25959 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

I'm afraid the homeless problem is such that adding 300 campers into housing just means there's space for 300 more in our parks.  I can't see the total going down.  It'll take a concentrated and holistic approach not only in the city but across the country.  Otherwise we'll still be the magnet. 

 

So is there any appetite to reduce the magnet conditions we have here?  Is there any desire to make this place less attractive to the homeless, while at the same time supporting the homeless?  The higher barriers to services that I've advocated for here over and over again.  

 

The carrot/stick solutions.

 

A reduction in the cost of caring for the homeless, by increasing volunteerism and work by the homeless to take care of themselves and their community.  A move to empower them to take care of themselves, instead of just handing them all kinds of benefits with no means test, or payback.

 

And a way out of the drug cycle.  I'm pretty sure 147 living together in low-barrier housing on Johnson does not support a move away from addictions.

[Nparker]

Well put VHF.

[zoomer]

At 4:25 I see Victoria Buzz ha 1,200 likes, 67 hearts, 24 surprised and 3 laughing faces on their story that tent city has shut down.  No angry or sad faces.. lol.  Now, some are happy because homes have been found, but read the comments and I think this unscientific sampling suggests people don't want this to happen again. 

 

You're a little too far to the right for my liking VHF, but on this one, you'll have my full conditional support.  Time to work on a citizen's manifesto that gets sent to city hall.  Part of the demands must be accountability - organizations need to have performance targets that measure making a difference in the lives of those who need help, not how many free meals or bags of food that were provided.  That's failure.  Food banks are an example of our society failing. 

[VicHockeyFan]

Yes, a success would be to see the increase in the number of low-cost, but paid meals they provide at Our Place, as I've outlined before.

[Rob Randall]

5.45 pm, the last structure, a two-storey tent/platform is dismantled.

Attached Images

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[Nparker]

5.45 pm, the last structure, a two-storey tent/platform is dismantled.

[VicPushedOver]

Saving money? Helps is obsessed with the literature she read in college when she was a sociology student at UVic, (man have I lost a lot of respect for that institution). Now at minus 1000. From my experience its not a real university.

 

I estimate more than a thousand new homeless people in our city, due to our SJW mayor and councils promotional initiatives.

 

I have lived in western Fairfield/Downtown for the past ten years, I say again,  a thousand new homeless persons since last fall... conservative.

 

And we're not done yet!

Edited by VicPushedOver, 12 August 2016 - 05:08 PM.

[North Shore]

Here's an interesting idea, courtesy of the Washington Post, and Albuquerque, NM.:https://www.washingt...st-draw8&wpmm=1

 

 

 

Republican Mayor Richard Berry was driving around Albuquerque last year when he saw a man on a street corner holding a sign that read: “Want a Job. Anything Helps.”

Throughout his administration, as part of a push to connect the homeless population to services, Berry had taken to driving through the city to talk to panhandlers about their lives. His city’s poorest residents told him they didn’t want to be on the streets begging for money, but they didn’t know where else to go.

 

[aastra]

 

...if this is true, then the head of every organization in this city involved with helping the homeless should resign in disgrace.  Unbelievable that health authorities, politicians, police, poverty advocates have never coordinated together...

 

Hey, how many times have street folk been quoted as saying they don't make use of the support services because of safety concerns or other practical considerations? Safety! What could be more fundamental than making sure your facilities aren't nests of intimidation, robbery, assault, sexual assault, drug dealing and drug use, etc.? If heads haven't already started rolling after the past several months, they likely never will.

 

Let's face it, some wars just aren't what they're presented to be. When generals lose battles they don't get canned, they get promoted.

[VicPushedOver]

So is there any appetite to reduce the magnet conditions we have here?  Is there any desire to make this place less attractive to the homeless, while at the same time supporting the homeless?  The higher barriers to services that I've advocated for here over and over again.  

 

The carrot/stick solutions.

 

A reduction in the cost of caring for the homeless, by increasing volunteerism and work by the homeless to take care of themselves and their community.  A move to empower them to take care of themselves, instead of just handing them all kinds of benefits with no means test, or payback.

 

And a way out of the drug cycle.  I'm pretty sure 147 living together in low-barrier housing on Johnson does not support a move away from addictions.

 

The volunteers you speak of, do or did exist, they are under attack. Lets be honest, poverty pimps don't want voluntarism, it cuts into their bottom line.

 

CCC school provides money to the diocese that spends all the money after expenses, on social issues, like the homeless.

 

Volunteer groups are being targeted, and forced out by poverty pimps like Cool Aid, who put a low barrier housing facility right next door to the CCC k-8 school.

 

Its the same MO they used at the Saint Andrews school, lets place a no restrictions needle and methadone clinic right next door, and see how long it takes the parents to determine that the risks are too great.

 

Good bye, competition.

Edited by VicPushedOver, 12 August 2016 - 05:42 PM.

[VicHockeyFan]

Here's an interesting idea, courtesy of the Washington Post, and Albuquerque, NM.:https://www.washingt...st-draw8&wpmm=1

 

Republican Mayor Richard Berry was driving around Albuquerque last year when he saw a man on a street corner holding a sign that read: “Want a Job. Anything Helps.”

Throughout his administration, as part of a push to connect the homeless population to services, Berry had taken to driving through the city to talk to panhandlers about their lives. His city’s poorest residents told him they didn’t want to be on the streets begging for money, but they didn’t know where else to go.

