The right hand, the left hand

Can you identify the problem here?

Eco Green Homes on Gottingen is building some co-housing.  The hang up is funding for full time attendants for the four residents (2 slots x 3 shifts) at about $200,000/yr.  $50,000/year each (add in rent - $10,000/year?).  Remember that number - $60,000 each.  

“This is a four-bedroom apartment with a larger than normal common space and a two well-designed handicap accessible bathrooms,” they said. “The bedrooms are slightly larger than normal so the attendants can lift them in and out of the bed.” 

Wendy Lill says in an Op-Ed in the Chronicle.

Over the course of the (Human Rights) hearing, Nova Scotians learned that the three complainants, and an unknown number of other individuals, were unnecessarily held for years in the Nova Scotia Hospital’s Emerald Hall because the provincial government failed to provide them with supported community living. 

From the Board of Inquiry decision in the hearing Ms. Lill refers to:

Page 2

Emerald Hall is a unit of the Nova Scotia Hospital. We visited Emerald Hall as a part of this proceeding. Emerald Hall is a locked unit located on the ground floor of one building of the Hospital complex. Emerald Hall is currently programmed for 15 beds.

Page 51

Mr. Fagan says in his written report that, in his view, Ms MacLean “could have been successfully integrated into a group home or small option setting during the same time she was living at KRRC” and thereafter. He estimates the cost of care at an RRSS facility to fall within the range of $463.50 to $841.86 per day depending on the number of staff required from time to time.

Page 91

 Emerald Hall at the Nova Scotia Hospital is a Health, not a Community Services facility.  The disabled people about whom we heard evidence were, in fact, served by both Departments as disabled people.

Get it now?  The province spends $500/day or $182,500/yr (at the low end of Fagan's range) for each complainant who was held at Emerald Hall.  And the reason?

We're talking silos here - units of government have difficulty working together and sharing resources effectively. Taxpayers are paying three times the going rate because Health and Wellness can't be bothered to talk to Community Services.  

And lives get ruined.  It's complicated, and when departments don't talk, people with disabilities often get hurt.  If Education is training lots of people, Labour needs to prepare to receive them.  Here's a diagram where the width of the ribbon reflects how wide the communication channel needs to be.....