Homelessness and poverty among local seniors is a growing concern for CMHA executive director

Sandie Sidsworth – Executive Director of the local Canadian Mental Health Association branch

By Suzanne Coolen

BELLEVILLE – Sandie Sidsworth says she’s concerned about the increasing number of seniors dealing with poverty and homelessness in Belleville.

Sidsworth is the executive director of the local Canadian Mental Health Association branch.

QNetNews sat down with her as part of our Municipal Election Project.

“One of the things that I am noticing that has been quite concerning to us, is in the last six months we have probably seen half our caseload that’s coming in homeless is ages 55 and up. In fact we have had 70 year-olds come in that were homeless.”

Sidsworth says it has been difficult to find support and housing for some cases.

Sidsworth says that although we see affluence among the senior population there is also a flip-side.

Sidsworth says that another issue among some seniors facing poverty is hoarding.

QNetNews also asked Sidsworth what she would like to see the new council focus on. She says that we need to have plans in place so that people do not fall through the cracks.