Category Archives: Homeless

Homeless

Abbotsford’s Homeless Task Force Report

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 It is said that a camel is a horse made by a committee.

If only Abbotsford’s Homeless Task Force ’s Report came that close to reflecting the state of affairs in Abbotsford, the lower mainland and throughout BC of homelessness and the government ministries that impact upon homelessness in British Columbia.

Unfortunately for the Homeless-in-Abbotsford, the Task Force made a duck-billed platypus.

The Report fails to consider the current and future state of resources available to address homelessness and the related issues that impact homelessness such as mental health.

The report is built on the false foundation of assuming that the resources called for by the report will be found, ignoring budget and financial reality that has not simply imposed limits on resources but has imposed reductions on the resources available.

The provincial budget for the current fiscal year and the budget projections over five years make it clear that the actual resources available will dwindle year by year.

The question is NOT are we spending more dollars this fiscal year BUT what % increase is needed to purchase the same resources this fiscal year as were purchased in the prior fiscal year. If the increase in spending does not meet or exceed the % increase needed [as was the case in recent years, is the case in the current year and is the case in the future budget projections] you have a decrease in resources.

Planning based on false assumptions about resources not only results in a plan that is worthless, but can lead to wasting resources to accomplish little or nothing; resources that could have been used elsewhere to good effect.

The Task Force’s call for City Council to immediately create a staff coordinator position for homelessness is such a waste.

The idea of the staff coordinator stems from the notable career of Judy Graves as Vancouver’s homeless advocate. Ms. Graves could make contact with a homeless person, find them housing and connect them to the services the homeless person needed in a single day.

When Ms. Graves spoke to the Task Force this summer, she noted that the effectiveness of the outreach teams in Vancouver had suffered serious negative consequences as a result of the scarcity of resources in Vancouver and the competition between the teams for those scarce resources.

Scarce resources no longer permit finding housing and connecting a homeless person to the services the homeless person needs in a single day.

It would be better for the homeless in Vancouver to have fewer outreach teams and the money thus saved used to provide resources to house the homeless.

With the limited resources available in Abbotsford such a staff position would give little or no return for the money spent. It would be far more beneficial, in terms of effectively addressing homelessness, to spend the $100,000.00 not on salary but on rental subsidies.

Unless you have abundant resources frittering away resources on shelter beds or a coordinator is a misuse of resources that could be utilized to greater effect elsewhere.

The Task Force also – Ignored? Did not address? Failed to recognize? – that finding a person housing is quite do able………the person managing to stay in that housing…….well, there is the rub as they say.

Someone commented to me recently that he couldn’t understand why Mr. X had been homeless until recently housed.

What the statement ignores is that Mr. X was homeless after falling out of the housing he was in. And that before he was in the housing he was in when he became homeless….he was homeless, having fallen out of the housing he had been in prior to becoming homeless once again….. And that before he was in the housing he was in when he became homeless that time….he was homeless, having fallen out of the housing he had been in prior to becoming homeless once again…… And that before he was in the housing he was in when he became homeless….he was homeless, having fallen out of the housing he had been in prior to becoming homeless again…… And that before he was in the housing he was in when he became homeless….he was homeless, having fallen out of the housing he had been in prior to becoming homeless once again…..and so on and so on.

Success or failure in housing the homeless lies in the services and supports that provide the opportunity for an individual to do the work to accomplish the change in themselves needed to achieve wellness and sustain housing.

The form and content of the report, intentionally or not, fosters a sense of complacency, – no problem, we have it covered – and promotes rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic – as the rising levels of homelessness threaten to overwhelm us.

If we are to survive, we must have ideas, vision, and courage. These things are rarely produced by committees.              Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Business, Caveat emptor, Homeless, Issues

BC Hydro’s Choice

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BC Hydro’s newly appointed [July 2014] President and CEO Jessica McDonald,  BC Hydro’s Board of Directors [Appendix 1 below] and BC Hydro – a Crown Corporation – have chosen to become directly, personally involved in/with homelessness in Abbotsford.

They have chosen to pre-empt a question currently before the BC Courts – if not Jubilee, if not Gladys then where do the homeless go?

They have chosen to ignore questions raised by a BC Crown Corporation, an instrument of the BC Government and the citizens of BC, acting to pre-empt a matter currently before the BC Courts; not next year or at some indefinite point in the future but before the Courts NOW.

They have chosen to become involved directly with homelessness in Abbotsford and to pre-empt the question of the Charter Rights of homeless Canadians currently before the BC Courts, without a clear, demonstrable, imminent risk that required or demanded they act now and prevented them from waiting another month or two [or three] for the BC Courts to adjudicate the question of: Where do the homeless go?

In choosing to pre-empt the BC Courts on the question of the Charter Rights of Canadians  CEO Jessica McDonald, Stephen Bellringer [Chair of the board], Bill Adsit, W.J. Brad Bennett, O.B.C., Larry Blain, James M. Brown, James P. Hatton, Q.C., John Knappett, Tracey L. McVicar, Janine North, ICD.D, John Ritchie, Jack Weisgerber and the Crown Corporation  BC Hydro have, in addition to the disturbing precedent of a Crown Corporation usurping a matter before the Courts, taken on personal responsibility for answering the question Abbotsford City Council has never answered: Where do the Homeless Go?

