The preliminary results for the Fraser Valley homeless count are out and no doubt there will be debate about what the numbers mean.

A nice academic exercise for those who are not homeless. The reality for those who are homeless is that a debate will only waste more time in pointless activity that won’t house a single homeless person.

A homeless count, is that not a wonderful concept? Counting people in the same manner we do bears, eagles and other wild animal populations in order to “manage” the population. What a wonderfully demeaning manner in which to treat any group of people.

Why is there a need to count the homeless population? Why do we need to provide numbers to prove that the homeless population has grown so large that we need to take action? It is not enough that the streets and shelters are full of people without homes/shelter?

Is that not a damning truth about us as people and a society? That we have to count the homeless to prove there are enough homeless people that we are forced to take action on homelessness.

The fact that there are any people suffering homelessness, mental illness, addiction on our streets is all that should need to exist for society to act. NO ifs, no ands and no buts – if there are people in need: just do what must be done.