In 1998, St. Michael’s Hospital’s past CEO Jeff Lozon founded MAP during a turbulent time. The hospital was facing a major financial crisis. A forced and highly controversial merger sparked fears and protest among incoming staff and physicians. Yet these two challenges ultimately defined MAP’s mission and unique value, and pushed St. Michael's to evolve into the national leader it is today.

Stephen Hwang and Ahmed Bayoumi were two of the very first scientists recruited to what was then known as the “Inner City Health Research Unit.” In this reflective and heartfelt discussion, Jeff, Stephen and Ahmed look back at MAP’s beginnings and what it meant to embed an equity-focused research centre within St. Michael’s Hospital.

The short documentary 'Searching for Home' follows three young people as they transition out of homelessness. An intimate portrayal of young people on the margins, the 26-minute film is a companion to the MAP Transitioning Youth Out of Homelessness study, led by MAP scientist Naomi Thulien. In this special episode of MAPmaking, we spoke with Naomi and the film’s director and producer, Catie Lamer, about what it was like to make the documentary in collaboration with the young people it featured, and the research that inspired the film.

The film is beautiful, moving and honest. Naomi is hoping it will spark a national conversation about how Canada can better support youth who are – in many ways – trapped in cycles of poverty and homelessness, through no fault of their own. Watch 'Searching for Home' for free at www.searchingforhome.ca. 

This episode of MAPmaking was hosted and produced by Emily Holton, and was edited, mixed and mastered by Elijah Walsh of Recording & Mixing Things. Thank you also to associate producer Samira Prasad.

Learn more about the Transitioning Youth Out of Homelessness study: www.searchingforhome.ca/study.

The next phase of Naomi’s research will provide youth who are exiting homelessness with portable rent subsidies along with a co-designed (with youth who have experienced homelessness) leadership program and coach. This MAP research is generously supported by Even the Odds (a partnership between Staples Canada and MAP) and the Home Depot Canada Foundation. Learn more: www.maphealth.ca/tyoh.

Despite ongoing political promises for pharmacare in Canada, the status quo persists: Canada remains the only high-income country where health-care services are publicly insured but medications are not. The pandemic propelled temporary sick leave protections, however many of these protections are now coming to an end. In this episode, Nav Persaud (MAP scientist and Canada Research Chair in Health Justice) speaks with Linda Silas (President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions) about the impacts on Canada's workers, and the need for continued advocacy for stronger safety nets in Canada. Public funding for prescription medication, as well the universal availability of unemployment, parental, and sick leave, are recommendations in MAP's Equity Roadmap Report.

In 2020, the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board switched from in-person to online-only hearings. This has had grave consequences for tenants, many of whom do not have access to the necessary technology, resources or privacy to participate meaningfully – or sometimes participate at all – in remote hearings. In this episode, Nav Persaud (MAP scientist and Canada Research Chair in Health Justice) speaks with Douglas Kwan (Director of Advocacy and Legal Services at Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario) about the impact that this change has had on tenants' lives and abilities to access eviction prevention services. Expansion of access to eviction prevention interventions, including access to legal services, is a recommendation in MAP's Equity Roadmap Report.

Gautam Mukherjee is the Executive Director of Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing, the largest supportive housing provider in Ontario. Gautam has worked in the housing and homelessness sector for 20 years and is a passionate advocate for social justice, inclusion and housing for all. In this episode, Gautam and MAP Director Stephen Hwang discuss and explore a recommendation from MAP's Equity Roadmap Report: the expansion of permanent supportive housing programs with high fidelity to the Housing First approach.