Thursday, 21 May 2009 @ 08:54Written by Jackie In a country such as Canada, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, it is intolerable that people are homeless in our very own community. The HIV infection rate in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is the highest rate in the western world. There are about 200 homeless people in the Tri Cities suburbs located in Greater Vancouver. Out of the downtown east side population of 12,000 people, 8,000 are below the poverty line. Any other community in Canada who has 67% of their population below the poverty line would receive immediate attention! Why have we chosen to ignore this problem and drive by the downtown east side, doors locked, as we make our way to Vancouver? For decades politicians have failed to address this problem, and it''s time for us to investigate the underlying reasons behind homelessness, and put a stop for it once and for all! Homelessness is unacceptable, and I would like to explore the causes of this problem, and the factors which continue to sustain its existence in our own city. Let''s eliminate homelessness in our own backyard, and make this a key issue as we discuss social problems in Vancouver.
Keywords: homelessness Vancouver poverty HIV/AIDS politics Tragic that our country without abundant wealth cannot put together a sustainable action plan, given this financial climate we are all a few paychecks away from seekeing assistance.Being involved in the cold weather mat program and meeting those seeking help face to face has opened my eyes, we must help those that seek our help and reach out to those in need. Riverview must be re-activated for those that are unable to take care of themselves, The local goverment has put on a brave face only to save face for the olympics.Bless you i live in a poor country and this issue is happening... it is good that someone to taking up its cause! I could go on this forever...thank you for this intense discussion. I hope that this can be subject to critical student thinking...
This is long overdue. Thank you Jackie for raising awareness amongst this online community. can i help in any way at all .. one person can also make a difference!!! i really would love to see this resolved soon yes, government is a reflection of the people''s desires after all! with the government and people on our side, how can this not be solved? it will be if we all try together
wow it''s so great to meet so many like minded people I think I can trust that the SFU students can take these views in their hands and make a difference...make an impact!!! Let''s get this show on the road people! our neighbors, etc.
but i like this inov8 discussion forum do something about this issue of homelessness, please!! gosh,, need we say more? all we have to do is just look around everywheere! HOMELESSNESS is all around us! Who can be blind to this issue??? check out Jackie''s blog, it''s pretty informative. the blog is a good idea i think. we''ll try to organize something, if this issue wins. any one up for this? let me know! Hahaha! David, that is a very vivid analogy. I couldn''t agree more. oh btw, if you guys need people to do this collectively, email me ... i will join everyone on this issue and go to Parliament if need be... we won''t be silent !! we need to be heard! in fact, in the Tri Cities, I don''t think I have seen a homeless person when I was there! It''s quite tragic that our society does this to themselves...also it is extremly ironic when a city is making improvements to the face of the city, they are giving themselves a black eye in the end. of course it''ll be different in each area of the city...
for example gentrification is only an issue in the downtown east side, because the issue is very visible there. let us gather together and go the city hall and make our voices be heard once and for all!! too much ignorance on this issue is way too much now! thats right Travis. Take a look at my blog giveavoice.wordpress.com because there I explore both metro vancouver and tri cities homelessness issues. I think benchan85 brought up the point of gentrification which is the root of the discussions about the DTES in relation to the Winter Games. When they are "beautifying" the city, land is being bought up and people are then forced out of their low-income housing. if we look the other way and pretend this is not within our midst, it would even look worst ... people know this is within us.. why hide something ? It seems that it''s easy to care about our city''s rankings in terms of most livable when we look at the gentrification as the solution. I think the problem of homelessness is different in each city. The problem in the tri-cities is significantly different from that of the downtown eastside. I believe the symptoms are different and so are the causes. please please do nnot ignore the homelessness issue. do not let them go away just to beautify our surroundings. for example in Beijing there were many rumors that they got shipped out in bus loads. in terms of how we view the city and what we do with the homeless people during the olympics In what aspect of the olympics are you referring to? Be specific when you make comments Junior. It would help a lot.
