An Interview with City Council Candidate RJ Aquin
Photo credit to COPE.bc.ca
By Anis Ali, Grade 12
1) What does being homeless mean to you?
It definitely means not having a home, but there’s more to it than that. It also means not having the peace of mind to pursue what you want.
2) In your opinion, what are some of the reasons for homelessness?
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Downtown Eastside Women’s Center
By Chris Pham, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Homelessness is one of the major issues our city has had to deal with in the past few years. Some reasons why people suffer from homelessness are unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, familial issues, and discrimination.
Currently, there aren’t many laws that deal with homelessness, but what we need to pay attention to are Bill C-304 and the National Housing Act. (more…)
Campaign to End Homelessness
By Julia Ji, Grade 12
Living in a beautiful city like Vancouver, it might be hard for us to imagine what it’s like to
suffer from harsh weather conditions and endure the pangs of an unfed stomach. Unfortunately, this is the reality that thousands of homeless Vancouverites must face every day.
Homelessness is “characterized by the instability of housing and the inadequacy of income, health care supports and social supports,” according to York University. This includes people who are completely homeless, those staying temporarily at emergency shelters or hostels, the ones who are staying temporarily with friends and family, as well as those who are “at risk” of becoming homeless.
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First United Church
By Harpreet Basra, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Homelessness happens everywhere around the world. Not all are drugs addict but some are even normal people like us who got the worst of it and experienced rough times with family or a loss of a job. First United Church was first established in 1885. It is a gospel community which rooted in the Christian faith that helps the homelessness by giving shelter, food, and care in the Vancouver East Side. Their objective is to get them back on their feet and get up from where they had fallen.
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Homelessness in Vancouver
By Francesca Drake, Grade 12
(Published online only)
In a city teemed with business, tourism, and urban life, one might think it is unlikely to find poor people living on the streets. Unfortunately, 1,715 Vancouver citizens are forced to call the street their home, according to the Vancouver Homeless Count taken in March, 2010. Among those 1,715 Vancouverites, half are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and a quarter of them suffer from mental illnesses.
While these numbers are startling, there are many citizens dedicated to ending homelessness, who are involved in government projects or non-profit organizations. For example, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson administered the Homeless Action Plan, with a main priority of ending homelessness by 2015. However, in our present 2011, what measures are being taken to ensure we reach this goal?
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An Interview with MP Don Davies
By Edrick Dudang, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Me: My first concern is about Bill C-304. Bill C-304 is an affordable housing plan that is sponsored by Libby Davies. Can you comment on this bill on how this would reduce poverty rates and guarantee affordable housing to all Canadians?
Davies: Sure. Well, I’ll start of by saying that when you talk about the welfare of the population, there are certain things economically that I believe are our foundations. So, in other words, there are things that people need that are the building blocks of their economic well being. As opposed to something not critical for us to be able to take care of ourselves and have a respectful lifestyle, housing is one of them. So, to give you a list: housing, education, and a good job, these are the foundations we build our lives on. Having a car, going on vacations, having nice clothes, those things are nice to have but they are not foundational. (more…)
The Windermere Word – November Comic
By Josephine Wong, Grade 12
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Homelessness In Our Society
By Leon Tang, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Homelessness is everywhere. In our world the economy is often changing, since the economy is unstable many people that are financially unstable may lose their jobs at any moment and become homeless. Libby Davies, the Vancouver East MP introduced a bill called the National Housing Strategy Bill C-304 which would allow adequate, accessible, and affordable housing. The students and staff of Windermere Secondary are aware of this problem and the Law 12 class has launched a Homelessness Awareness and Action Campaign which will take place from October 11 to 20th. (more…)
Be a Part of the Solution, Not the Problem!
