A Door To Everything Society

Seek Help, Receive Love, Heal Within

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Invisible People: Human Beings First
& Housing First

Invisible People traveled to Finland to see the remarkable success they are having reducing homelessness.

Finland’s success is credited to the innovative Housing First—which began in North America.

Where Housing First is Used

Widely adopted in North America:
Housing First is increasingly used across the United States and Canada, with many cities implementing programs based on this model.

Origin:
The concept is often attributed to the “Pathways to Housing” program in New York City, which demonstrated the effectiveness of providing immediate housing to individuals with severe mental illness and substance use issues.

Benefits of Housing First

Increased housing stability:
Research indicates that Housing First (with constant support) can significantly improve the likelihood of individuals maintaining stable housing compared to traditional approaches.

Improved quality of life:
Access to stable housing can provide a foundation for individuals to address other challenges and improve their overall well-being.

Cost-effectiveness:
Studies suggest that Housing First can be cost-effective in the long term by reducing reliance on emergency shelters and healthcare services.

This model offers stable housing as the primary intervention, complemented by essential support services to address the root causes of homelessness and help individuals rebuild their lives.

Amid the escalating homelessness crisis in the United States, evidence-backed solutions like Housing First often take a back seat to counterproductive measures like criminalizing poverty and conducting homeless sweeps.

Skeptics argue that Finland’s achievements cannot be replicated in America, so Invisible People embarked on a transformative journey to Helsinki, Finland, to explore the potential of implementing the Housing First approach on a large scale in the United States.

Finland has embraced Housing First and witnessed an incredible reduction in homelessness, plummeting from over 20,000 homeless people to less than 4,000 in just a decade.

Below is Finland’s remarkable approach, presenting an authentic narrative that showcases the transformative power of compassionate policies, and affordable housing.

Invisible People:
Finland Solved Homelessness: Here’s How
(Spoiler—It’s More Than Housing First)

December 23, 2023

Countless media outlets have highlighted Finland’s achievements in homelessness reduction, with the Housing First model at the forefront.

Invisible People’s investigation uncovered that the Finnish approach goes beyond Housing First.

Finland’s strategy involves prioritizing the development of affordable housing and cultivating a culture genuinely dedicated to improving homeless services to house people quickly and permanently.

While Housing First has played a significant role in their success, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Unlike the United States, where the emphasis often lies solely on housing placement, Finland recognizes that people need more than just a roof over their heads to thrive.

In Finland, they prioritize placing the individual within the housing unit, ensuring that they have a sense of purpose rather than merely survival.

When I looked up Invisible People, the video below was at the top of their YouTube page:

Invisible People:
Homeless to Homeowner

December 31, 2024

Kensington Ave., Philadelphia, is often portrayed as hopeless—a place defined by addiction and homelessness, but stories like Kali’s prove that transformation is possible with the right support.

Kali, who once lived as a homeless drug addict on Kensington Boulevard, shares her incredible journey:

“I’ve been sober for almost a year now, and I just bought a house. I never thought this would be my life, but Prevention Point helped me believe it could be.”

Prevention Point, a nonprofit in Kensington, plays a vital role in turning lives around.

[Read more…]

By

Jordan B. Peterson: Extensive Commonsense
Addiction Recovery in Alberta Canada

Alberta vs Ottawa: A New Vision of Health | Minister Dan Williams

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Dan Williams.

They discuss how Canada became the epicenter of the world’s opioid crisis, the federal approach that only enables further addiction, the demoralization of Canadians as the country’s future continues to destabilize, and the efforts needed to right the ship — before it is too late.

Dan Williams was sworn in as the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction on June 9, 2023.

He was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Peace River on April 16, 2019, and was reelected on May 29, 2023.

Minister Williams has been tasked with implementing Alberta’s mental health and addiction strategy, known as the Alberta Recovery Model.

This policy model focuses on the fact that recovery is possible, no matter what addiction or mental health challenge someone may face.

Under his leadership, Alberta is building 11 recovery communities across the province, a record-breaking expansion to long-term addiction treatment.

He has connected with communities, First Nations, and families dealing with the addiction crisis.

Alberta has now established a new mental health and addiction agency, Recovery Alberta, which is funded and overseen by the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction.

The province, under Minister Williams, is also investing in mental health services, especially for children and youth.

Partnerships with service providers are expanding services across the entire province and connecting families with the mental health support they need.

This episode was filmed on October 31st, 2024.