Thanks. take a look at the olympics for example!
so many cases in so many cities. I wonder what vancouver will do... any solution in sight for this? let our voices be heard and effect this change!! but i do agree that gentrification and the "appearance" of cities affects how much attention goes towards homelessness Action is required on this issue... thats a band aid solution!! Gentrification is the restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class (resulting in the displacement of low-income residents)
Take a look at DTES....they''re beautifying it by removing important social buildings for that demographic (low-income residents) We all have to do the right thing! I am so glad a private citizen is fighting for this issue... the more people is heard, the more awareness we can raise on homelessness
I looked it up, and it is: : the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents
this seems more like a band aid solution... can someone clarify what gentrification is? Thanks so much for someone who is fighting for his homelessness issue... about time for this to be resolved once and for all! Correction: It makes me cringe to know how much weight a corporation like Concorde Pacific has on how the Liberals are running this province....greedy greedy greedy... I just hope that one day, they CAN realize that gentrification is NOT a natural resolution to this problem...in other words...kicking them out of the DTES by buying their homes out. Politicians promise a lot on this issue during election time. But what they say and what they actually do are two different things. Let us all come together and push this homelessness issue! by the way, Sieg, take a look at Jackie''s earlier post. You can get more information about the costs in the link in the comment below. It makes me cringe to know how much weight a corporation like Concorde Pacific has on how the Liberals are running this province....greedy greedy greedy...
I just hope that one day, they CAN realize that gentrification is a natural resolution to this problem...in other words...kicking them out of the DTES by buying their homes out. this is the honest truth on homelessness. we should not have a blind eye on this issue. wow, is that true that it costs $40K per homeless person? any evidence of this amount? $40,000!!! This is ludacris. I wish that there were better regulations placed on the "speculating" real estate properties in the DTES...they''re vacant....why can''t they be used???? That''s exactly true Rebecca! Studies show that it costs about $40,000 per homeless person for the services that are provided to them. there is no denying HOMELESSNESS is a very serious issue that needs to be looked upon and we should find a solution. It might take long steps to get to the bottom of it, but like anything, it starts with small steps. In the end, our community benefits from the solution. Thanks for your comment Janet. I agree with the fact that having results requires contributions from everyone in society. Particularly with regards to influencing our politicians. I''ve had a chance to do some research on my own and with my son and he raised a good point. Apparently studies have shown that the governmental costs of providing services such as safe injection sites etc. are a higher cost than to just provide them housing. It was shocking when I first passed the downtown east side. I didn''t know there could be so many homeless people living in Vancouver, where people enjoy best quality life. To initiate discussion and encourage action on this issue is definitely significant. We all have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, but it does not mean you stop or won’t do the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action, but doing NOTHING will produce NO RESULT at all ! the solutions are known, we just need the political will to get them done.
“It’s not rocket science. The solution to homelessness is housing. The solution to malnutrition is good food.â€
– Judy Graves, Housing Advocate, City of Vancouver Jackie...this is such an important topic. I think that there is unfair treatment with the DTES people...what do you think is the most important ''first step'' to move forward in solving this social issue? The issue of homelessness may be complex – but this journey must begin with a single step forward. I agree that national and provincial government are needed. The apparent abandonment of DTES residents by the government is simply unacceptable. Thus, one can only hope that research into the homeless situation will help raise awareness amongst not only those in the Lower Mainland, but also on a national level to the extent that positive action can finally be taken. The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems†– Mahatma Gandhi. Ways to Home is a ten year regional homelessness plan which was developed by the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness in 2000. The ways towards housing the homeless are built on the following 3 Pillars: Housing, Support, and Adequate Income. I would like to help solve this issue,,,, can someone tell me how i can help with this very important issue??? Homelessness is really within our midst -- there is no denying we should have a solution to this social issue. It can only get worst. Please please let us all work together and fight this battle! anybody can change their status if they put their heart and soul into it. It is hard for homeless person to change their own status. They need help, but the more important thing is, we need to know the reason behind. The number of panhandlers in Vancouver is steadily increasing. We need to draw more attention to this issue and work towards a permanent solution to clean up our city. It is impossible to go downtown without seeing a homeless person on the street, we need to focus on a solution to this problem. the world should focus on this problem more. i wish more help form the government could be granted the homeless people deserve just as much food and shelter as everyone else do. Something should be done about this issue I agree, we need a long term solution to address this issue. the local government should put in more help to support the homeless people on the downtown east side. everytime i pass by there i feel very sad for those people who have no where to go and had to wonder on the street all night. i just hope that something can be done as soon as possible Uncalled circumstances lead to homelessness. Let not circumtances but planned determination to turn the tide toward shelter for everyone. Homelessness has become a major social issue in our society. It needs to be confronted and addressed by all levels of government in Canada. We too, as individuals, must search our hearts and our conscience to find creative ways to help alleviate the suffering caused by homelessness. lets help them more by do more charity work and give a hand when they need help. it is nobody''s choice to be homeless. No one plan it or make it their ambition. Instead of cursing the darkness, let us light a candle. vancouver should care about homeless people by donating for shelter Extremely unfortunate that homelessness is not given more attention when it such a huge problem for Vancouver. Hopefully with the upcoming Olympics the issue will be better addressed and not just temporarily covered up. we should help out homeless ppl on the street by voting for this and participating in fund raise for them I CARE ABT HOMLESSNESS Alot!
