Vancouver, being a coastal city surrounded by mountains, has one of the most moderate climates in all of Canada. The average temperature in the summer probably hovers around 20C or so, and in the winter, rarely drops below 0C. Last time I checked, only one out of every five Christmases in Vancouver is white.
And despite the relatively warm temperatures here, walking the streets of this city in winter you’ll see the homeless struggling to keep warm, often forced to cover themselves with newspapers, cardboard boxes, or whatever damp clothing can be found in the dumpsters. Every night, they find whatever protection from the elements they can, wrap themselves up, and go to sleep.
![](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/417287079_ae0fca48bd.jpg?v=0")
Now imagine if you will cities like Toronto, Winnipeg or Ottawa, where temperatures in the winter can fall to -30C and below. At these temperatures saliva will freeze rapidly, and skin will crack from the cold. And yet, many of the homeless are forced to endure these conditions, night after night, month after month, hoping that each time they close their eyes they will be afforded the luxury of opening them again in the morning. It must be a terrible thing to live with that fear.
While Canada is experiencing a strong economy, anti-poverty advocates say that low welfare rates, lack of affordable housing, and low minimum wage are all contributing to an increase in homelessness. Toronto has the largest homeless population in the country at 5,052. Of those, 3,649 live in shelters while some 818 sleep outside.
Toronto has an average of two homeless deaths per week. These, according to Crowe, result from a multitude of causes: accidents, trauma, beatings, disease, hate crimes, and hypothermia. A vigil is held once a month for those who die on the streets.
Vancouver is not faring much better. A report released by Pivot Legal Society in September said the city is on the brink of a social housing crisis and called for action from all levels of government. The Downtown Eastside legal advocacy group predicts that Vancouver’s homeless population of 2,175 will triple by 2010 when the city hosts the Winter Olympics. [1]
So let it not be forgotten that as the holiday season approaches and most of us take to battling long lines in malls, an important group of people will be battling instead for their very lives, each and every night out on the streets. And many of them, despite the efforts of others, will not make it through the coming winter.
Edmonton’s solution this summer was to create “tent city” in the downtown area. I could see it out of the Healthcare dept. at the Remand Centre I work at. They put up a chain link fence and even had i.d. cards so they knew who was coming and going and security to check it as a means to make it safe. Then, when summer was over, the city planned and did stop the housing solution “problem.” I now wonder where those that lived in “tent city” and other people went after that? I am sure the mayor did not hooked them up with a nice place to stay so my guess is back to the riverbanks, overcrowded shelters, and the streets. I also wonder if the people of tent city saw a glimmer of hope that things could get better since the city was involved in this. Good chance they were disappointed. Perhaps it was to keep the presence of people sleeping on the streets out of everyone’s view that passes by. Now will Vancouver chose a similar temporary approach for the upcoming Olympics? It will be interesting to see.
It’s scary in Toronto. They cover themselves up and you don’t know if they’re alive or not. Quite honestly I’m sure most aren’t found for days… weeks. It’s corrupt. It makes me feel corrupt to be able to walk by that. So many of us do… and it seems that’s the way life is. It’s not really the way I want to live. I do small things but that hardly seems like enough. It’s pathetic really.
Someone told me they were going to move people for the Olympics. Rumors but it’s not totally unfathomable.
If I were homeless I’d head to California. When I was there late autumn they were sleeping in sandals and shorts… One of the most bizarre things I have ever seen. Also bizarre how I didn’t see that many homeless there either…
Great post, Duane. This is an important issue which needs to be brought to people’s attention.
Some People feel that Heaven
is a tropical Paradise
For others…
it’s a daily Meal and a warm Bed
I actually thought about homeless people as I whined about how cold it was in my car when I went to pick up my daughter and before the heat turned “hot”.
I thought about the fact that I was in a car and freezing my ass off, yet some “live” outside, with no heater to put their hand up against.
