VHA Home HealthCare's Extreme Cleaning Program Helps People Reclaim Their Home

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 6, 2012) - VHA Home HealthCare is launching the London Extreme Cleaning Program in the city of London. The Extreme Cleaning program helps people - many of whom suffer from mental health challenges or physical challenges - avoid impending eviction due to the unsanitary living conditions of their homes.

VHA's Extreme Cleaning program gives individuals a second chance to stay in their homes by providing a thorough clean to ensure the home meets public health standards. As part of the program, VHA's staff conducts an assessment, performs the cleaning service and makes referrals on behalf of the client for ongoing support services as needed. VHA's follow-up support helps clients avoid relapse, learn necessary life skills to avoid eviction, and connect with other community support services.

"The program is for vulnerable and marginalized individuals who have been unable to keep up with the basic housekeeping duties of their home to such an extreme that it compromises their health, is a fire hazard or is affecting other tenants," says Cheryl Perera, VHA's Director of New Ventures and Community Programs. These individuals do not have the financial means to hire a cleaning service and often need extra support as they go through an extreme clean.

VHA's Extreme Cleaning program has become a vital service in the city of Toronto where it has been helping individuals at risk of eviction or institutionalization since 2000. Perera says VHA is excited to expand and adapt the program to serve residents of London. VHA consulted with several community agencies in the area, including the United Way, Canadian Mental Health Association, Fire Services, London's Response to Hoarding Coalition, City of London, Everest College (hoarding response program), Victorian Order of Nurses, the South West CCAC, and its own rehabilitation therapists and found a serious need for this service in the city.

VHA's team of cleaners spend a couple of days doing a thorough clean of the home, removing clutter and helping the client organize their belongings. Perera says staff members are sensitive to the needs of the client, working with them and involving them in the cleaning and organization process.

"The most important thing is to prevent homelessness and help clients remain in their home. They do not want to go to a shelter environment or a long-term care facility," says Perera. "But it's also critical that clients are able to be safe when they remain in their homes. When we go in and work with them and, where possible, connect them with other community services, we are helping them do just that."

"VHA's charitable roots, obligation to serving those who are most vulnerable and commitment to working in partnership to provide the best possible services to our clients are just a few reasons why we've launch this Extreme Cleaning program in London," says Carol Annett, VHA's President and CEO.

To learn more about the London Extreme Cleaning Program, please visit www.vha.ca or call 1-888-314-6622 ext. 4349.

About VHA Home HealthCare

For 87 years VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) - a not-for-profit organization - has provided compassionate home care services to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds - at home, in long-term care facilities or in hospitals. From nursing to personal support to homemaking programs and rehabilitation services, VHA supports Ontarians to live as independently as possible through the dedicated service of over 1,600 professionals. VHA proudly meets national standards of excellence in health care set out by Accreditation Canada and is a founding member agency of United Way Toronto.