Times Colonist
Monday, October 20, 2008
Exactly a year ago today, we greeted the report of the homelessness task force with both hope and concern that once again, little real action would result.
The concern was justified. Despite some modest progress, the problems of homelessness, addiction and street disorder are worse than they were a year ago. A sound B.C. Supreme Court ruling allowing people to erect overnight shelters in parks has added to stresses on the community.
The task force’s basic first-year goals have not been achieved. Ted Hughes, co-chairman of the coalition to end homelessness that resulted from the task force, fears today that the enterprise is doomed, left with no resources and with no real commitment from any level of government.
The failure of Victoria’s council to tackle the city’s most critical issue was highlighted last week.
A year after the mayor’s task force called for drastic action, council celebrated a $100,000-a-year commitment to help the coalition to pay staff.
“With the passing of this motion today, this community needs to be very proud of the direction that we are taking in solving a challenge that has been advancing and growing,” said Coun. Bea Holland.
There is nothing to be proud of in a modest funding commitment that should have been in place within 90 days of the task force report. The coalition obviously needs a staff to work on co-ordinated solutions. But $100,000 a year for planning and co-ordination is not a serious response to the housing crisis.
And, increasingly, the coalition looks to be a way for Victoria’s council — and others in the capital region — to pretend to be taking action, while failing to get people off the streets and out of the parks.
What happened to the commitment, embraced by Mayor Alan Lowe, to have 315 people placed in “affordable, supported housing” by now? Or, for that matter, the mayor’s pledge to have the 50 most troublesome people off the streets within 120 days of the task force report’s release?
Neither commitment was kept.
Certainly, steps have been taken. After years of planning and effort, Our Place opened its doors, adding 45 units of transitional housing. Some 130 people are being helped with rent supplements. Outreach teams are connecting with the homeless people, but their success is limited by the lack of options. People desperate for housing — and capable of holding on to it, given a chance — are sleeping on the street and in overcrowded shelters.
But the actions are hopelessly inadequate in the face of the problems.
The failure to act, ironically, was reinforced by the provincial government announcement of 45 new “temporary shelter beds” Friday in response to the B.C. Supreme Court ruling on camping in parks.
The beds — or more accurately, the mats to be spread on floors in two halls — are a useful stopgap.
But they would have been just as useful one year ago. There would have been, on many nights, fewer people sleeping in business doorways.
Until the court ruling, the need for spaces was just not a priority for the province, despite the street problems in the capital.
Municipalities can not tackle this crisis alone. The federal and provincial governments have an enormous role in funding housing, courts, addiction treatment, supported housing for the mentally ill and all the measures needed to restore decency to our community.
But the leadership, the drive and the pressure has to come from the people elected to represent the city of Victoria — the councillors, MLAs and MPs. They have failed, contenting themselves with talk and half-measures.
The will and money are found for other projects, from a Centennial Square spruce-up to the Olympics. But not for the most critical issue affecting daily life — and the future — of our community.
No matter what politicians say about their efforts or their spending, what matters are the results.
The evidence on downtown streets and alleys, and now in parks, is that they have failed. The problems are more serious today than they have ever been and the situation is worsening.
Which is what the task force warned would happen, year after year, without real action, commitment and leadership.
