A Call for Help:

Call for Help: Addressing the Silent Crisis of Alcohol Abuse, Dementia, and Housing Insecurity for Women in Vancouver

Dear Elizabeth May, Justin Trudeau, David Eby, and Ken Sim,

I'm writing to you today not just as a concerned citizen, but as someone who is living through an incredibly difficult situation that I know many other women in Vancouver, and across Canada, are facing. It's a situation that is rarely talked about but is becoming more widespread as our population ages and the cost of living skyrockets.

The intersection of alcohol abuse, dementia, and housing insecurity is a silent crisis that is deeply affecting the lives of women, especially older women, in this city. It's happening behind closed doors, in families that are already stressed, isolated, and struggling to make ends meet. I know because I’m living it.

Alcohol abuse has touched many lives around me. Those struggling with both alcohol addiction and dementia face a particularly difficult battle. Their unpredictable behavior, fueled by a combination of these issues, makes it challenging to ensure safety—for them and for those trying to care for them. It’s exhausting, both emotionally and physically, to manage these situations. And it often leaves caregivers and loved ones with nowhere to turn for help.

What makes it worse is the silence. People fear speaking up about needing to leave a situation where they no longer feel safe, worried that they’ll be judged, or even retaliated against. There’s the fear of what may happen during an episode of aggression or confusion, and the shame of admitting that they can’t handle it anymore. But the reality is, there are no safe places to go. For older women in Vancouver, finding affordable housing is next to impossible. With rents over $2000, job prospects diminishing with age, and a lack of support services, there are no options left.

During COVID, I witnessed firsthand how alcohol became a coping mechanism for so many people. Now, the consequences of that are all around us. Mental health has deteriorated, and alcohol dependency has made already tense and volatile situations even worse—especially in households dealing with dementia.

What is truly heartbreaking is that this crisis is largely invisible. Family members often step in to help, but they too are dealing with their own struggles, and the burden becomes too much to bear. In my own life, I have moved multiple times, and now I find myself in the middle of winter with nowhere to go. The people I could have turned to for help are also struggling with alcohol and dementia. I feel trapped, and I know I am not alone.

This is not just my story. This is happening to so many women in Vancouver and beyond. Women who are quietly enduring dangerous, unhealthy living situations because there is no alternative. Women who are too afraid to ask for help because they know the shelters are full, the rent is too high, and the job market is unforgiving.

I am reaching out to you because this crisis cannot continue to be ignored. We need:

1. *Affordable housing* options specifically targeted at older women and those who are caregivers for people with dementia and alcohol dependency.

  

2. *Specialized support services *and shelters that understand the unique challenges of dealing with dementia and alcohol abuse in the same household. There needs to be a safe place to go for those who can no longer manage these situations on their own.

  

3. *Public acknowledgment of this crisis.* The silence around alcohol abuse and dementia, especially in older populations, is only making things worse. We need open conversations about the resources and support systems that are needed, as well as a strategy to address the long-term impacts of these issues.

I know that the Green Party has a strong commitment to mental health and social services, and I believe that these issues need to be brought to the forefront. Prime Minister Trudeau, you have spoken about supporting Canadians in times of need, and this is a time of urgent need. David Eby, as Premier, housing and support services must be a priority if we are to make Vancouver a livable city for everyone. And Ken Sim, as Mayor of Vancouver, you have the power to make sure the city responds to the growing needs of its most vulnerable residents.

This is a plea not just for me, but for all the women who are in situations like mine. We need your help, and we need it now.

Sincerely,  

Tina Winterlik  

Vancouver, BC