By Nina Kumar, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Homelessness is a growing issue in Vancouver and an even bigger issue across Canada. Regardless of its type – absolute, relative, or concealed – homelessness is something that all Canadians should be concerned about. Many believe that the homeless are alcoholics or drug addicts, but this is not always the case. Homelessness is tied to various social problems, such as domestic violence, shortage of affordable housing, and high unemployment rates. Also, recent studies have found that twenty to thirty-five percent of homeless people have been treated for psychiatric disorders. Moreover, statistics show that there was a fourteen-percent increase from 1986 to 1996 in the Canadian population, but even before this period came to an end, it was shown that thirty percent of the population was living in poverty. This shows how Canada has been robbed of affordable living for a long time. With about 65,000 young homeless people found across Canada, one cannot help but think, “What on earth are we doing as a nation to change this?” (more…)
Is there a Solution to Homelessness? – An Interview with MP Don Davies
By Emily McBain-Ashfield, Grade 12
Throughout the past few decades, there has been a serious increase in the number of homeless people in downtown Vancouver. With the lack of affordable housing and well-paid jobs and 70% of youth having been abused as a child, it is hard to see a light at the end of this dark tunnel. Wondering about the political aspects of the situation as well as possible solutions, I talked to Don Davies, MP for Vancouver Kingsway about the issue of homelessness in the Vancouver area.
When asked about the cause of homelessness, Davies said that over the past 25 years, we have pursued an economic path that has increased disparities between the rich and the poor. This has shrunk the middle class. For example, (more…)
Where is the ‘Less’ in Homelessness?
By Shirley Le, Grade 12
“People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes.” – Sheila McKechnie
The number of homeless people in Vancouver is large, and it isn’t getting any smaller. We’ve become so accustomed to seeing them on the streets that we treat homelessness as if it is a social norm. Many people are so narrow-minded and judgemental that they look down on these people without considering the cause of their misfortune. Many see this as an issue, yet not many are brave enough to stand up and do something about it.
Surprisingly, Canada is one of the few countries without a national housing strategy, not to mention that statistics on the country’s homelessness aren’t very great to look at. (more…)
High School’s Campaign on Homelessness
By Jomar Sastrillo, Grade 12
Law 12 students at Windermere Secondary School have initiated the annual Educational Campaign on Homelessness by engaging in various projects under the direction of Law teacher Ms. Lee. In light of the Homelessness Action Week from October 10 to October 16, the campaign aimed to investigate the laws in relation to the issue and possible solutions. The class has organized a clothing drive, interviewed prominent members of the community, such as Don Davies, Tim Louis, and Libby Davies, participated in public debates, listened to talks from leaders of local campaigns, and donated to local charities. The goal of this campaign is to set an example for others to follow and to fulfill our responsibility as citizens to help our community.
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An Interview with Jacqueline from Covenant House Vancouver
By Celia Lee, Grade 12
If you were given a choice, would you want to live in a house or spend your life on the streets? Covenant House Vancouver offers basic needs to 500 to 1000 homeless youths living in Vancouver. It consists of three core services. The first is the Community Support Services (CSS), consisting of street outreach, daily drop-ins, and housing support. Secondly, we have a crisis shelter that provides safe housing, food, clothing, and counselling to people from sixteen to twenty-two of age. The last service is the Rights of Passage (ROP), which is a temporary living program providing up to twenty-four months of supported living. (more…)
Interview with MP Peter Julian
Photo credit to straight.com
By Jenn Lin, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Peter Julian is the MP in the Burnaby New Westminster, he quite informative about the issue on homelessness. Some questions I have asked him are:
- What is your opinion about homelessness?
- Have you notice a visible increase or decrease?
- What do you think is the cause of homelessness?
- Should the Bill C -304 be passed?
- What might you think could be a solution?
- If homelessness continues to increase what do you think will have the biggest impact?
- Do you think there should be more awareness about homelessness?
- Why do you think that most people are unwilling to help homeless people?
- Why might someone become homeless?
- Do you think that homeless rate is stable, and can be prevented?