There are several options in every city at this time of year to drop off blankets and warm clothing (especially warm/waterproof – heavy socks, boots, coats). Here are a few that I’m aware of in my city (Richmond). Try and get around to one:
Obviously – The Salvation Army
-The SPCA Thrift Store on Minoru Blvd. (at the North end of Minoru, just before Alderbridge on the East side of the street. It’s in behind Trail Appliances/Station Stretch school).
-The Real Estate Board (unfortunately, I cut the bit out of paper and it is at work…will post numbers/locations tonight)
There are announcements in papers and posted in various locations throughout cities across Canada. Just keep your eyes peeled for them and don’t worry if it’s “just one coat” or a pair of warm socks….if everyone pitches in something……..
Thanks Duane….a picture paints a thousand words.
-40 in toronto? i dont think so matt….i live in winnipeg and -40 at night is the normal for here…but i remember stories in the news how 5 inches of snow shuts down the whole city of toronto….
Deb, I have a Salvation Army drop box by my house and have been told alot of this stuff gets resold.. is this true? I would think an actual Salvation Army box would not take part in resale to Value Village or wherever.. I’m always abit iffy when dropping things into these bins now…… and I have coats and blankets waiting to be given directly to someone…. so I know that someone got this for free.
In Quebec City we rarely see homeless people, they are moslty living in what we call the St-Rock area where there is no major circulation or big stores. I think that in 28 years I’ve seen a homeless person less that 10 times in Quebec City. I know there are plenty of them around and they do get help but to be honest, we don’t think of them so much…out of site, out of mind. It’s very sad to say but it’s a reality and I’m afraid it will never change. Also, it gets very very cold here in the winter too. I always give my old clothes to the Salvation Army. It’s not much but it’s always a start.
[quote comment=”34549″]-40 in toronto? i dont think so matt….i live in winnipeg and -40 at night is the normal for here…but i remember stories in the news how 5 inches of snow shuts down the whole city of toronto….[/quote]
I wrote this post, not Matt. I lived in Ottawa, and it definitely hit -40C, and Winnipeg is usually colder. I double checked that stat, and Toronto has hit -35C a few times. I’ll update the entry.
I can’t imagine how the homeless fare here in Saskatchewan. Our temperatures are quite extreme, hitting -40 in the winter and around 30-35 in the summer.
I sometimes wonder if Matt will address the argument that homeless people choose the lives they have. They did not try to make anything of themselves and deserve what they have. That’s not my view personally, but it is the view of people who don’t sympathize.
A girlfriend from Burlington convinced me to go visit Montreal when I was visiting North America and I was shocked at the amount of homeless people who gathered around the Bus station as the night closed in.
That night was a clear, cloudless night and under the cold light of the moon the streets became barren wastelands of ice, the homeless tried to sleep in the tunnels that connect the city library to the city centre only to be removed by Police officers under the coaxing of passers by who seemed to find the presence of these people distasteful.
One old lady for some reason approached me as I was walking through the tunnel and began berating me for not doing anything about the man lying in one of the corners, she said it wasn’t acceptable for decent people to be confronted by such human wreckage, I have no idea why she thought I was the right person to approach because I told her where to get off and that the ‘human wreckage’ was a byproduct of the apathy of what she seemed to believe were ‘decent people’.
When I visited Vancouver I was confonted by even more homeless people and the treatment I saw of them was incredible. Outside the GMC stadium two beggars were scrounging for quarters and a crowd of people were amusing themselves by throwing quarters from a balcony and seeing which beggar could pick up the most, I wish I’d had a camera because the image of those people in the high position throwing coins to an underclass for cheap amusement was what I thought an illustration of western society as a whole.
The situtation is no better or worse here in England, London has a homeless population of nigh on 8000-9000 and the London Councils recently attempted to illegalise the distribution of free food to destitutes under the excuse that it created a public order issue, I have no idea if this was passed or not but the very fact that it was put forth and seriously considered is just about beyond belief.
