LAST WORD

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. We don’t hear those words used to describe Newfoundland and Labrador too often. Bankruptcies. Shut-downs. Lay-offs. Crises. These words of doom are often interspersed with hyperbole such as unprecedented and now, more than ever.

Such words are often used in the same breath as the phrase economic recovery. Unfortunately, the word economic tends to dominate recovery when a recovery that weaves economic, social and cultural pillars together is what is needed in order for us to become a prosperous province; a true societal recovery.

For the past six years, I’ve had the good fortune to work at Stella’s Circle, a community organization that provides housing, counselling and employment services to people who face many barriers in their lives. Our tagline is “Hope Lives Here.” And so, I must be optimistic. It’s surprisingly easy to be hopeful when you’re surrounded by people who live, and in some cases thrive, with the right supports, despite many barriers. Our approach is relationship-based. With clients as our focus, supports are uniquely shaped to meet their needs. Our holistic response to the person helps them work towards an independent and sustainable life.

A recovery for our province means moving away from crisis responses and Band-Aid solutions to focus on a holistic long term approach. Are we satisfied putting resources to growing food banks and expanding homeless shelters – because that’s not recovery. True recovery addresses the root issues of food insecurity and poverty. And while I’m not suggesting that we close food banks and shelters tomorrow, we have to recognize that they are a crisis response instead of a just recovery response. A just recovery means everyone living healthy, safe and inclusive lives.

Take, for example, the case of a person with complex needs who was living at the Waterford Hospital in St. John’s for four years. There was no obvious living arrangement outside of the institution. With two organizations working together, this person successfully transitioned to a community arrangement. Their quality of life improved dramatically, living in a safe home, surrounded by people who cared and with access to supports. Four years later, this individual continues to live a good life in the community. And, this arrangement cost less than half of being housed unnecessarily in a hospital.

When we look at government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing funding and support in many different ways to different populations and businesses, there is no question that governments can be nimble and responsive. These are two words not typically used when describing governments. The reason why they could react that way during the pandemic was because many peoples’ lives were at risk. This provided the motivation and political will to take actions that would never otherwise be contemplated.

We need that kind of action to continue because our provincial life is at risk. Our government leaders, as well as leaders within our own university and the community, need to focus now more than ever on a just recovery. Memorial University is in an enviable position of being the only university in the province, with campuses and institutes throughout the province and the world. Our university as a collective needs to develop and encourage thinkers, challengers and questioners. Partner with unusual suspects. Seek out the voice you’ve never heard before. Listen. Find solutions, together, that weave together and improve the economic, social and cultural pillars of our society. Prosperity can only exist when we pay attention to all of these pillars. To focus solely on short-term economic benefit will continue to keep us imbalanced as we move from one crisis response to the next. And the province has had enough of that. Our provincial life depends on it.

Lisa Browne is Memorial University’s 2020 Alumna of the Year and CEO of Stella’s Circle, a community organization with a mission to transform lives by offering housing, counselling and employment services.