The idiots who …. I mean the politicians and bureaucrats who are suppose to provide leadership, solve problems and behave with at least some intelligence, will probably cite the above ten days in trying to defend or explain their actions in serving notice to the homeless camping in “Compassion Park”. So, what are those 10 days about? The Salvation Army has received funding to enable it to open all the beds in the emergency shelter, doubling the beds available to 20. This was desperately needed as many nights people seeking shelter were turned away due to a lack of beds available. Ironically, the people turned away had to go to “Compassion Park” to find shelter (spare tents) for the night. Now with the City choosing to close down the “Park” before they have taken any useful actions to address the many pressing issues, as opposed to the smoke and mirrors of the past month, the residents of the “Park” will have to seek shelter at the Salvation Army. But they only get 10 days which, while double the normal allotment of 5 days, just delays them returning to living on the streets – and provides the City another smokescreen to cover their actions and a demonstrated lack of ability to begin to address the issues raised by homelessness, poverty and lack of affordable housing.

One cannot fault the Salvation Army for the decision to limit their stay to 10 days (or even the usual limit of 5 days) as this limit has been demonstrated by experience to be necessary in order to be as fair as possible in providing all with access to the emergency shelter. This is after all, suppose to be an ‘emergency shelter’, not a shelter to serve the Homeless of Abbotsford on a longer term basis. This conflict between its purpose as an emergency shelter and the overwhelming need of the homeless on the city streets for shelter is a result of the failure of leadership, ideas and ideals on the part of Abbotsford’s politicians (local, provincial and federal), the bureaucrats and other supposed “civic leaders”. In their wilful blindness on the issue of homeless they have failed to provide the longer-term shelter, other facilities and services so badly needed if one wants to help reduce homelessness and aid the less fortunate citizens of Abbotsford.

They will probably also claim that the Salvation Army will help them find homes, jobs and anything else they need, as if they have not had access to and contact those services for the past month. Another attempt to hide their failure to fulfill their ‘duty of care’ to these citizens. The real problem appears to be that the politicians wanted a ‘quick fix’ to plaster over the problems. Reality is that this is an issue that has grown over time and has no fast, easy solutions. It requires commitment, leadership, thoughtfulness, creativity, innovation and intelligent. All qualities that the politicians, administrators and civic leaders demonstrate a total lack of, at least on these pressing social issues.