[quote comment=”34555″]
When I visited Vancouver I was confonted by even more homeless people and the treatment I saw of them was incredible. Outside the GMC stadium two beggars were scrounging for quarters and a crowd of people were amusing themselves by throwing quarters from a balcony and seeing which beggar could pick up the most, I wish I’d had a camera because the image of those people in the high position throwing coins to an underclass for cheap amusement was what I thought an illustration of western society as a whole.[/quote]
That’s disgusting. It reminds me of something horrific from “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Where civilians are throwing bread into a railcar full of imprisoned and emaciated Jews. Sick.
actually duane it can go to -48 with windchill here in winnipeg
It’s negative a million when you’re lying on wet concrete all night.
[quote comment=”34559″]It’s negative a million when you’re lying on wet concrete all night.[/quote]
That’s true but in Winnipeg they sleep in the skywalks or in the underground malls during the winter if they can’t find one of the numerous homeless shelters that the city has.
Most of them, however, will commit petty crimes to get a 6-month jail sentence so they can stay in jail over the winter. It’s much easier for them than to try and find a place to stay.
We don’t have many homeless people here in Regina…I would think that it would have something to do with the fact that currently yesterday it was -36 (so I’d say -50 with wind chill). I don’t know how anybody could live through that kind of cold.
I’m not sure if this is accurate to say or not but I certainly heard that in Calgary because of the recent housing shortage and housing costs many people have been forced to move out to the streets with their families, not because they don’t work but because they can’t afford to live anywhere. A lot of these shelters, the Y, salvation army, the mustard seed, and there was a recent shelter built in downtown there are all full. There are waiting lists and no one has any place to go. I even think the city was thinking of opening up some of the elementary schools they had closed down to make rooms or beds for the homeless because of the problem (that and winter). Calgary (Edmonton) temperatures aren’t all that different from Regina or Winnipeg. I think they just luck out with the odd Chinook every now and then.
I couldn’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be out there in minus 50 weather. Not to mention that the buildings in the downtown area turns the cold into wind tunnels, churning through the city. Yikes!
I feel bad every day. Not for just these people but for the countless numbers of people all over the world that are being swept under the rug in the name of ECONOMY!
Here in Thunder Bay we can get down to -52 (C) or colder with the wind chill. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live out there in winter, no matter what the temperature.
One of my friends here in Winnipeg runs an event called Clothe The City on Dec. 23rd. We all bring old or new warm clothing and blankets which are distributed among the homeless downtown.
fyi–if anyone in vancouver is looking for somewhere to donate clothing where they can be confident that it will go to people who need it and not be sold, the covenant house at drake and seymour takes clothing donations 24/7. there’s also a covenant house in toronto, but i’m not sure what their policies are…
hey guys, I was wondering if you fellow Matthew Good fans could help me out.
I stated this facebook group hoping that people would join to protest the use of non-recyclable, non-biodegradable cups at Tim Hortons.
Like all groups, you need a critical mass for it to take hold. In Canada, Tim’s has market share of 62%, so if we’re going to have the biodegradable cups, it’s going to have to be initiated by Tim Hortons.
Having Matt join would also really help as well. It’s not much effort, and as we know, facebook groups can get pretty huge pretty fast. If it gets big enough, I’ll formally contact the company.
Thanks, Tristan
http://uwo.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7578298645
[quote comment=”34550″]Deb, I have a Salvation Army drop box by my house and have been told alot of this stuff gets resold.. is this true? I would think an actual Salvation Army box would not take part in resale to Value Village or wherever.. I’m always abit iffy when dropping things into these bins now…… and I have coats and blankets waiting to be given directly to someone…. so I know that someone got this for free.[/quote]
I don’t know the deal with the Salvation Army during the rest of the year – they have their own thrift stores so I’d imagine the stuff is sold there to support their programs. Perhaps they get an over abundance of stuff at times (some places get swamped with junk) and do sell some off. But, even if that’s the case – the money generated helps with programs that assist those in need. …everything from detox centers to shelters. At Christmas time, I know that they have coat drives aimed specifically at helping those out on the street in the cold and the items are distributed there.
