Dear Diane,
As I was walking down a busy street in Vancouver yesterday, Diane, I overheard a young couple pass a group of homeless people who were sitting on a bench. I heard them whisper something offensive about the colour of these people’s skin, and about how they were “probably drunk” and needed to find jobs. While this is (likely) a daily occurrence in many of our nation’s cities and towns, this encounter really upset me, Diane.
What really bothered me, besides the obvious nature of the hateful comments, was the fact that this occurred in a neighbourhood that seems to be pushing the homeless further and further away – a neighbourhood that is saying to the homeless population, “Go away. You are not welcome here.” While clearly this couple shared those sentiments, it is becoming more clear to me each day that perhaps these values are held by those with the ability to make a difference – to make those changes that would reflect the dignity and respect that all homeless people deserve.
The evidence is undeniable, Diane. Numerous studies and reports are painting the same picture with respect to the homeless state in Canadian cities. The numbers are on the rise, and the emergency shelter spaces that are operational are few and far between – there simply are not enough shelter spaces across the country to safely shelter the 300,000 + national homeless population. What is perhaps more important, for your party’s sake, is that it costs more than 6 billion dollars per year (of taxpayer money) to keep all these homeless people on the streets, as opposed to housing them under a unified, national housing plan. In a day and age when our economic climate is less stable than any politician would like to admit, does it not make sense to do what we can to save, especially when the alternative course of action seems to be fostering a value system of gentrification and disrespect?
Think about the numbers, Diane. 300, 000 homeless (and growing). 6 billion dollars (per year).
Please put your support behind a national housing strategy, and you will show Canadians that you value the dignity of every human being, and you will show your party that you value the worth of every taxpayer dollar.
Support Bill C-304.
Sincerely,
Jesse Kendall and the Homelessness is Over! team
Here are some of your messages we sent to Diane today
…Canada has a responsibility to its citizens to provide a solution to this homelessness crisis. A country this affluent and progressive should lead the charge, not lag behind. make us great.
…It is shocking in Vancouver when visitors from far more populated countries such as France and Germany comment on how they have no level of homelessness.
…surely it is high time for Canada to join the rest of the G8 nations in having a national housing strategy through Bill C-304 or by some other process. I expect you to deal with it.