An Interview with Member of Parliament Libby Davies
By Sally Pang, Grade 12
(Published online only)
When the Canadian economy suffers, it is especially tough for individuals without a home. It is one thing if an issue can’t be helped, but homelessness is definitely preventable. As a representative of Windermere’s Law 12 Educational Campaign on Homelessness, I interviewed Libby Davies, the New Democratic Party’s Member of Parliament for Vancouver East. She was the one who introduced Bill C-304, a bill to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and to “ensure secure, adequate, accessible, and affordable housing”. (more…)
Homelessness Awareness: An Interview with Katrina Hopkins
By Kory Muenala, Grade 12
Did you know that there are over 1,700 people living on streets and in shelters in Vancouver? Could you have guessed that 50% of these people have lived without a home for over a year? Probably not… This is the reality Vancouver is facing today and it is one of the main concerns shared by many people in the city. Luckily, I was able to contact Katrina Hopkins, a shelter support worker. She has kindly provided us with some information about Powell Place, an emergency shelter for women. (more…)
B.C.’s Safe Street Act
By Christina Tran, Grade 12
(Published online only)
Is it right to arrest a person on the street for having no home? Or is there a limit to what is safety on the street? The Safe Street Act proposed in 1999 Ontario has made a class of Law 12 wonder whether or not it is necessary to have this act in Vancouver BC. On October 19 2011, at 11:40 am in room 211 there was a fantastic debate to make the wonders of Windermere Secondary students come up with a solution. Having Jen and Ryan on the pro side, while David and Tony on the con side. Read more to see what our warriors’ results of the Safe Street Act. (more…)
Interview with Kerry Jang
By Jacky He, Grade 12
(Published online only)
I’d like to address everyone about homelessness, especially homelessness in Vancouver. My part in this Law 12 campaign was to interview an important member of society who has contributed in this issue; politicians. My interviewee was none other than Kerry Jang, a third-generation, Chinese male who is currently a professor at UBC. His field of expertise is psychology and with his education he has a better understanding and co-operates well with the homeless. “I know how people think,” he says. (more…)
The Pivot Legal Society
By Dominic Lee, Grade 12
The Pivot Legal Society is a non-profit legal advocacy group that prioritizes a number of social issues, but the group is most notable for their campaigns against homelessness. The Pivot Legal Society has an optimistic approach when it comes to the problems of 
homelessness in downtown Vancouver, believing that the problems can be solved eventually. Their goal is to improve the quality of and access to housing for the less fortunate and to create a change that will impact and improve our society as a whole. (more…)
If You Live in Vancouver
By Talya Perla, Grade 12
If you live in Vancouver, you are probably aware of the growing issue of homelessness in the city. According to the 2010 Annual Homelessness Count, there are a total of 1,715 homeless people living in Vancouver. That’s 139 more than the number counted in 2008. Forty-five percent of these people have been homeless for at least a year. Some live on the streets or in their cars, while others either live in inadequate housing or stay with friends or family. With these growing numbers, how can we help reduce and ultimately stop the problems caused by homelessness? (more…)
Interview with Adrian Dix – Provincial Member of Legislature & Don Davies – Federal Member of Parliament
Our Law 12 Class has been exploring the issue of homelessness in Vancouver. Unfortunately, our city (as wealthy as it may be) has a significant number of homeless people. For our project we interviewed two members of parliament: Don Davies and Adrian Dix. Mr. Adrian Dix, was kind of enough to take the time out of his day to see us in person. Meanwhile, Mr. Don Davies who is currently in Ottawa was kind enough to go into great length in responding to our questions in a detailed e-mail.
1) Can you please define homelessness in your own words?
Adrian: People without a permanent home or do not have a home address.
Don: The state of not having a regular, safe, clean, healthy place to live.
2) Can you list some of the causes of homelessness?
Adrian: One of the main problems is the lack of an affordable, appropriate, and or supportive housing. Vancouver is already an extremely expensive city to live in and with it being even harder to find work; it’s harder to get off the streets.
Don: Every homeless person has a unique story and unique circumstances that led to their homelessness. Some factors include; poverty, addiction, mental illness, ill health, victimization, marginalization, and lack of affordable housing.
3) Can you list some of the ideal solutions for this issue?
Adrian: The ideal solution is to build affordable housing; though a short term solution is to build more temporary shelter.
Don: From my perspective an elected official, I believe that there is much that all levels or go government can do to combat homelessness. These include developing a national housing strategy, investing in affordable housing, supporting mental health and addiction programs.
a) What are your views on this issue?
Adrian: We have to view this as our problem, and have sympathy. As humans we have to treat everyone with dignity, and respect. Also, we have to put resources out to help these people in their times of need.
Don: It is absolutely unacceptable for there to be any homelessness in a country as wealthy as Canada. Curing cancer is hard, curing homelessness is easy. Build affordable homes, house the poor!
b) Are there plans to implement any of the solutions you mentioned?
