Yes obviously homelessness is a real problem in communities, big and small, all across our country. Even one homeless person is one too many, especially in a country as rich as ours.
I live in a non-profit housing co-operative and we have subsidized units available. We continuously have people apply from the shelters around the city, for units. We have given quite a few units to people from shelters. Unfortunately we do not have enough units to keep up with the applicants. The rules they have at the shelters are so strict also, they are allowed to stay for a limited time and have to leave during the day to search for work and a home, and keep their children with them while they are doing this. What happens if they cannot find affordable housing within that time period? Do we just have more homeless families on the street now?
The government has allocated 850 million dollars to improve low income housing, but I have yet to see anything happening. Our category of housing has been allocate 150 million dollars of grant money. We have to go through a long application process, and then an inspection. We have been approved for a portion of the grant money to do repairs, but we have no idea how much money we will receive. It will be no where near the 900 thousand dollars we need. This means we will end up in more debt and unable to help as many people as we would like.
The government needs to follow through on their promises. They need to create more low income housing and more shelters. The Royal Connaught Hotel in Hamilton has been empty for years and would be the perfect place to create rooms for the homeless or low income housing.
There also needs to be more follow through on prosecuting landlords who discriminate against tenants they may find undesirable. This just adds to homelessness when they are now unable to find homes - where are they to turn?
The article, "Hidden Homelessness" brings it all home. I believe the zoning restrictions springs from the NIMBY principle - NOT IN MY BACKYARD. People just don't want to deal with this issue and if they do not see it they do not have to believe it exists. There are so many things we can do to help. If you cannot help financially, as most of can't, contribute with your time. Bring this issue to the forefront. Make people read this article and perhaps they may see that it could be them or someone they know.
The homeless could be anyone, as this article proves. Of course, you will find the odd person who does not want to work and just does not care, but I believe if you asked the majority of homeless people would give anything to have a home. A lot of people struggling are those on fixed incomes. Their monies do not increase, but their expenses do. Single mothers trying to raise children, not sure where they will be sleeping. How can they be enrolled in school? How about new residents to Canada or the sick?
Is charity enough? Opening a shelter when it goes below -15 degrees. Is that enough? It's not cold enough the rest of the time? They do not need a bed any other time of the year? Or food? Or should we be putting a time limit on shelter stays? How charitable are we really being?
Bottom line is - these people need more than charity, they need a permanent solution.