and i will certainly vote for this!
go jackie!! Thank you for attempting to address the issue. Politician will promise us. But it takes every Canadian to help solve this problem. THIS IS a very important issue!!
homelessness is so much more important than other things!! homelessness is such a big issue . ppl shud care abt it more Homelessness is an issue we need to address period! Homelessness whether we like it or not will be there. It is our moral obligation as a society to address the issue seriously and not leave it to chances. Homelessness is a topic we want to avoid and wish it will go away. Unless we address the problem, we will never achieve what we want. I support this project because it has the courage to face what we don''t want to face. Also, a bunch of my nursing peers are doing their community practicum at the DTES, and the stories I hear from them are so heartbreaking. We need to increase the awareness and gain more support for this issue. THANKS for advocating for this significant issue! Most people take life for granted, and for those of us who have the strength to empower people for change, i definitely support them! Homelessness is a shameful reflection of Canadian government and society, which is a rich first world country that seems to minimize and turn a blind eye to the homeless problem. I am an exchange student and from Changchun,China. I agree with the writer because it is very strange for me to see people without homes. In China, we all have homes and food. Why don''t people have it in Canada? In my opinion Canada is developed but I don''t understand why people are sleeping on streets. We all need homes! According to a report by Pivot Legal, Cracks in the Foundation, it requires $40,000 per year to provide services to a homeless person while providing social housing to the homeless would cost only $22,000 to $28,000 per year. In addition, the human and social benefits of eliminating homelessness are immeasurable. Not only is homelessness a social justice issue, but tackling it also makes good economic sense!
Find the report here: http://www.pivotlegal.org/Publications/reportscitf.htm How is the world so different in one city? We see differences in places like North and South Korea but like Lina''s post mentions, west and east Vancouver? Let''s unite together and make our country and our world a better place! So sad! I just immigrated to this country and find it so strange and disheartening to know that I came here with such a different view of Canada and Vancouver. It''s so true and very sad.
The difference between west side and the east side of down town Vancouver is like day and night, haven and hell. It''s supprising that this happends in Canada, the country is well enought to take care these group of people.
Great Job Jackie!
Love and blessings,
Lina
T
Well said. I''ve lived in many different parts of the world and it still is unbelievable that in Canada, a member of the G-8/G-20, has this issue. Very sad. With all the resources we have, homelessness should not even be a problem. Having shelters, programs to help people get back on their feet, and encouragement can go a long way to helping. Homelessness is everywhere. What is the cause? Could be mental problems, bad luck happening all at once, and something no one ever hopes or plans for. I believe if the homeless are given a the break they need, some may get out of this and live meaningful lives. First, they have to have a very strong will to make a go of it. Easier said than done, but with the support from the community, and diving help, perhaps they stand a chance. Hi, Great topic, here’s my opinion. Maybe one question to address is : How do they get there to live on the streets? Is it because of financial reason or health issues? What I find frightening is that there are more & more families with children living on the streets too.
How can a middle class family make ends meet in Vancouver, it is an expensive city to live in. How can a working middle management afford a 2 bedroom apartment in Vancouver? Middle class is getting poorer by the day, salaries don’t follow the rate of living. Unfortunately income doesn’t increase as quickly, therefore families & people may end up on the streets. The gap between rich people and middle class is widening up.
While walking in Gastown I saw homeless people with animals and speaking French fluently. Showing that these persons are bright, have the ability to love and learn. They have the right to be treated with dignity & respect. Perhaps given the needed resources they would lead a productive life. People tend to stereotype homeless persons as addicted “nobodiesâ€, that don’t deserve a second look or chance.
