Homeless Resource Search: North York General Hospital.

This one hurts because I had higher hopes for things working out as planned.

My plan: Admit myself to the local hospital. Explain my situation. Given that I couldn’t possibly do my post-op care (dilations) on the streets, there should be a priority for my well-being. Then I can do my post-op care there in the hospital until I find a more permanent living arrangement. It won’t even have to be that long either.

What happened instead: The doctor I saw has never met a post-op trans girl, so she’s working with limited knowledge. After taking care of my vaginal wound and prescribing me medication for my UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), I was basically discharged by the doctor and can now be on my merry way.

…wait, what?

Yeah, that was almost a total bust.

Paramedics

So since I’m expecting an extended stay in the hospital, I packed all my things. Next, I called for paramedics via the non-emergency number. There’s usually a $45 fee for the ambulance, but ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) covers that. So I essentially have “free” transportation to the hospital.

And even if my post-op care wasn’t necessarily serious, I still needed to go to the hospital anyway regarding the vaginal wound I had (hypergranulation).

So the paramedics arrive and I explain my situation, and the paramedic guy is actually super nice and sweet. The entire time, up to when he had to leave the hospital room, he was supportive of what I was going through and I felt very comfortable sharing my experiences with him.

He’s cautiously optimistic though of what might actually happen, so as to not get my hopes up. He even thoughtfully suggests a nearby women’s shelter.

Emergency Response

I’m in the ER with a little too much things to carry, but I’m seen eventually by the doctor.

Unlike my last visit though, it’s a female doctor (yah!), but she is not familiar with the

surgery I had. In fact, if I remember correctly, I was actually the first post-op trans girl she has had as a patient.

Once again though, as I did with the nurse before here, I explain everything. I also came prepared with all the documents from where I got the surgery in Montreal.

However, after applying silver nitrate to my wound and prescribing medication for the UTI I suspected, and was confirmed that I had, I was given the all-clear to go home.

…Um, yeah.

To be fair, the doctor did offer the room I was in to do my post-op care but I’m not sure how I would get to a shower quickly thereafter.

And you would think there would be a concern about making sure my wound doesn’t reopen…like it did last time, hence why I’m here again.

But hold on, there’s a social worker I can see…in the morning at 8 AM.

It’s 9 PM the day before right now.

Okay, no biggie. I can wait. Can I have a bed at least to sleep overnight?

No.

Like, I was actually denied more than once when I asked, and I even asked if I could be transferred to another hospital that would. And this is when it’s hard for me to sit down because of how painful the vaginal treatment was.

It caught me by surprise because CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) gives beds to their overnight ER patients.

Unfortunately, I was told I would have to start the whole process again if I left to go to another hospital, so I put on my big girl skirt and slept in one of the wider hospital chairs in the waiting room (I got a blanket/sheet at least).

As expected, I got an uncomfortable and inconsistent rest.

Social Worker

Okay, that sucked but let’s see what the social worker has to offer.

The male social worker greets me and is super nice, kind and empathetic. (Geez, where are these guys on dating apps when you need them).

He goes away for a couple of hours, but this entire time he’s working meticulously to find resources for me.

Unfortunately, even with all the resources he found, finding an actual bed for me somewhere is impossible, even for him.

It’s actually been this way for a while he tells me. And I know what he means.

When I came to Canada in 2020, I was placed in a refugee shelter. And sure, being in a shelter sucks, but I got into it with no problem at all.

Now it’s completely different. Now it’s like a luck of a draw to get a bed.

And remember when I asked for a hospital bed? It seems like the same rules would apply to any other hospital I go to. Unless I’m too sick to literally walk, there’s no reason to keep me.

Big yikes.

I’m not left empty handed though. Like I said, he did find a whole lot of resources:

• COSTI
• ARCS Program
• The Housing Help Centre
• Central Intake *(눈_눈)
• Boarding Home Options
• Kijiji listings
• Extensive list of homeless/housing resources

My time at North York Hospital comes to an end, so now I have to catch a ride back home with all of my stuff. Thankfully I had just enough money in my account to get a ride instead of using the bus, because holy shit, was I physically and emotionally exhausted.

Oh, what’s this? Dana sent another message?

 Ugh. Thanks, “Mom”.

Recommendation: MIXED

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