Traditionally here, our homeless have been mostly invisible - couch-surfing, shelters, etc. It was EXTREMELY rare to see anyone sleeping rough, ever, anywhere in the city. That was worthy of calling 9-11.
Now... every block of Water Street has a person or two sleeping in the sheltered entrance of one building or another. And tent cities have sprung up. They were pretty quiet at first, and hidden - for example, tucked under bridges over forested riverside trails, etc. But that changed a few weeks ago when a group of homeless people set up their tent city on Confederation Hill, just outside Confederation Building.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...-two-1.6991586
That, of course, got the media's attention, as well as politicians. It provoked a government scandal where the relevant Minister touted a number of new housing options, other Ministers repeated the number, but it wasn't the number built - it was just the number in some stage of consideration.
The people in the homeless camp were offered access to shelters, etc., trying to shuffle them out of the spotlight. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary did or did not take down tents without people in them, and the people could or could not collect their belongings later - I never do understand the back and forth they get on with in the media, except that we clearly have VERY heavy-handed police who can be counted on to make headlines with actions in any social injustice situation.
BUT... these people weren't afraid to say the shelters weren't good enough, some had absolutely no supports, some are slums, most are run by religious nutjobs or fur-coat wearing landlords bedazzled in gold rings (
literally). So they're remaining the squeaky wheel until this is fixed for real in terms of us having acceptable shelters that provide guidance for accessing the services and supports that already exist.
We're talking about fewer than 1,000 people, surely, who need this intense level of support here. We can fucking afford it. And kudos to them for not shutting up.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...aint-1.7007630
Quote:
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Jim Dinn, head of the N.L. NDP who has been outspoken both inside and outside of the House of Assembly about what he calls a housing crisis in the province, shared pictures of the unit with The Telegram, highlighting the poor living conditions.
"Why does it take the media to get the government to react?" Dinn said. "I understand now that they've sent people in to clean the place. That should have been done at the beginning when they promised solutions."
The house is privately owned, and the province pays its owner directly to house people there. Dinn says he opposes that model and instead advocates for non-profit, community-based housing.
"We spent, I think, $10.5 million on emergency shelters, half of which was on for-profit shelters," he said. "I can't help but think of the money that could have been used to build affordable homes, that's the first thing, or to set up shelters."
The interview was abruptly stopped when police officers marched to Peddle's housing unit and asked to speak with her. Police cars were at the scene shortly after CBC News arrived.
"I've been here for two days and there is already a complaint?" Peddle asked the police officer. The officer refused to speak with her in front of the media, so they walked inside the house.
Dinn, who watched the scene unfold, said, "I didn't quite expect that it would end up with the police being brought in. If this is part of the deal, there's something terribly wrong here."
Later, Peddle said the police were called by the owner to ask her to leave the property and allow the cleaners to do their work.
Another person from the tent encampments, Steven Black, also moved in two days ago with his son, but into the basement unit. He says the conditions downstairs are worse.
"The oven isn't working," he said as he led reporters into the basement. He tapped the walls, saying, "Look at this, all sheets of plywood. It's a fire hazard."
There was a sign on the wall of the bathroom that said "out of order." Black said it had been there since they arrived.
The woman who owns the house came downstairs and told reporters to leave. Then a physical altercation occurred between her and Black.
Peddle said she was informed that this unit would be temporary before transitioning to a permanent unit. However, she says that she won't leave until she has spoken with N.L. Housing, otherwise she will return to living in a tent.
"This is why I didn't want to go into shelters. That's why I was in a tent in the first place, because I don't want to be shifted around," she said.
Peddle said she has been living in tents for months and is looking forward to a place where she can live with her 14-year-old son, who is currently in foster care.
Reporters at Confederation Building requested an interview with Housing Minister Paul Pike but a spokesperson declined, saying Pike was in a meeting.
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Source: ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENTS, published by Times Columnist.
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