Love working with @readlocallove #Repost @readlocallove ・・・ Jason Smith had a problem with gambling. He was low on cash and experiencing homelessness, but betting at casinos was a way to escape his troubles. And though he wanted to stop, he just couldn’t. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That’s why, when he found himself at Toronto’s @goodshepherd_to, he was just looking for a place to stay. Instead, Smith found a program that would help get his gambling under control—and his life back on track. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Led by Dr. Flora Matheson, the shelter’s Gambling Addictions Program is one-of-a-kind. The pilot project offers individual counselling, client-centred case management and a life-skills group that focuses on issues related to gambling. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Matheson started working with the shelter in 2013 when she reached out and asked them about their clients’ relationship with problem gambling. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “There wasn’t a lot of research done at that point in time, and so I was interested in actually doing a qualitative study,” she says. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Good Shepherd surveyed 264 clients who were experiencing homelessness, and found that 35% of them also dealt with problem gambling. That’s 9 times higher than the general population, Matheson says. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In 2016, she took her findings and launched the pilot project. By working in a shelter environment, her team can address a problem that’s often overlooked. They’ve even put together a resource guide so shelter workers can better serve their clients. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Much like substance abuse, problem gambling can affect anyone. But Matheson’s research shows that it’s more prevalent among people who are underhoused or experiencing homelessness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “There’s a real lack of awareness of problem gambling in general, and even more so in [the homeless] population.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📸: @brookewedlockschaal #doinggood #givingback #gambling #knowyourlimit #wcw #changemaker #torontophoto #torontophotographer #portrait #portraitphotography #photography #photographer #naturallighting (at Toronto, Ontario)
