City issues meet the big picture
Dr. Colin Robert Phillips, Policy Studies PhD
To understand the challenges affecting Toronto’s homeless community, Policy Studies PhD grad Colin Robert Phillips is analyzing the issues facing the city’s displaced population.
Colin, who has cerebral palsy, is unable to walk and communicates using a letter board. He credits Toronto Met’s collegiality and accessibility for helping him come into his own as an academic addressing Toronto’s affordable housing issue.
The unique focus of his doctoral research goes beyond rental regulations to the relationship between public policy and mental health factors such as psychological development, social isolation, addiction and trauma.
With the guidance and mentoring he received from his Graduate Studies Supervisory Committee, Colin is exploring not only the availability of affordable housing but also how traumatic experiences impact homelessness and the ability to maintain housing.
At Toronto Met, we strive to give everyone access to the resources and opportunities they need in order to see the big picture and effect real change.
Photo credit: Vince Talotta/Getty