Adrian: They are starting to build more affordable housing. Also, some of the housing in Olympic Village will be turned into affordable housing.
Don: Libby Davies has a bill (Bill C-304) before the House that would require the government to establish a national housing strategy. Solutions to end homelessness require co-operation between all levels of government
4) In your opinion, is allowing homelessness to proceed violating the Charter of Rights and Freedom? Please elaborate.
Adrian: More important is actually trying to solve the problem. You can take a case and get justice that won’t build you a house.
Don: Interesting question. The right to shelter is considered a basic human right by many people and organizations, however, it is not explicitly enshrined in the Charter.
I think the answer is probably no. For it to be a Charter violation, it would have to be proven that the government is explicitly responsible for causing homelessness and that it therefore caused harm to the security of the person. That said, an argument could be made that government policies and laws have aggravated homelessness or that the government has a constitutional responsibility to deal with homelessness. I would be interested to see how the Supreme Court would rule on these issues. I would note that there have been cases where laws surrounding homelessness have been ruled unconstitutional. Look up the case of tents in Victoria for an example
5) Over the years the homeless have increased in population, why do you think that is?
Adrian: Homelessness has increased in population for many reasons. One being that it’s more expensive to live in Vancouver and affordable housing has stopped being built. Another situation may be that jobs that supported families have stopped supporting them.
Don: Poverty is the most direct cause of homelessness. Over past three or four decades, successive federal and provincial governments gave enacted a series of neo-liberal economic policies that have had the result of growing the gap between rich and poor, and reducing in real wages for the poorest people in our society.
Also, allowing the market to set rents caused an extreme escalation in rents and drastically reduced affordable rentals. This causes a cascade whereby middle income people can no longer afford the homes in the areas where they used to live. Those middle income earners end up in areas usually occupied by low income earners and the lowest income earners end up homeless.
6) How much government funding is put into homelessness annually and/or monthly?
Adrian: I am not sure.
Don: This is a hard figure to pin down. I have not looked into this personally.
7) What do you think are some of the reasons why homelessness is at its highest among First Nations than any other community?
Adrian & Don: Many of the causes of homelessness which I have spoken about already disproportionally affect First Nations people in Canada. All Canadians should learn about how centuries of government policies have devastated the family bonds in many First Nations communities. We are living with the legacy of centuries (literally) of policies that were designed to kill first nations culture.
Take the example of Residential schools: Children were forcibly taken away from their families and raised by people of a different religion and culture. They were not allowed to speak their language or practice their religion. Many were sexually and physically abused by those who were in a parental role and other positions of power.
Imagine the effect that this would have on your self-image, self esteem. Subsequent generations were ill-equipped to parent. This has had a compounding effect on generations of First Nations and led to higher rates of substance abuse, depression and other mental illness, all factors in homelessness.
This is just one example. You must also take into account racism, housing on reserves, the 60s sweep, etc. It will take generations of effort, Government policies and healing to overcome this dark history. Remember, the last residential school was closed in the 1980s. This is not ancient history. I would encourage you to learn all you can about these issues.
8) Have you ever been personally effected by homelessness?
Adrian & Don: No, not personally. However, I did participate in the city-wide homeless count in Vancouver last spring. We went out at four in the morning to count the homeless in our city. This was a profound experience for me and really brought home the magnitude of the problem in our community.
9) Would you ever hire a homeless person for employment? Please elaborate on why or why not.
Adrian: Yes, but no guarantee they would actually get a job. It’s hard when you don’t have any bank account or address.
Don: If a homeless person were qualified for a job in my office, I would not discriminate on the basis that they were homeless. Yes, I would hire them.
10) Was it a necessary step clearing up the Vancouver streets of all the homeless during the 2010 Games?
Adrian: This was a good thing. I give credit to the mayor for this, because they created a lot of temporary housing. They were not clearing people, they were giving them opportunities.
Don: Absolutely not. Homeless people are part of our community. Removing homeless people from our streets prior to the Olympics was entirely cosmetic. Governments should be using their resources to deal with the problems of homelessness, not pretending homeless people don’t exist.
