The Homeless in Vancouver
It saddens me to see how many homeless people are here in downtown Vancouver.
BC, a province of Canada, is 2 1/2 times larger than Japan, larger than France and Germany combined and something like 3 or 4 times larger than UK.
Yet the population of BC is about 5 million people. All of the previously mentioned countries have population at least 12 times larger.
So why is it that we have such a big homelesness problem in BC? Isn't there enough land for all of us?
It's understandably that because of a warmer climate its easier for these people to survive here.
However its not clear to me why the government is not doing much to help them; if they are, its certainly not visible. There are however some local groups and churches that help out, but its not enough; one is actually located within a block from me and I often see homeless people line up there for food as I make my way to work.
A lot of the people here believe that the homeless here are mostly druggies; there may be some truth to that, but I just don't understand where they would get the money to buy the expensive drugs? And supposing that its true, what then came first the drugs/alcohol or the homelessness? Also, suppose a homeless person wanted to go clean and be given a chance to be part of our society; how could he do it?
I personally don't buy the drug problem explanation, there are probably a few who do drugs, but probably not the majority and there are generalizations based on the few, maybe because its easier to believe and probably due to the stories floating around of drug use. After all, how often would you tell a story of a homeless person who is not doing anything? ... people wouldn't find such a story interesting, so you wouldn't!
This whole issue is very cloudy and it would be nice to know the truth for once. Hopefully the government will wake up soon and help the people in need.
You can read more on my thoughts about this issue as a global problem here
BC, a province of Canada, is 2 1/2 times larger than Japan, larger than France and Germany combined and something like 3 or 4 times larger than UK.
Yet the population of BC is about 5 million people. All of the previously mentioned countries have population at least 12 times larger.
So why is it that we have such a big homelesness problem in BC? Isn't there enough land for all of us?
It's understandably that because of a warmer climate its easier for these people to survive here.
However its not clear to me why the government is not doing much to help them; if they are, its certainly not visible. There are however some local groups and churches that help out, but its not enough; one is actually located within a block from me and I often see homeless people line up there for food as I make my way to work.
A lot of the people here believe that the homeless here are mostly druggies; there may be some truth to that, but I just don't understand where they would get the money to buy the expensive drugs? And supposing that its true, what then came first the drugs/alcohol or the homelessness? Also, suppose a homeless person wanted to go clean and be given a chance to be part of our society; how could he do it?
I personally don't buy the drug problem explanation, there are probably a few who do drugs, but probably not the majority and there are generalizations based on the few, maybe because its easier to believe and probably due to the stories floating around of drug use. After all, how often would you tell a story of a homeless person who is not doing anything? ... people wouldn't find such a story interesting, so you wouldn't!
This whole issue is very cloudy and it would be nice to know the truth for once. Hopefully the government will wake up soon and help the people in need.
You can read more on my thoughts about this issue as a global problem here
posted by Alex Pilchin at 7:30 PM
2 Comments:
The latest on this issue, pointed out to me by a friend, is that the local government has passed the 'Safe Streets Act' to clean the streets from the homeless. This is primarily done to put out a clean and perfect immage for the Olympics.
It hasn't yet been stated, in the law, or elsewhere how they are planning to do this.
Here is a link with more details http://apc.resist.ca/safe_streets_act
I auncy works in down town vancouver b.c. feeding the homeless people. She serves food in a city sponsored cafeteria. What can u do? poison them? no, against the law. give 'em spare changes and hope they don't use drugs or smoke. but most would use drugs or smoke as a way of numbing their reality? it would make news if they commit suicide, seeing no other alternative to a better life. but i think most people are afraid of dying and so these homeless people live on the fringe, seeing a bit of the world so sympathic to them but do little for them. they are fragileness will not lend them a cheap and menial work day. immigrants are for favorable for those looking for cheap labor. and they are easily exploited. yeah, man, it's unreal.
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