Homeless program leaves biggest question unanswered
The Gazette looks at the At Home/Chez Soi program that has experimented with giving homeless people a place to live first, then helping them cope with other problems. The program has worked for many of them, although there’s a dispiriting coda into a description of how many of them feel isolated and aimless sitting alone at home. It’s fair to guess these are people without a lot of inner resources or much taste for the kind of minor personal plans that can fill a day – read a book, go for a walk, plant a few flowers, buy food for supper later.
But the big question is floated by without much comment. The program ends in March next year. Then what? How would you feel if you knew you had shelter and a comfy place to sleep now, but at some point next winter you’re probably going to be turfed back out onto the street? One major thing missing from these lives is continuity of support, and it’s the one thing we never give them.
Raoul 07:15 on 2012/05/20 Permalink
the best way to stay out of trouble is to not depend on gov’t programs at all. I learned that the hard way when provincial HR sent me to see all these advisors and councillors over a six week period and told me they could help me go to school – so i get all my ducks in a row, applied and got accepted – and a month letter i get a letter from HRD saying im not eligible anymore because ive been shacked up for a year. (as if my boyfriend working at tim hortons 20-25hrs can afford to cover everything…).
anyways… gov’t programs: tremendous waste of time. But at least the social workers all got their cut.
ant6n 09:24 on 2012/05/20 Permalink
@Raoul
I personally believe in government programs. But their eligibility requirements should always be as simple as practically possible. The result would be a small government with little bureaucracy, less waste, less abuse. Low tuition is such a program (vs a complicated bursary system). Basic income/minimum guaranteed income is a first tax bracket would be another, which could also supplant welfare and student support as a way for the very poor to pay for some basic necessities.
These very small, targeted programs, like the one described above, make sense to me nevertheless.
Kate 09:57 on 2012/05/20 Permalink
Raoul, what do you do about people who simply can’t function well in our society? There are clearly always going to be some people to whom you can’t just say “OK, shape up and get to work” and magically turn them into useful little workers – who helps them? Or do you actually feel nobody should help them and they should be left to die?
I suspect a lot of people think they should be left to die, but haven’t the cojones to admit it out loud.