Since, by their own choice and of their own free will, CEO Jessica McDonald, the Board, employees of BC Hydro and the Crown Corporation BC Hydro have chosen to become involved in homelessness in Abbotsford and pre-empt the BC Courts on the question of the Rights of Canadians and where are the homeless to go they have, as a consequence, made themselves responsible for – and to – the homeless in Abbotsford for answering where the homeless are to go………

“When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action.”
Lois McMaster Bujold, Memory

“A responsible choice is a choice that creates consequences that you are willing to assume responsibility for.”     Gary Zukav

……We [I, the homeless, citizens of Abbotsford] await the unveiling of BC Hydro’s plans for the relocation of the homeless from Gladys, and BC Hydro’s answer – and plans – to the thorny question of where the homeless are suppose to relocate to.

 

 

Appendix 1

BC Hydro Board of Directors: 

Stephen Bellringer, Chair of the board

Bill Adsit

W.J. Brad Bennett, O.B.C.

Larry Blain

James M. Brown

James P. Hatton, Q.C.

John Knappett

Tracey L. McVicar

Janine North, ICD.D

John Ritchie

Jack Weisgerber

Homeless, Issues, Media, Municipal, Politics

What a Concept – Homeless Have Rights!

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Yes Andrew, the homeless – being Canadians – have Rights that are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

And as anyone who is following the matter knows, The Abbotsford News obfuscation notwithstanding, the case is about the Rights and Freedoms all Canadians are entitled to and protecting the Rights and Freedoms of Canadians.

Anyone even moderately informed is aware the court case is not focused on the right of the homeless to camp in city parks. The right to camp in a city’s parks is a right only as a consequence of and in redressing the city’s violation of the Charter Rights of the homeless. As Section 24 states:

  • 24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances.

As to the question of the need to go to Court……..where else, how else, would Mr. Holota have us, have Canadians, settle fundamental questions about Charter Rights and Freedoms and questions concerning the violation of those Rights and Freedoms by governments [in this case the municipal government of the City of Abbotsford]?

Pistols at dawn in front of City Hall?

Unfortunately it is highly unlikely that the question of whether the factual errors, lies of omission and disinformation written, printed and disseminated by Black Press and Andrew Holota about homelessness, the homeless and the actions of the City of Abbotsford are a violation of the Rights and Freedoms of the homeless or simply served to abet the City of Abbotsford in its continuous violation of the Rights and Freedoms of homeless Canadians will be asked or answered.

As a result, although they may be culpable, neither Black Press nor Andrew Holota are likely to suffer any consequences for contributing to the violation of or violating the Rights of homeless Canadians in Abbotsford.

Mr. Holota’s editorial is rife with statements demonstrating the part Black Press and Mr. Holota have played in creating conditions in Abbotsford where going to court to protect the Rights of homeless Canadians from the City of Abbotsford is not a matter of choice but of necessity.

“....the homeless issue in this town got hijacked by special-interest groups.”

Pivot is a non-profit Society [supported by the community through thousands of donations] whose purpose is to represent and defend the marginalized and disenfranchised by defending their human rights through the provision of access to the legal system. In doing this Pivot also protects the Rights and Freedoms of all Canadians.

Perhaps to Black Press, Andrew Holota and the City of Abbotsford a non-profit Society widely supported by its community, a Society that defends the Human Rights, the Charter Rights of the disenfranchised, is a special interest group.

To the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the powerless, the poor, to all those without the resources to defend their Rights Pivot is a Champion who fights for and defends the oppressed.

It is understandable why, as the oppressors, the City of Abbotsford, Black Press and Editor Holota would view anyone, anything or any group that would fight for and/or defend a class/group of people that the City of Abbotsford, Black Press and Editor Holota wish to oppress, harass, persecute and victimize as a ‘special-interest’ group. In protecting the interests of the homeless Pivot acts against the interests of the oppressors, threatens to force an end to the oppression and drags the oppressors into court, out of the shadows, into daylight and makes a public display of them.

It would be interesting, potentially entertaining, to see by what convoluted process Editor Holota came to label the Abbotsford chapter of the Drug War Survivors, whose membership consists almost entirely of those who have been homeless, are homeless or in the process of becoming homeless as a special interest group vis-à-vis the subject of homelessness in Abbotsford.

To the Homeless in Abbotsford the motivation of Barry Shantz in founding the Abbotsford chapter of the BC/Yukon Drug War Survivors is moot.

What matters to the homeless and all others who are powerless in Abbotsford is that the involvement of Mr. Shantz and the DWS solved a years old dilemma, a dilemma not limited to just the homeless – the barrier raised to holding the City of Abbotsford accountable for its actions by prohibitive legal costs.