****

(3:20) An overview of the provincial Canadian structure
(7:11) The rise of populism and grassroots movements
(12:54) Campaign restrictions on finances and duration
(14:40) The provinces vs. the federal government, equalization (
19:21) Why does Alberta put up with transfer payments? Treated as second class citizens
(20:34) Alberta and Newfoundland: unity through oil and natural gas
(23:55) Alberta has the third largest fossil fuel reserves in the world, Trudeau’s most contentious appointee

(29:20) Premier Danielle Smith: modifying the Albertan Bill of Rights to forbid vaccine mandates

(35:47) Reducing the power of the regulatory boards, mandated affirmation from licensed professionals
(40:24) “The institutions have fundamentally failed at their roles,” the influx of oxycodone and lost trust

(48:03) The Alberta Recovery Model – an economically viable solution for homelessness and drug abuse
(51:42) The co-occurrence of alcoholism and drug addiction
(53:53) How one crisis became two: oxycodone over-prescription caused the opioid epidemic in North America
(1:01:20) Religious transformation and breaking the addiction cycle

(1:06:27) The policy response exempted criminal drug abuse, focusing on a “safe drug supply” only made the problem worse

(1:17:44) Addiction anthropology: addressing the heart of the problem

(1:22:44) The first practical steps in detoxifying Canada

(1:25:13) Recovery capital, dismantling the lawless gang-run drug encampments

1:34 San Patrignano in Italy – the original therapeutic long-term stay community

(1:35:04) Addressing Conservative skepticism and balancing government-run intervention

1:38 Compassion, Francis George, an American clergyman: Our society is one that permits, allows and encourages everything but forgives nothing . . . . no consequences for actions . . . . gang encampments are threats to civil order

1:40 New legislation in Alberta spring 2025, Compassionate Intervention: If someone is a danger to themselves or others due to their substance use or addiction ,within a reasonable amount of time are going to cause harm to themselves or others, then it is societies responsibility to intervene because the alternative to that intervention is tragedy, is death . . .

(1:43:50) We need credible longitudinal data to disprove the corrupt institutions

1:47 In Alberta, 42-50% decrease in opioid decreases in the last month . . . the culture of recovery is working . . . truly care . . .

[Read more…]

By

3 Videos, Deeper Understanding:
Thousands of Deaths
from Recreational Drugs
Spiked with Fentanyl
& the Divine Mother

Understanding the Fentanyl Crisis
John Leake, Courageous Discourse, January 4, 2024

https://petermcculloughmd.substack.com/p/understanding-the-fentanyl-crisis

Austin Police Department veteran gives excellent overview

Over the last year I’ve heard multiple stories of young people taking what they thought were recreational drugs—or pharmaceutical drugs for recreational purposes—that turned out to be spiked with fatal quantifies of fentanyl.

Fentanyl is making its way into a wide range of drugs, including stimulants. This means that, even if young people believe they are playing with typical party drugs such as cocaine, adderall, MDMA (“ecstasy”) or Xanax, they may in fact ingesting a lethal dose of fentanyl.

By current estimates, 112,000 Americans died in 2023 from accidental drug overdose or poisoning.

That’s twice the number of American servicemen who died in ten years of combat in Vietnam.

An irony resulting from lethal doses of fentanyl turning up in cocaine is that it has prompted more than one Drug Dunce among my old friends to kick the habit cold turkey.

This reminds me of Samuel Johnson’s famous remark:

“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”

Contemplating the prospect of dying after snorting a line of coke has concentrated their minds wonderfully on quitting.

Ten months ago, Austin Police Department veteran Anthony Hipolito had a long conversation with Dr. Peter Attia about the Fentanyl crisis.

Given that simple prohibition doesn’t work very well with anyone—and especially not with teenagers—parents are facing the imperative the try to discuss this massive problem with their kids in a candid way.

As we try to make sense of news reports of young people dying suddenly and unexpectedly, it’s worth bearing in mind that fentanyl-induced death happens very quickly after the victim consumes the drug.

If witnesses are at hand (within the context of a party or other social event) they will likely observe the victim pass out and stop breathing.

 

A father’s candid discourse about his son’s life, passing, his long bereavement turned to action.

Thank you, Dad, for your dedication to a solution for this . . .

https://fentanylfathers.org/

 

This is Kathleen: I was invited back to John Volken Academy, here in Vancouver, BC, on Thursday, January 4th, to do card readings with the women.

A whole new group is there now, in recovery. (When my granddaughter was born, my attention, and availability to volunteer shifted.)

It’s been over a year since I’ve visited this therapeutic community; exciting to hear about changes coming – they will have a proper detox facility incorporated into their cluster of buildings.