Another option for donating stuff directly to the people…The Union Gospel Mission (the guy cries each year when we unload a trunkload on him – he’s SO appreciative). They’re located at 616 E. Cordova and the number is 604-253-3323. Again, they do provide programs throughout the year and need to generate money for those…but, at Christmas, it’s street level stuff that takes place.
There are some organizations that sell stuff for a profit and to line the pockets of greedy bastards and nothing more. For the most part, stick with reputable organizations (like the ones I’ve listed) and look for Christmas campaigns directed at helping people with immediate assistance.
The drop boxes of the DDA, Big Brothers and CDA all operate on the same system. And, yes, the stuff is resold at Value Village, as you’ve been told. The three organizations have contracts with Value Village, who buy the donated items from them in “bulk”. Basically, they pay by the container for the stuff and the money then goes directly to the organizations to run their programs. The money is used as it should be and the programs are worthy – the DDA (where I worked) provides numerous programs for the developmentally disabled:
http://www.develop.bc.ca/programs.aspx
So, at Christmas, look for the street level campaigns aimed at getting the coats on the backs of those who need them. During the rest of the year, go with the drop boxes that fund programs like the DDA, Salvation Army, etc. They all are worthy.
Oh my goodness. Deb you are awesome……… Thank you so much…………
I want to go directly to the man that cries.. Not that I want to make a man cry but it sounds like the perfect place to drop off my stuff…. I can’t wait to get these items to the right people.. yay.
I have a baby’s first Christmas sleeper that my son obviously wore only once. He was 3 months old at Christmas.. My sister and I have an argume about things that need to get let go. she keeps everything, I cannot. I have a picture of him wearing the sleeper, it’s good enough for me.. I need to get that and some other baby clothes to a great cause.. PLEASE HELP, ANYONE?
That’s a great suggestion – give to the Union Gospel Mission. They help feed and clothe people on the street without the bureaucratic waste that the larger charities get mired in. They’re getting my old clothes and a couple of jackets I don’t need.
What can we do to help eliminate homelessness? I’m talking Vancouver here – there really are a lot of jobs available, some that pay decent even to start. But due to mental health issues or drug addiction they’re of no use to so many.
Building shelters won’t solve those problems, it will help in the short term, but eventually it might even make it worse – i.e. people from other parts od Canada might come to Vancouver because there are more services here, then the services become overloaded again and the cycle repeats.
I’m not saying people choose this way of “life” – of course not – but what drives them to it, what keeps them down and how to we break the cycle? More facilities to treat those with mental health issues, more services for addicts so the day they want to seek help they can actually get it…
We have surplusses in the government budget now. That’s thanks to the economic situation, not in spite of it. Don’t kick corporations and wealthy people – they produce a ton of employment and pay a shitload of taxes as they consume. Convince them to contribute and build, through tax incentives, maybe – it will get their attention.
Maybe ending the prohibition on marijuana will help. Take the control away from the criminals and gangs, tax the hell out of it and use the money on social programs. Take criminals main source of income away and give it to the people, so to speak – a new era twist on a “Robin Hood” kind of idea…
This is a great site for identifying and shining light on problems both at home and abroad, but very few solutions are ever presented here… If all this energy was spent finding solutions rather than pointing fingers, well, who knows?
My .02 worth, flame away if you must.
Its like minus 20 right now in Edmonton.
I remember last year Vancouver had a couple days straight of snow. The city went ape shit.
According to my sister at the shoe company there. The sales almost tripled that day on winter boots alone.
The funny thing of it all was that the snow was gone within the week. 😀
We do “luck out” in Calgary with Chinook winds that warm the temperatures every few days. However, it can still get pretty cold here. -30 is typical in January/February. Last winter, city council spent $3 Million to upgrade the old Brick building off Highway 1 and turn it into an emergency shelter. They bused people from the downtown corridor up center street to to the shelter every night, and then returned them to the core in the morning.
That Brick building has since been torn down for the expansion of highway 1. Now, I have to wonder? $3 million could have been better spent elsewhere for a long term solution. I recall the controversy of opening a homeless shelter in the Brick building, especially from the neighbors in the nearby residential district. They were concerned for the safety of their children walking to school. There was little concern from those people towards the safety of the men and women who needed to use that shelter to stay alive.
