Invasion of the Homeless

[Solipsistic]

Now I am all for helping the needy and trying to get them off the street but I must say... Vernon is being overrun with an influx of homeless and addicts. The downtown core has turned into Vancouver's Hastings St... between being bombarded by people looking for a handout and witnessing numerous mental instability outbursts... it's hard not to wonder where our town has gone. Down the drains you say, to the dogs perhaps... there's something wrong when you don't feel safe even walking to the main street Safeway.

Let's not forget the numerous rv/motor homes that have started to park and squat anywhere they can either..

The city talks about coming up with solutions but... it's still just talk... I walk with my kids and I am saddened by the state of everything. Our town is not safe, our downtown core has gone to sh*t, and solutions are a long time coming.
Drug addicts fill up our alley ways, while street workers are taking over numerous corners...

Studies suggest that giving them a proper place to live is the first step; that if they had security and a place to call home they would be more likely to be productive and kick the drug/alcohol habit. Studies showed the same for vietnam vets; the ones who had family to come back to and the ones that didn't...

At this point, we need to try all our options! Get these people off the street, make the city safe again, and let them contribute in some way. I say no more free handouts. A few apartment complexes on the edge of town with community gardens, common areas, and cafeteria style kitchens... make them work to whatever capacity they're able... pick up garbage around town, clean graffiti, etc etc... sponsor classes on home care, gardening, etiquette, and then expand to simple job sponsorships or something... I don't have all the answers but I think we need to atleast try something more serious than putting donation boxes on street corners for food banks n such.

The fact is right now our city is turning into a toilet and the ones running it are too busy talking and not enough action.

[Glacier]

The old Journey Inn is being turned into a massive social housing project as we speak, though not as massive as the 10 story senior's building going up beside it.

[GrooveTunes]

It's the future......and the CONS are proud of their record.

[TheBoss]

Was working with a crew downtown vernon in the alley way off of 29th where they're building the seniors complex. There was about 5 needles i counted on the ground, the crew are putting together mpts on that very same ground so when i saw them i pointed them out and yeah. I don't know how many broken needles were laying around in that spot but it was nasty.

I have seen a influx of homeless people in this town and it doesn't feel safe.

[jimmy4321]

For decades Vernon has catered to the nearly dead, they are a reliable group of voters. They also don't see much of this street crap so little gets done.

[Gixxer]

There's a methadone clinic in town

[looking4one]

*removed*

[bob vernon]

The Socreds, now called the Liberals after having worn out another party name, could run a donkey anywhere in the Okanagan and win. And come to think of it, their candidates are donkies. Those old sundrenched seniors only care about holding down their taxes and making sure they get good tee times. Care about their fellow man? Christian values? Naw, turn out the mentally ill onto the streets and make them figger it out themselves. It costs too much to keep those institutions open.

[Smurf]

I think you're wrong there Bob, I'll bet you'll find the old seniors would love to have the institutions back. It is the new thinking that believes they should not be in institutions of some sort and properly looked after. The new way is to have them out on the street and doing things for themselves. Personally I feel they need a mix. They do need a lot of support as they are being taken advantage of when on their own. No one should ever end up on the street because they are mentally ill.

[bob vernon]

But they do wind up there, don't they? The mentally ill, that is. There will always be a small percentage of humanity who just can't take care of themselves. Some care for them. But a larger sector of society is concerned about lower taxes and good tee times.

[Boda]

I think you're wrong there Bob, I'll bet you'll find the old seniors would love to have the institutions back. It is the new thinking that believes they should not be in institutions of some sort and properly looked after. The new way is to have them out on the street and doing things for themselves. Personally I feel they need a mix. They do need a lot of support as they are being taken advantage of when on their own. No one should ever end up on the street because they are mentally ill.

Smurf I think Bobs reference to seniors supporting cons/BC libs/so-creds or right wing ideologies in general and those governments lack of support for less fortunate Canadians is accurate.
Gordon Campbell closed most all of the psychiatric hospitals in BC toting the theory of integrating their populations with the general public being in the patients best interests.
Gordon Campbell's state reasoning for closing psychiatric hospitals was disingenuous to say the least.

[whatwhat]

I think you're wrong there Bob, I'll bet you'll find the old seniors would love to have the institutions back. It is the new thinking that believes they should not be in institutions of some sort and properly looked after. The new way is to have them out on the street and doing things for themselves. Personally I feel they need a mix. They do need a lot of support as they are being taken advantage of when on their own. No one should ever end up on the street because they are mentally ill.

I don't really think it is an age/generation thing as to who believes in institutions. Some older people want them, some don't. Some younger people want them, some don't.

The reason they got shut down in the first place was because they were disgusting places, where people with disabilities and mental illnesses were treated horribly. They were deinstitutionalized, but the supports needed to replace the institutions weren't put into place. There was no place for these people to go but the street.

The organization I work at, that homes and provided support people with mental illnesses, is over flowing and has an incredible wait list. There aren't enough social services for people who need it. I agree that there is a need for a mix of both "institutions" and independence. With the right support and help, people with mental illnesses (and even disabilities) are able to live independently (or mostly so), but they just need some help.

[looking4one]

*removed*

[Rosemary1]

Agree with you Bob that there will always be a small percentage of people who just cannot take care of themselves and will need continuing help but don't agree so much on point that its about tax savings alone.

No matter what assistance or services are available there will also always be a small percentage of people who for many reasons will not accept or use the services available to them. You can bring a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We don't live in a country where we can force anyone to do anything unless they break a law and even then...

I do take exception to many posters who are always quick to stereotype ALL seniors as being intolerant, uncaring and against progressive change. Many seniors today grew up in 60s and 70's a time of major social change and carry that spirit with them. Many seniors volunteer in events and organizations that help others.

[dontrump]

Its interesting to read of the social problems just in our little Vernon bc multiply that by every city in Canada
its quit overwhelming to say the least