 

Yes, we've seen this posted before.

 

Look, instead of Choices holding art classes, we could have a gang out repairing fences or cleaning highway medians.

[VicPushedOver]

Get real. How much cleaning and repairing went on during the PCHL occupation?

 

We'll be lucky to get a good deal on a contract to provide cleaning and room service at Choices. They're entitled...

 

I just hope we could get way with not having to pay for a new agency/service to wipe their bums, after they poop, inside or outside the facility.

Edited by VicPushedOver, 12 August 2016 - 06:17 PM.

[mbjj]

Saving money? Helps is obsessed with the literature she read in college when she was a sociology student at UVic, (man have I lost a lot of respect for that institution). Now at minus 1000. From my experience its not a real university.

 

I estimate more than a thousand new homeless people in our city, due to our SJW mayor and councils promotional initiatives.

 

I have lived in western Fairfield/Downtown for the past ten years, I say again,  a thousand new homeless persons since last fall... conservative.

 

And we're not done yet!

 

Saving money? Helps is obsessed with the literature she read in college when she was a sociology student at UVic, (man have I lost a lot of respect for that institution). Now at minus 1000. From my experience its not a real university.

 

I estimate more than a thousand new homeless people in our city, due to our SJW mayor and councils promotional initiatives.

 

I have lived in western Fairfield/Downtown for the past ten years, I say again,  a thousand new homeless persons since last fall... conservative.

 

And we're not done yet!

We've lived in Fairfield for 36 years....I've never seen so many scroungers in dumpsters, guys trailing bike thingies, and seedy characters. One guy took something that looked like a large wicker pirate's chest out of the dumpster near us and spent 40 minutes trying to attach it to his bike trailer...then off he went.

[mbjj]

Ooops, sorry about that, can't seem to delete that extra quote.

[zoomer]

Aastra, absolutely, we need to make these shelters safe, and not tolerate some of the behaviour and activities that occurs outside and in. Too many of the people in the industry are former street/homeless people - yes, you need some who can provide valuable insight, but it's at the point that anything and everything is accepted and no one wants to be the baddie, they all want to be best friends with their clients.

 

I think VHF suggested something like this is the past, provide the bare minimum for those not willing to work, get treatment, help.  For those who do help them get jobs, then they get a room with their own shower, etc.  Have a series of steps which they graduate from with the goal of getting their own place with a steady job.  Then bring back these successful people and have them encourage and help those in need.  If I was living in a shelter and saw someone getting access to job opportunities, the best room in the shelter, their own tv, etc. because they worked in the kitchen, cleaned up the grounds, etc, it would motivate me. 

[LJ]

Listening to Don Evans yesterday it sounds like there is some angst brewing between the various service providers now that PHS has taken a foothold. I think that they believe there will be some consolidation amoungst provides and they will each want to try and establish themselves and their facilities. It only makes sense, the Government could save millions off dollars annually by simply reducing the number of CEOs/EDs and their management teams.

 

Don mentioned on CFAX yesterday that he was out at SIC handing out business cards for Choices. Thought that was strange since everyone at SIC was being offered space with PHS.

Amalgamate (poverty pimps) now!

[spanky123]

Amalgamate (poverty pimps) now!

 

Think it is coming. As many people have mentioned, PHS has no comment. They keep their mouths shut and let the Government do the talking. Don and Kathy always seem to have something to say and it is usually critical of the Province or supporting additional homeless spending. Have to think that the PHS move is in tandem with de-funding TAPs and Cool Aid.

Edited by spanky123, 12 August 2016 - 06:49 PM.

[VicPushedOver]

Money filtered back to the local and provincial politicians. DTES now over a million dollars a day... Hello.

[endless summer]

Chrissy Brett's 2 children were at the site today with their baby sitter. I don't think a lot of people knew she had kids, I didn't. As a parent myself, it speaks volumes that she hasn't been at home for 8 months, basically abandoning her kids to be the mouth piece and ego maniac that she is. 

 

So history repeats itself I guess. She can complain and play victim all her life and then make her own kids victims by not being there for them, so they can in turn cry the blues about their past and how hard life was when their mother left them. Shame on her for not making her children her priority and being at home where she should have been. Shocking and yet not shocking that none of the media have the guts to even report the fact that she's a mother and hasn't been living at home for this period of time, at least not full time. Too busy pretending to be the den mother for people who never asked for it.

[Love the rock]

So is there any appetite to reduce the magnet conditions we have here?  Is there any desire to make this place less attractive to the homeless, while at the same time supporting the homeless?  The higher barriers to services that I've advocated for here over and over again.  
 
The carrot/stick solutions.
 
A reduction in the cost of caring for the homeless, by increasing volunteerism and work by the homeless to take care of themselves and their community.  A move to empower them to take care of themselves, instead of just handing them all kinds of benefits with no means test, or payback.
And a way out of the drug cycle.  I'm pretty sure 147 living together in low-barrier housing on Johnson does not support a move away from addictions.

So how do we go about organizing change and who do we see to get this done ?
I could not agree with you more and I think many people feel the same way .
The way I see it if we don't step up and take control of the future of greater Victoria we will become one big homeless ,drug haven .
I don't think it will take much more .
I'm asking where is a good place to start and how do we start ?
How do we get heard ,how do we put changes in motion?
Nuts and bolts stuff .ideas please .