The facts on homelessness

It’s time to set the record straight on misconceptions being spread about homelessness that are diminishing efforts to address this critical issue in our community. Contrary to some views that are being circulated, our homeless problem did not happen overnight nor will it be resolved by ill-informed, divisive and blaming rhetoric.

Our mayor and council demonstrated visionary leadership by investing in the Journey Home strategy and ensuring everyone in our community had an opportunity to provide input. The Journey Home process had a singular task to create a thoughtful and comprehensive strategy for all levels of government, community agencies like ours, and businesses to address homelessness and barriers to accessing services. The resulting plan is world class. Now we must all focus on its implementation.

Every community in Canada is dealing with similar issues. The cost of housing has escalated at a pace far beyond most people’s incomes. More of us than ever are paying more than half our income on housing. When you add to that a traumatic event like loss of a loved one, loss of a job, intimate partner violence and abuse, or a physical or mental illness, it becomes easier to see why people lose housing. It can happen to anyone.

The high costs of shelter and staying homeless are more than double the cost of housing and providing them with supports. This is why the Journey Home plan makes both good economic and social sense.

Shelters are not a long-term solution; but without housing options, our neighbours have no choice but to live on the street. And contrary to the rhetoric, supported housing results in neither decreased property values nor a rise in crime. We already have some exemplary, successful supported housing in Kelowna.

We need our elected officials to demonstrate the leadership necessary to bring experts and community together to implement the best strategies to work through these complex issues. Stoking fear, posturing when you haven’t actually been “in the arena,” and threatening to discard the plan entirely undermines all the work Kelowna had done to thoughtfully, intelligently and creatively prevent and ultimately end homelessness.

Celine Thompson, Executive Director, The Bridge Youth & Family Services
Diane Entwistle, CEO, Okanagan Boys & Girls Club
Gaelene Askeland, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Central & South Okanagan Karen Mason, Executive Director, Kelowna Women’s Shelter
Liz Talbott, Executive Director, NOW Canada Society
Melissa Hunt, Executive Director, Okanagan Family & Childcare Society
Mona Hennenfent, Executive Director, BrainTrust Canada
Randy Benson, Executive Director, Kelowna’s Gospel Mission
Rhonda Nelson, Executive Director, Starbright Children’s Development Centre
Roxie Van Aller, Connect Counselling Services
Shane Picken, Executive Director, ARC Programs
Shelagh Turner, Executive Director, CMHA Kelowna & Foundry Kelowna