It’s now or never.

This is the mandate Dr. Howard Hamer has assigned himself in his tenure as the new Chair of the Eli’s Place Board of Directors.

As longtime friends of the Coopers (co-founders of Eli’s Place and parents of Eli), Howard and his wife, Arla, have been actively involved with Eli’s Place for several years now. Howard originally got involved because of his work as a doctor, both as a family physician and as the medical director of the Function & Pain program at Altum Health, University Health Network (UHN). He witnessed too many patients being stuck in a system that wasn’t working for them. 

“Out of the hundreds of people that came through the doors of our Function & Pain clinic, we were able to help only a small percentage of them,” Howard told me. His work as a family practitioner was also limited with respect to severe mental illness in the young adult. In particular, the experience of one patient in his practice has stuck in his memory. At the time, Howard’s patient was a 23-year-old student who had dropped out of law school due to his mental illness. Now living in BC, Howard does not know how this patient is doing, but the fact that this patient had no access at the time to long-term mental health care that could have helped him sits uncomfortably with Howard. 

The situation hasn’t changed much. In fact, after our interview Howard had a call scheduled with a member of the Models Committee. This young man went to the United States on OHIP funding because there was no treatment program here in Ontario that could help him successfully handle his severe mental illness. I was shocked that the answer to treatment for some Ontarians is for them to be sent to the U.S. for treatment which could be provided locally.

Howard recognizes the desperate need for a rural residential treatment program like Eli’s Place, but he is also a realist who understands the logistical challenges of getting such a program off the ground. Until I spoke with Howard I had not fully appreciated the full scope of just how complicated this project is, how many pieces of the puzzle need to come together in just the right order, at just the right time. 

There have been partnering opportunities that have presented themselves in the past that ended up falling through for one reason or another. Finding the right property, and obtaining zoning permission that meets the criteria of Eli’s Place (including a small-scale agricultural operation) is the biggest obstacle in the way right now. “We have learned a lot along the way and we have some very good people on board to help,” Howard told me, reassuringly.

The other dilemma is the financing of the project. We need to secure a property to gain the confidence of big donors, but we can’t comfortably secure a property without their financial commitments as we pursue the potential zoning changes that often take many months to attain. It is this chicken and egg challenge (to use a farming pun) that has kept Eli’s Place in the concept stage for many years now. 

It is this deadlock Howard is determined to break. 

When he contemplated whether to take on this role, Howard contacted every board member and asked them how they would feel about taking a vote in June 2024 to decide whether to continue, or terminate, this ambitious mission if there were no tangible strides forward. Everyone on the board was encouraged by the framework he outlined and each agreed to help to their utmost ability.  

“We need traction now!” Howard told me. Galvanized by the board member’s support and dedication, Howard agreed to lead the project with determination.  

The main question that needs answering over the next few months is this: Is the Eli’s Place dream viable in Ontario? From Howard’s position and that of the entire board, the answer is a resounding YES! 

The exciting outcome of this ‘now or never’ approach is that it has renewed the fire under the Eli’s Place team. This has led to some creative conversations with potential partners.  

Howard acknowledges that the former chair, Carol Cowan-Levine, turned over every stone possible to make this project succeed. As he says: “The good news is we’ve ordered new stones!” 

As a volunteer on the Communications Committee I am full of admiration for the tirelessness of David and Deborah Cooper. Their determination to get Eli’s Place up and running over these past many years is beyond inspiring; I honestly have no words that would do their commitment justice. 

After talking to Howard I can’t help but feel convinced that he is the person we need at the helm of Eli’s Place for this next phase, however it plays out. 

Even writing those words gives me pause. Because as the mother of a son who struggles with his mental health and addiction and understands all too well the need for a program like Eli’s Place, my fingers and toes are crossed that Howard will be the one to take us into an exciting new chapter. 

I really hope it’s now, not never. 

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Eli’s Place will be a rural, residential treatment program for young adults with serious mental illness. To learn more about our mission and our proven-effective model click here.