Whether it was/is the City of Abbotsford’s violation of the homeless and powerless or the costly illegal subsidy agreement with the Heat, bottomless taxpayer pockets, at least from the view of Abbotsford’s municipal government and politicians, has been an insurmountable barrier to those seeking Justice.

Until Pivot, and the community that supports them, stepped forward to say ENOUGH to the City of Abbotsford and its politicians.

Pivot a special interest group? I suppose if you consider an interest in Human Rights, in protecting the Charter Rights and Freedoms of all Canadians [not just those of the privileged or wealthy], in standing up for the marginalized and disenfranchised as a ‘special’ interest.

Personally, irregardless of what the City of Abbotsford, its’ politicians, Black Press or Andrew Holota obviously believe I do not regard the behaviour of Pivot as ‘special’; to me Pivot’s behaviour is simply the behaviour of the ethical, behaviour the City of Abbotsford – although highly unlikely to – could learn a great deal from.

As English philosopher Edmund Burke stated “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Homeless, Municipal, Politics

More Banman Balderdash

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In an interview with the CBC  Mayor Banman stated “It comes down to financial dollars, resources and expertise. Cities are supposed to look after really exciting things like water and sewer.”

Hmm. Let us set aside questions of what rational – or irrational – words Mayor Banman would use to fit boondoggles such as the Heat, the International Garden, the Great White Elephant, roads were you cannot see the markings, traffic circles with warning signs not to get in beside a transport truck because the poor design means trucks crush any car that makes the mistake of being in the traffic circle with them, etc. into this latest Banmanism.

A well managed city looks after the well being of their citizens and the health of the city. And while water and sewer are part of looking after their citizens, the well being of citizens and the health of a city extend well beyond infrastructure.

A city is a community of diverse parts and peoples and the health and well being of a city and its citizens comes from the interaction of all the parts and peoples of a city. Including those with mental health challenges, our large East Indian community, all those who have immigrated to Canada and Abbotsford, including previous and current immigrants to established groups such as the Mennonites, the homeless, business people, the poor, commuters, students,………….

Mayors and councillors who ignore the reality of the complex nature of a city impoverish their city, not just in terms of finances but also the spirit, the soul of their city.

 

The City of Abbotsford, its’ mayors and councillors have repeatedly used poverty or lack of resources as an excuse for doing nothing effective or competent to address the growing issue of homelessness in Abbotsford.

And when the provincial government, the favourite target for blame and finger pointing, puts funding on the table the city, mayors and councillors simply move to favourite excuse #2 – wrong location. Or “I am allowed to make an irrational decision” or the utterly nonsensical “we need housing Now, not in two years” given that voting down the rezoning means that in two years time Abbotsford will still hot have any of the needed appropriate housing.

Yet Abbotsford, its’ mayors and councillors have all the money and resources they needed to take actions against the homeless that have proven, time after time after time, to be ineffective in achieving any beneficial outcomes.

Although just how much the bullying persecution of the homeless by the city and its’ politicians has cost is unknown because the city refuses to say what it is spending on the insanity of doing the same thing over and over hoping that the results will be different – next time.

One of the many realities that Abbotsford and its’ politicians choose to ignore is that  even from a narrow dollars and cents view, it is in the self-interest of citizens to deal with homelessness, substance use, mental illness, hunger, poverty. In truth, from strictly a dollar and cents point of view, the city’s behaviour towards the homeless makes less sense – and is as harmful to the taxpayers pocketbook’s – as the $20 million Heat boondoggle.

Any realistic look at the costs incurred in how we deal [more accurately fail to deal] with homelessness at the municipal, provincial and federal levels will show we are wasting $100s of millions, the odd $billion$ or two, adhering to the establish practice of recycling people through various aspects of homeless/mental health issues/substance use.

The true poverty, the resource the city lacks, that prevents Abbotsford from effectively addressing homelessness is not $$$$ but leadership.

Over more than a decade people, organizations, officials from other cities who had experience with the practices that have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing homelessness have come to Abbotsford to share their knowledge, experience and expertise.

And Abbotsford, its’ mayors and councillors have ignored them….or taken actions that were the opposite of those advised.

Studies, knowledge, experience, outcomes of best practices designed around the reality of homelessness, mental health and substance use – as opposed actions based on what we have been doing for decades or what the public ‘knows’………

We know what needs to be done. We know what actions and practices are effective in achieving the results we need to achieve. We know that those communities that have chosen to use the knowledge from research and the outcomes experienced with best practices to address homelessness and its related issues have achieved, and continue to achieve significant reductions in homelessness.

This is not rocket science.

The ‘expertise’ needed is how to Listen.

Not listen as mayors and councillors in Abbotsford do, in one ear and out the other, there being – demonstrably – nothing in between for the information to adhere to.

But Listen, to hear what we don’t want to hear, or would rather not hear, or that is not what we believe or want to believe. Hear the Reality – which does not care what your ideology says is true, what you believe is true or what you want to be true; Reality that does not care what we think, that exists separately from us and simply is what it is.

It ain’t what you know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.      Mark Twain