Getting back to my question how do they get there? If it is not financial then it may be for mental health issues. Our government with it’s good ideas of saving money has deinstitutionalized people with mental issues that with a regular follow-up and medication can lead a good life but instead cause of lack of resources and monies theses persons are left to fend for themselves alone on the streets cause social & community organizations lack the necessary resources to help these persons. Too often unfortunately people with mental problems are not kept in hospitals therefore end up on the streets.
I am also from one of the third countries and homelessness in our home country is a BIG issue. If only our government and private citizens can collectively look at this issue and find solutions...it will be difficult, but collectively, we can do something. I believe that as soon as we all come together for a good cause and genuinely wish to do good, the opportunities arise almost immediately. I''m from the Philippines and homelessness is a huge issue at home. I can relate to this issue. I guess this issue hits home in many countries. I hope Canada can work towards getting rid of it. I likes the article and it sounds very logical however solution the issue is not as simple as it sounds and we would like to believe.
The comment I am making was submitted to the wrong topic in error earlier. Below is my comment on HOMELESSNESS in our BACKYARD:
Blaming homeless people for being what they are will not solve the issue. Many of us say they are what they are because they are lazy, do not want to help themselves, and rely on other people for help, etc. In our complex world now, we are sometimes thrown into a situation which we have no control over and we need the support and help from our community to survive. We all have consistently turned a blind eye to this particular issue and it is sad that no one has taken them seriously. I have personally interacted with a few of them and it is sad to hear their story of how they have become this way. And I have also witnessed that given the proper tools and support, many of them have been productive to society. The test of our progress is not whether or how we can add more to the abundance of those who have much, but whether wwe can provide enough for those who have little and need help.
The subject says it all... Being from LA (where homeless people just get pushed around when new developments pop up), and SF, where aggressive panhandlers are an everyday sight, I was naive enough to think it wouldn''t be a big problem out there in BC.
I hope you are successful in raising awareness of this issue! I totally agree that Homelessness is definitely a serious issue in our own backyard and it seems to be getting worse. I remember most of the time whenever people from out of town are visiting, they are shocked by the number of homeless people here when compared to back home. Hopefully your investigation helps provide a better understanding of these issues so they can be better addressed. Good Luck! Homelessness has always been a long-standing issue that not enough of us have taken a hard look at. Needless to say, it has affected not only the homeless people themselves, but society in general. Reaching out to others who face difficult circumstances is not only a compassionate thing, but it also helps us keep our own difficulties in perspective. We all live in a community where helping each other can make a BIG difference in our lives. So way to go, Jackie... I strongly support your issue and would like to help in any way I can. Thanks for your concern! I agree that we have to be careful with what words we use when describing the problem. It is such a complex problem, that it''s difficult to lay blame on any one group. I have just read a report about key statistics on homelessness, and summed it up in my blog, so take a look:
http://giveavoice.wordpress.com I think instead of using intolerable/unacceptable, you can choose some other words that are less harsh I guess. I know it is intolerable how the government''s not doing their job right, and how the number of the homeless is ever increasing and such, but some people had no choice. Over all, yes, this is a very serious issue, and I wish you can win the competition. Check out this article to find out more about homelessness and the upcoming Olympics: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/temporary-hostels-planned-for-young-olympic-visitors/article1150275/
It''s an article talking about how Vancouver plans to deal with the wave of young people who will come to our city in 2010. Homelessness is surely an issue, especially with the upcoming Olympics coming to Vancouver.
