packages,” mentioned Suzanne Obiorah, its director of gender and race fairness, inclusion, Indigenous relations and social growth, in a press release.

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“On account of the considerations raised relating to Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre, metropolis workers have been working with its administration and board of administrators to make sure accountability for the supply of city-funded providers and packages. An in depth assessment is underway.”

Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre (PQCHC) CEO Christopher McIntosh confirmed the town is investigating, primarily based on an nameless criticism, “with regard to our group housing portfolio.” McIntosh and members of the board met with representatives of the town on the finish of July, he mentioned, and have been advised the town could be opening an investigation.

He mentioned the group well being centre takes considerations significantly.

“We take delight in offering important city-funded packages and providers to our group and take our accountability to our shoppers and our funders very significantly. We welcome the chance to take part within the assessment and work cooperatively to deal with any points ought to they come up.”

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PQCHC has been the main target of concern after 4 skilled health-care suppliers have been terminated with out trigger in July, leaving its busy medical clinic short-staffed throughout a interval of well being employee shortages. Some sufferers have been suggested to go to a hospital emergency division or a walk-in clinic, present and former workers advised this newspaper.

Present and former staff additionally allege a local weather of harassment and bullying all through the group that has brought about some workers to give up.

Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh mentioned she is frightened about what she has been listening to about PQCHC, together with in regards to the administration of group housing in Michelle Heights and different neighbourhoods within the ward.

“Individuals have approached me with considerations, together with workers and folks locally. I’m very involved,” she mentioned.

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She mentioned many individuals within the west-end neighbourhood take into account the group well being centre a lifeline and depend on its providers for help. The pandemic has made outreach to among the communities served by the packages tougher, she mentioned, making the group well being centre’s providers much more essential.

Kavanagh met with CEO McIntosh final week, she mentioned, to precise her concern in regards to the state of affairs and to encourage higher communication. She mentioned he emphasised that the group well being centre is reorganizing in an effort to serve extra shoppers, in keeping with different centres.

McIntosh has mentioned that the centre is present process a serious restructuring aimed toward offering wanted providers to 2,500 extra folks, partially, to take strain off the harassed well being system.

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Kavanagh additionally raised her considerations through the group well being centre’s annual basic assembly, held Tuesday.

“I mentioned I’m frightened in regards to the inner issues you’re going by way of as a result of it’s impacting this group.”

Alex Cullen, former metropolis councillor for the ward and a voting member of Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre, described the annual basic assembly, held on Zoom, as extremely uncommon and worrisome. (All group members within the well being centre’s catchment space are eligible to grow to be members and vote.)

Cullen mentioned there was no alternative for dialogue or remark, though many individuals used the “increase hand” perform to point they’d one thing to say. He mentioned folks with questions have been inspired to ship emails to the board of administrators. Individuals have been additionally advised they may learn the president’s report on the web site, he mentioned.

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“I used to be appalled there was no potential for anybody on the annual basic assembly to ask questions, to take part, even to debate motions,” he mentioned.

Cullen, who’s Kavanagh’s accomplice, mentioned he has attended quite a few annual basic conferences of organizations and accountability is a trademark. That was not the case with this assembly, he mentioned.

“That’s no technique to have accountability. Individuals want to listen to questions and listen to solutions.”

Cullen mentioned he’s wanting into whether or not members are capable of name a basic membership assembly the place they’ll ask questions.

Ottawa NDP MPPs Chandra Pasma and Joel Harden wrote a scathing letter to provincial Well being Minister Sylvia Jones this summer season urging the federal government to research the administration at PQCHC. Throughout Query Interval, the minister responded that the ministry would do its due diligence on the file.

Pinecrest-Queensway Group Well being Centre is certainly one of six group well being centres in Ottawa that present well being care and social helps to among the most susceptible locally with a give attention to social determinants of well being.