I stayed for 3 hours, did 10 readings, and was really impressed with this group, many dedicated to giving back, having had their lived experiences, their trauma, to draw upon to effect the changes so needed.

Ascension is happening, we are evolving. We can’t help but evolve.

From the Divine Mother, the Universal Law of Change:

What are the Universal Laws except what we have laid down to help you understand How Things Work?

It is very simple.

So it is an acceptance.

[Read more…]

By

In Vancouver’s DTES
Volunteering at WISH Foundation

 

Since the late summer of 2023, I have been volunteering once a month, doing card readings at WISH Foundation in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside from 7-9 pm or longer, as wanted.

When I arrive at WISH there is usually parking right outside the door where I’m buzzed in. Up 2 flights of stairs to the cafeteria-style eating area and I set up in the Art Room. I haven’t asked to take photos; maybe in the New Year we’ll do a group photo. I’m pleased to see the ones I’ve seen before, and there are always new faces, every time I visit.

Tibetan singing bowl

Usually I bring my cards and singing bowl. Often, I’ll play the singing bowl, to demonstrate how the energies spin for the letting go.

Addiction stems from our tendency to not want to face into pain, usually from this life, but often a carry-over from other lifetimes. Earth is not an easy place to incarnate.

Last night, Christmas was being celebrated at WISH, including a nice dinner with gifts. Jenny, my contact person, was happy for the readings to be added into the festivities. When I arrive, someone runs around putting names on a list, and we proceed in an orderly fashion. . . or not so orderly. One never knows what is going to happen.

Before I leave my apartment, I always call in the Other Side; I sense who’s up for a visit into the drug-addled world. I feel totally protected knowing my Circle and other beings are all around me. It is really sad to see the devastating effects drugs and alcohol have on these beautiful people.

I’ll never forget my first time at WISH. I had an older lady lambast me when I arrived, “What good will Tarot readings do?!” Not sure where my calmness came from but I asked her if she would like a reading, and when she said, “Yes” we sat down where her things were, and proceeded. She did not want to leave her things to be in the Art Room. Theft of personal items is a big issue.

My readings help to understand inner balance very simply. She was agitated, but this angry one was able to hear what I was saying, and after, she blessed me — introduction by fire to doing readings at WISH — that night I did not leave until after 10 pm.

In many of the readings, I just listen to the woes, but I’m always surprised how deep individual understandings are about How Things Work in the higher realms, their connections to their many friends and relatives who have passed over, their guides, Archangel Michael and the Divine Mother energy.

Often staff want readings on their breaks. With these readings I tend to ask questions about how they feel the government is proceeding with help for our people. Unfortunately, not much has changed. This year we lost over 2000 loved ones to overdose, the highest number recorded in one year for our province.

A few years ago, I designed a therapeutic community, put it on paper, and am holding the vision for my province of British Columbia, the other provinces across Canada and the states in America to build many of these, to provide the funding to those with this as their sacred purpose to get going . . .

Often the Other Side will send beings to me, where I do readings (not volunteering) in Fort Langley, who are working on projects. I had a lady in the summer excited about BC opening up new funding for the expansion of her therapeutic community.

The Alberta government is revamping their health system and building 10 therapeutic communities for those ready to go into recovery.

Click on video above to learn more about addiction in Canada; at 1 hour 8 minutes in, Aarron Gunn talks about Alberta’s plan for those struggling with addiction.

The Alberta Model is based on a therapeutic community, San Patrignano, in Rimini, Italy. San Pat has a 72% success rate, has helped thousands:

Going into our DTES or other places of recovery is a way for me to keep a finger on the pulse of what is happening and add a little comfort to those in the dark night of the soul or on the other side of it.

For 2024, I Am asking for help
from the beings that can,
invisible and visible,
for the building of more
therapeutic communities
for our ones struggling with extreme addiction.

[Read more…]

By

Volunteering as a Reader
at WISH Foundation
in Vancouver’s DTES

 

Three times now in the last few months, I’ve been to WISH Foundation on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 to do readings, but mostly to listen to the women speak of their struggles with addiction, their pain and issues. We laugh, we cry, we process together.

Some of the staff at the Foundation have been curious and wanted readings, too. What amazing stories of resilience, from the street to giving back, working to help with the change.

All these women are incredible. It is an honour to be invited. My next visit will be September 14th.

****

Almost two years ago, October 2020, WISH created  a shelter. Here is a post in the Vancouver Sun and below is info from their website, October 2021, a year after it was created.

[Read more…]