Support House spoke to our club about connecting health, housing and social supports across Halton, and about their new Community Health Centre coming to Brant Street and Ghent Avenue.
The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore welcomed Thawany Monteiro, RSW, MSW, Manager of Interdisciplinary Primary Care and Quality, and Dr. Tujuanna Austin, MSc, PhD, Director of Interdisciplinary Primary Care, from Support House as our guest speakers.
Who They Are
Support House is a non-profit that connects health, housing and social supports for people across Halton Region. They meet people where they are, work with them rather than around them, and believe everyone has the right to fair care. They also partner with Wesley Shelter and Wellington Square to support people facing homelessness and poverty.
Finding a Family Doctor
Many people in Burlington still don’t have a family doctor, and most of them live in North Burlington. Without one, many people turn to hospitals for care, which costs the system more. Support House runs a free program called Find Your Family Doctor to help match people with a provider.
A New Community Health Centre
Support House is building its first Community Health Centre at Brant Street and Ghent Avenue. Along with medical care, the centre will offer laundry, showers, phone access and help getting Ontario photo ID, since these basics often stand in the way of getting care. People without OHIP, or who need services OHIP doesn’t cover, will not be turned away.
Our Thank-You
Polio vaccines were donated in honour of both speakers to support Rotary’s work to end polio. Club President Brent Paszt and Community Services Co-Chair Paul Silva presented their certificates of appreciation.
Get Involved
The Community Health Centre will hold an Open House on November 27. Support House is building new partnerships and welcomes donations. Learn more at supporthouse.ca.
Photo: Club President Brent Paszt, Thawany Monteiro and Dr. Tujuanna Austin of Support House, and Community Services Co-Chair Paul Silva.