Housing is ridiculous in this city. There are no options for people with low income. Unless you have a generous friend or family in this city, good luck finding a place to live. Friends of mine just bought an entry level home with a single bathroom, 2 tiny bedrooms, small kitchen and tiny living room. The house sold for over $300, 000. It’s not in the fancy suburbias of South Calgary either. It’s a functional economy home in the city’s N.E (typically stereotyped as the ghetto of Calgary), and my friends are lucky they can afford it. Rent in the city is even worse, when it becomes typical of people to send upwards of $2000 a month for sub-standard accommodation.
The estimates for the homeless population in this city continue to rise, as people flock from all over the country to get jobs in oil country where you can work at Tim Horton’s for $15 an hour. The trouble is, the people come here, and they have no where to go. SAIT campus was 900 rooms short in its rez facilities this fall…the University had similar shortages. Rent for rooms in campus dorms averages about $1600 a month. Who can afford that? It’s ridiculous.
So yeah, the Chinook will come and take the snow away in a few days, but there will still be another snow dump next week, and maybe another one the week after. The homeless have it lucky in Calgary with those Chinook arches. Real lucky.
who the fuck cares if it gets to -35 , -48 or -52 with a wind chill in your city. -5 is fucking cold if you are stuck outside trying to survive…fuck….5 C is cold and can kill you, especially if its wet, like it is here in Vancouver most of the time..
Duane, not directed at you. Good post…I got your point. You got me really thinking about what I can do this year…
Toronto is cold and it snows more than 5cm ….
I heard a very small bit of info on the radio today about a landlord in Whalley that had his building shut down due to housing way too many people under 900sq feet.????. Apparently the rooms were kept in good condition? and the people were low income who could not go anywhere else? my quesion is where are these people now? Did anyone hear anything on this story today? I think if no one was complaining, why would the building get shut down at this time of year? I don’t even know if the man is in custody, because as mentioned I only caught the tail end… perhaps I will try googling… let’s hope those people aren’t on the streets now.
It was front page in the Province.
I don’t know…have to process this one a bit more before I know how I feel about it.
On the one hand, he WAS giving people a cheap place to stay. Apparently the 900 sq. ft. house was home to 17 tenants, who lived in “cubicles”. Neighbours say most were addicts and the place was a zoo…ambulances, fights, blood, swearing & shouting. Plus it was fairly unsafe and a fire hazard.
On the other hand, was he taking advantage of those in a vulnerable state? It’s alleged that he was taking 13 of the 17’s welfare cheques and, at $370/month (the portion alloted for rent), he was raking in some pretty good dough. Apparently this is not an isolated case and it’s something that is happening….”rooming houses” that can make a landlord up to $8,000/month.
So, my thoughts are leaning towards the thinking that if he wants to do something good for people, open up a proper shelter and run it accordingly. It kind of appears to me that it’s the case of a man making some good coin on his rundown property. While providing a “service” to some (who would have problems finding anywhere else to go), I don’t know that it’s a good idea to let addicts move in to a place in order to rake in the $$. This really doesn’t help anyone and is basically letting these people slowly kill themselves under his roof. I think it probably needed to be shut down – but the question you’ve put out there is a valid one….where have all these people gone?
Crazy day. I actually had The Province sitting at my front door, still with elastic around it, as I typed that. I will go read it now….. Thanks Deb.
Oh my GOD!!! For 900 sq ft, he was collecting WHAT? You’ve got to be kidding me… Where does the world find these people? K, sure take some money but their entire cheque? The guy lives in Whalley, not West Van, it’s not like his mortgage is as high as some… not exactly the point really but that’s on the money side…. …….
If the people are slowing killing themselves and not one social worker has been to the house to try to get the people who do drugs, the help they need, then here’s hoping they are in a better place today…. Alot want help but they don’t know how to get it…..
