Homelessness: Discuss!

[Moogled]

For those that are interested, my discussions regarding homelessness with Sociology and Crimonology professors have brought this video to light:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...gh+a+Blue+Lens

Constable Al Arsenault, along with six other policemen, began video-documenting the lives of people on their beat to create a powerful educational tool to help prevent drug use among young people. This unique group of officers, dubbed the Odd Squad, forged an unusual relationship between police and addicts in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Through a Blue Lens tells this moving and compassionate story. The result is a gritty documentary that gives addicts a voice to talk openly about who they are, and how they got to the streets. Through their participation on this video, they hope to stop others from sharing their nightmare. Warning: Contains coarse language and graphic scenes. Preview before use.

A half-hour educational now available version of Through a Blue Lens, entitled Flipping the World, for students aged 13 to 16. The film follows seven high-school students as they investigate the complex world of drug addiction. This culturally diverse group of teenagers engage beat officers, recovered addicts, people in drug recovery, and those still struggling with drug abuse in lively and provocative interviews designed to stimulate classroom discussion.

[Pier Pressure]

I have heard that in BC, if you are not from BC, you cannot collect a social services cheque there. What social services will do for people in BC is to provide them with a bus ticket to Calgary, Alberta. This may just be a rumour - I am not sure.

However, thanks to the "Homeless Hilton", we have a lot more than our fair share of homeless people. And thanks to the "boom" we have even more.

I am sick of hearing how "spoiled" I am because I happen to own a home and have some luxuries. I worked like a dog to obtain what I have, and I certainly did not ever ask anybody for a free ride along the way.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Yeah, this definitely should not be a rant against the "have's" as opposed to the "have not's"....

I think most of us have the "luxury" of mental fitness

[dsaundry]

Interesting thread so far, its a pretty good study just in this short thread about how society views "Homeless" people. Nobody has really come up with a solution for it. There are some "hard liners" as well as some "bleeding hearts"
I am not trying to slam anybody, just showing the range of opinions. I used to live in the downtown area of Vancouver and have seen just about everything, from the drug addicts, prostitutes, the seedier criminal side as well as the "regular hard working people" as well. I have had the misfortune of seeing a 15yr old girl take a dive from a 12 story balcony, I have seen people stabbed and have been around when shots have been fired. I have seen the results after a pimp beats the crap out of a prostitute so you might think I would be jaded in some topics discussed here. I have also seen the good side of people that try to help, shelters to keep people out of the cold, some churches that feed these people on a regular basis and even kids at schools taking warm clothes to the "Street People". My living in Vancouver's downtown area was 25+ years ago. So has it changed or is it worse. After visiting it again a few months ago I would say the situation is worse, but there isn't any difference as to the reasons these people are there. Sure there are some that can and choose not to work, there are some that are mentally imbalanced and cannot work as well as the ones that the drugs and booze have affected their abilities to work. There are the success stories of the ones who kicked their habits and now function in what we call a responsible manner. Our B.C. government has just announced that they will be opening up a facility for the mentally unbalanced people although I think it will be woefully insufficient. I have a daughter who is/was addicted to "crack" and has been battling it, and has been clean for the last couple of years. I know what she has done for money and drugs and as a father if I had the opportunity to go back in time and break the guy up who got her hooked... well it would be a tempting offer..but as an adult I have no say as to what she does, when she was arrested they wouldnt tell me what for unless she told them. She was 19yrs old then. I will also point out that she has been living with her mother off and on in Calgary for the last 7 yrs.{Not a slam on Calgary} The sad part of it all is if she was 15 she would qualify for medical help and I as her parent could have some say as to her getting help. I am talking about councilling as well as medical help, as a young adult she falls through the cracks in society.The view from the government is that as an adult you are supposedly capable of making all the decisions unless you are a danger to the public. So as a father of a daughter who has been on and off the streets I agree there should be more done. As a taxpayer I also agree that we are being taxed to death and I dont want to pay anymore tax's. I commend the people and organizations who try to help but I also agree there are some people that are beyond all help and what do you do with them? If there was a simple solution it would have been dealt with by now. It was one of the toughest things I ever had to do by telling my daughter that unless she got off the drugs and got help that I would not help her anymore.You may not agree with my methods but it started her in the right direction. "tough love"? I hope she stays clean and off the streets as I cannot monitor her every move, so as a society we cannot monitor every homeless person or the reasons they are there. Now before I end this little statement I will say that I have 4 children and 3 are just fine. Yes there has been some typical teen drinking and drug use that we were aware of but not to the extent of my one daughter. All are adults now and pursuing their careers and so far doing well. My daughter was never abused and came from a loving home. I am probably classed as upper middle class and as you can see it doesnt matter. My daughter was homeless because she was a young girl who made a mistake and was not mentally strong enough at the time to get out of it. She can also slip back into this as well, I know. An addict is alway an addict. I am not really pointing fingers at anyone or anything, just stating that this thread could go on for a very long time. There is NO immediate solution to the homeless issue at this point..Sad but true

[Lydia]

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. Thank you for sharing with us, and for putting a very personal perspective on all of this.

I wish great strength to you and yours....

[ElGuappo]

Good Luck with your daughter !!!!! My Bro is around 11 monthes clean with 1 lapse in 2 years. Its Rough.

Calgary has crack everywhere its easier to get than beer is for a minor. My brother had an issue if you read back. I know of a dealer that has been ratted on 4 times and the cops do nothing. they apparently are waiting for him to build up assets to seize. however i dont understand how that would matter if you catch him copious amounts of crack and other drugs. also im trying to figure out excactly what assets this kid needs he under 28 has 2 houses 5 cars and god only knows what else.

Back to the topic at hand.

One of the things that i think is the problem is that we are to interestd in Quick fixes and not whats best for the long term. AGREED THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH NO OPTIONS. but how long are these people allowed to live in aplace were they are feed and given a place to sleep before they are FORCED to try and make it on there own.Even a mother bird knows when to let its chicks go. Do they have to take any courses on self help or learning how to budget in order to have Free or next to free accomidations.granted alot of these people dont have family to fall back on and that would make life that much more difficult. Broken Homes is another tough situation. If these people regardless of there situation going to stay in a shelter perhaps manditory classes on helping to improve your current situation be it drugs, abuse, metal illness. so these people can get off the street the the confidence and Knowledge they need.

However there is that whole " SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" thing. This is a LAW OF NATURE that has been around for alot longer than the human race.

Some of the Responsability must lie with the media tho. you all kinds of ads for 3rd world countries and animals but never of our on poverty troubles. the Canadian public gives more money to animal related charities than to charities to help the less fourtunate. I cant remember the numbers on this but i was quite suprised.

[EmilyB]

I can't get Southpark episode "Night of the Living Homeless" out of my mind.

[Ephraim]

chaaaaaange.....chaaaaange