Acrylic on canvas, 20x20in - 2022
Lesley is a nurse practitioner (NP) and has worked in the Mission’s health clinic for the past six years. Staffed by NPs from OICH and colleagues from The Mission, she also confers with healthcare providers external to the shelter. She is also responsible for ordering tests, lab work, and patient follow-up.
Lesley has learned much about homelessness and the barriers to care facing vulnerable people. “Clients often have mental health issues or addictions that make health and social services system navigation difficult for them. OICH and The Mission have peer support workers to take patients to appointments, which is very helpful.”
“We try to keep vulnerable community members healthy and support them as much as possible. It’s an honour for me to be part of this team, and very meaningful to provide these services. It’s a caring environment — staff really care about people within the shelter and the community.