Good Luck with this Jackie. Thanks for your comments everyone. Seems like we all want to demand more from the government. The government is often slow to action, but it could also be argued that the government reflects the desires of people. So we can start thinking of ways to make our demands of eliminating homelessness a priority on our government''s agenda. Good stuff Jackie - a Vancouver issue that just can''t get enough attention. This is such a big issue in Vancouver and should be dealt with by the government. The government isn''t doing nearly as much as it should right now. I agree........... That the government and the citizens of Canada should be responsible in solving this issie. In such an incredibly abundant world it is unconscionable that any human being go without the basic necessities of life: food & shelter. We have the power to change this. Thank you Jackie for speaking out about this crucial issue. The more it is out in the open the more opportunity we have to create positive change. I agree that it''s a very serious problem with even more serious repercussions that need to be addressed, Jackie. I think it''s a really bold and courageous move you''ve made to choose this problem. I can''t wait to know how you plan to address this; if politicians have been ignorant of this problem for such a long time, or perhaps have not been so ignorant but there is something holding them back from stepping up to the challenge, hopefully you, one SFU student, can make the difference. I also agree that the level of homelessness in "our own backyard" is totally unaceptable. Not only do we need to rely on our elected officials to take action (and we can impact that through voting), we need to look for ways of involving many more members of our communities. I also agree that we need to take action and support initiatives that will really make a difference. In my view a huge part of the problem relates to our lack of programs and support for those suffering from mental illness. Thank you for your efforts! I completely agree with your view on homelessness in Canada. This is a well established country and more efforts should be made in resolving the underlying issues. i totally agree we should find a solution to homelessness issue in Vancouver. Great research on your efforts! change is possible - we can change!
imaging peace (i was just at the exhibition of john lennon and joko ono in montreal) Homelessness is a really important problem but people often look away from it. And I think that providing a shelter is a good beginning but it''s not enough to solve the problem. Homelessness is a social issue people have been ignoring for too long. I remember going on exchange to Europe and in certain cities, there''s not a single homeless person in sight. Maybe because I didn''t go to the areas where they hang out...but why is homelessness an bigger issue for some cities and not others? Two easy replies:
1."would like to explore the causes of this problem"
=well, why not try and investigate our monetary/social system?? I am sure many questions will be solved by just realizing how capitalism works!!
2."and put a stop for it once and for all! Homelessness is unacceptable"
=Right; or in other words lets destroy CAPITALISM!!!
Lets build a society on democrazy and socialism! I agree that we should look at the homelessness issue seriously. We drive past the problem everyday yet we don''t talk about it or don''t know enough about it. We need to know more about this problem so we can all help to try to solve it. I think this homelessness is quite a serious issue and definitely needs to be addressed. Politicians use concern for homelessness when it serves their needs, but they haven''t done much for the issue. There''s lots of talk but more action is needed. Politicians use concern for homelessness when it serves their needs, but they haven''t done much for the issue. There''s lots of talk but more action is needed. I strongly believe this is a very important social issue that has long been neglected. All politicians make this an agenda when they want our votes, but when voted, has always left this unattended or make this their last priority! It is time we all come together and take action. Collectively, we can make a difference. Keeping a blind eye to this problem is aggravating the situation and making it worse. We only need to look around to realize how much this has worsened over the years and it is time we really take action !!! Homelessness is a combination of the federal, provincial and local governments decades long indifference and neglect of this social issue that ultimately affects us all.
The causes of homelessness are well known, as are the solutions - the factors which continue to sustain it in Metro Vancouver are worth studying. I believe that public perceptions and attitudes have a lot to do with it. Homeless persons are often seen as objects, rather than persons that need compassion and support, not judgment and censure. The interweaving between homelessness and addiction just exacerbates this negative perception.
Public censure just widens the gulf between homeless persons and the community, increasing their social isolation.
BTW, I am chair of the Tri-Cities Homelessness Task Group. Homelessness and poverty is something that I believe will always be around. However I completely agree that the situation in Vancouver is completely abysmal and is definitely one of the highest priority issues to tackle. it is evident from the number of topics addressing poverty on this very website that homelessness a very evident problem. The causes of homelessness are very well researched (just access the Pivot Legal Society website). The solutions to this problem are numerous and our government is very well aware of it. Gregor Robertson''s campaign was based on a promise to solve homelessness by 2010.
People are obviously not blind to this problem, a problem that becomes extremely complex when you look into it beyond the level where it is just a "we need to ____ " rant. For example, there is a large deep poverty based community in DTES who like it just as it is and will not accept any solution from out of the community because of the gentrifying factor. Then there are the hard to house for whom housing is not the solution. The subtleties go on and on.
Despite the difficulties, this is a problem which is already being addressed by Vancouver municipal government and the province. I whole-heartedly agree. We need to tackle this ongoing problem in OUR OWN BACKYARD...it''s so hard to see all these vacant buildings in downtown "speculating" for investors to buy them.... When are we gonna change....our city culture of our communities need to change their motives from "for profit" to "for people".
This CAN change from our grassroots and what better way than to have our students to help make a difference! |
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