More Homelessness Action Week News Coverage...

FROM THE HUB 

STILL SLOW IN CARING ABOUT THE HOMELESS

14 Oct 2011, Kamloops Daily News, Tgilchrist@ kamloopsnews.ca

There may be only 45 people identified as homeless in the City’s annual count, but there are many others being crushed by the weight of poverty, addictions and mental-health issues. 

I see them at the Salvation Army meal truck in The Daily News parking lot twice a week, roaming the downtown asking for money and sifting through my apartment building Dumpster for bottles and other items of value. 

The latter was a shock initially — after living in the wilds for so long, I was used to seeing bears, raccoons and ravens pick apart our compost, not people rummaging through my waste. 

A couple of them put me on edge. A tough-looking woman with a foul mouth and her boyfriend also peered in vehicle windows while pushing their shopping cart, which seemed suspicious (we had our truck window smashed and items stolen within a month of being here). Another fellow looked unremarkable but muttered angrily about cowboys and maggots and other indiscernibles before stomping off. They, along with a few other rough-looking characters downtown, were people to steer clear of. 

Yet I had no issue about chatting with an older gent who greeted me with a wave and enthused about his treasures (“Would you believe I found two tins full of coins once — it made $167!”). 

Likely, they all have their stories to tell, but it’s easier to view the homeless or poor as people to disregard, fear or look down upon. Part of The Daily News undertaking stories this Homelessness Awareness Week was to try to bring a human face to the struggles of the poor.

While many came from difficult circumstances (extreme dysfunction, abuse, addiction and other issues), others had “normal” lives but took a wrong turn. 

But few of us should be smug enough to think we might never wear their shoes. There’s no way of knowing when an accident might occur, the company downsizes, your marriage ends or mental disease strikes. 

A Canadian Payroll Association study released last month found 57 per cent of Canadian workers live from paycheque to paycheque, which means if something unforeseen happened, there would be no cushion to keep the bank or landlord from knocking at the door. 

We were in high spirits as we left the Moody Blues concert last week but while walking to our car, observed police and paramedics attending to a wailing woman on the ground outside McDonald’s. 

The situation was sad, but even more so were the actions of a well-dressed man who turned and snickered, giving us a knowing smirk. Just another loser, apparently, in his mind. I regret not asking what he found amusing in the situation. 

The social stigma that surrounds the poor appears deeply rooted — and I am as guilty as the next person. Why is it we give no thought to helping a physically disabled person across the street yet, depending on our mood, we avert our eyes from someone sitting on the ground with outstretched hand? 

While it’s positive that there were fewer homeless found in Kamloops this year, there is still a huge hill to climb in how we relate to people in need and how much we’re willing to help.