Every year at work, collection boxes are set up as part of “The Spirit of Giving” campaign sponsored by CFCF-12 in Montreal. Seeing as I need to do some decluttering, it will be an incentive for me to do some cleaning out of my closet in hopes that someone will benefit from things that are still in good shape but I haven’t worn in a long time. It’s shameful and embarrassing to say that I sometimes end up buying things I might only wear once.
I know that there is a woman at work who every year signs up with Sun Youth to find a family in need who could benefit from a more joyful Christmas. Food items, toys and other things would be collected and then delivered to this family. I’ll have to find out from her if she’s doing that again this year.
My 2 cents on the subject for the moment…
Just caught the tail end of a news story on Global about a man who is trying to reach his goal of collecting 10,000 blankets this year.. Let’s help him achieve this goal (for BC Lower Mainland)
If you wish to donate a blanket or more, this season, in the Lower Mainland, click here:
http://www.blanketbc.com/
You can also just go to any Bell store and your blanket will be picked up….
I plan on emailing the email address in this link, because I have tons of little soaps I always take from hotels, for this time of year!!!!!! And if they will accept towels and other things so people can have a hot shower and dry off comfortably.
Go to the link folks….
LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
[quote comment=”34549″]-40 in toronto? i dont think so matt….i live in winnipeg and -40 at night is the normal for here…but i remember stories in the news how 5 inches of snow shuts down the whole city of toronto….[/quote]
I’ve never lived in such a cold climate. I’m from the Adriatic…what do you do when it’s that cold? How can you actually leave your house without getting frost bite?
[quote comment=”34632″]Oh my GOD!!! For 900 sq ft, he was collecting WHAT? You’ve got to be kidding me… Where does the world find these people? K, sure take some money but their entire cheque? The guy lives in Whalley, not West Van, it’s not like his mortgage is as high as some… not exactly the point really but that’s on the money side…. …….
If the people are slowing killing themselves and not one social worker has been to the house to try to get the people who do drugs, the help they need, then here’s hoping they are in a better place today…. Alot want help but they don’t know how to get it…..[/quote]
my fiance is a social worker, and they are SO understaffed. they would help if they could. there’s just not enough of them.
[quote comment=”34610″]I heard a very small bit of info on the radio today about a landlord in Whalley that had his building shut down due to housing way too many people under 900sq feet.????. Apparently the rooms were kept in good condition? and the people were low income who could not go anywhere else? my quesion is where are these people now? Did anyone hear anything on this story today? I think if no one was complaining, why would the building get shut down at this time of year? I don’t even know if the man is in custody, because as mentioned I only caught the tail end… perhaps I will try googling… let’s hope those people aren’t on the streets now.[/quote]
wow, that is so heart breaking. all of this brings me back to the bloody olympics. i realize the government has its budget and what not…but can’t you spare a couple million dollars in making homeless shelters with at least a meal day than spending probably billions on the olympics? who the hell voted for them anyways!
[quote comment=”34735″][quote comment=”34632″]Oh my GOD!!! For 900 sq ft, he was collecting WHAT? You’ve got to be kidding me… Where does the world find these people? K, sure take some money but their entire cheque? The guy lives in Whalley, not West Van, it’s not like his mortgage is as high as some… not exactly the point really but that’s on the money side…. …….
If the people are slowing killing themselves and not one social worker has been to the house to try to get the people who do drugs, the help they need, then here’s hoping they are in a better place today…. Alot want help but they don’t know how to get it…..[/quote]
my fiance is a social worker, and they are SO understaffed. they would help if they could. there’s just not enough of them.[/quote]
I hope people who like to help, are reading this. It makes me think my next career choice is somewhat stupid and pointless. I always wanted to be a counsellor, because everyone always talked to me abut their problems in school, I guess I was a good listener… but I wanted to snap my fingers and just be one, because I didn’t have the drive or ambition to go to University or Post Sec… It makes me very mad at myself right now. I hope people are reading this. Don’t make the mistakes I made… “If you build it, it will come”.. Believe in yourselves kids!!!!!! Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something if it’s what you really want to do.. That’s my two cents today.. nighty night.