The NDP should no how it feels, they were just about homeless! Kicked out of the house.

Nothing like righteous indignation to get a polititian going on something. The NDP is out for revenge on the electorate over that one for sure.

There only homeless because they won't work, lots of jobs in the north you just have to show up with work boots....

PGDriver,

No doubt. It you are homeless in BC right now it's because of choice.

That is why you guys are not in charge, you simply have no idea the real issues involved.

Thank you realist
they are the same one's who don't believe alcohol or drug addiction are a problem and have no idea about the mental health issues that have people living in the street because of no support of any kind that includes any family

Big-Wayne
You're right. Homelessness due to mental health is a big problem.

I doubt that of the claimed (in the story) 10,000 that are homeless they are all suffering from mental illness.

http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/modules/prb99-1-homelessness/definition-e.htm

"Homeless" can be a temporary situation, a few months, a year or two, until one gets over a hardship that one simply encounters in one's life that one is not prepared for.

It can be due to an illness, a disability, age, lack of a family to provide support, stubbornness with respect to accessing the help availability, lack of knowledge about the help that may be available, etc. etc.

"No doubt. It you are homeless in BC right now it's because of choice." What a bunch of BS; you really do not understand.

"The NDP should no how it feels, they were just about homeless! Kicked out of the house." The ever present political stance which helps with absolutely nothing and is used as a crutch by those who have no real understanding of an issue and have to open their mouth just for the sake of opening their mouth.

"There only homeless because they won't work, lots of jobs in the north you just have to show up with work boots...."

Baristas don't wear workboots.

Big-Wayne
You're right. Homelessness due to mental health is a big problem.

I doubt that of the claimed (in the story) 10,000 that are homeless they are all suffering from mental illness.

"I doubt that of the claimed (in the story) 10,000 that are homeless they are all suffering from mental illness."

No, some are suffering because of old age and having nothing saved. How many more reasons do you need.

The real question is this. There are many more who are potentially homeless because they are not in a position to help themselves but they have somehow managed to access help through family, charitable organizations, government social services, etc. Others have not. Why not? That is the problem that needs to be addressed.

Probably, like health care, the system needs some help to get itself fixed.

I hear there is cheap land for sale in Costa Rica. $200,000 for a lot .... LOL ... hey man, such a deal.

And we wonder why some people are without a shelter. Maybe some have too many shelters.

Never seen or met a homeless Person in Vanderhoof, they have all moved to Vancouver
by choice, more Foodbanks, soupkitchen and other groups handing out goodies in Lotus Land.

I wonder how many fully-functional, capable, stable people are homeless ?

It is unfair and unreasonable to assume that all homeless people are either suffering from addictions or mental illness.
Some are homeless by choice, and are perfectly capable of working like the rest of us!
Some even migrate to warmer climates for the winter and come back in spring.
They are NOT really homeless at all.
"Homeless" is a pretty general discription that covers a lot of situations.
The biggest mistake the government makes is to hand out a cheque with no strings attached and no supervision or conditions attached.
Social Services or Service Canada or whatever they call themselves now,get scammed everyday and they know it.
They CHOOSE to nothing about that.
If anything,the way our welfare system is handled only enables the problems.
To collect a cheque,people should have to PROVE they are actually homeless because of an affliction that keeps them from working.
At least that way those who cannot work would become part of the system and perhaps get the help they need.
The rest are just bums.
Give them food vouchers but no actual money.
I am sure THAT would would piss a lot of people off!

Homelessness is not a choice that the person willingly makes. Some are sick but certainly not all of them. And we cant fix it by going out and talking to those that are homeless. Most of it is hereditary. To break that cycle we have to start with the family unit.

Providing an education to all would be a start. We need to assist those in social need and show and assist those that they are also humans and have needs. Kindness goes a long ways towards the needs of the homeless.

We are spending billions on military needs when a fraction of that amount would eliminante homlessness. We see only ourselves and forget about the suffering in our midst and our governments see only voters.

Cheers

And the NDP will do what with this information? Use it to shrill at the government to hire more social workers or create another bloated gov't program? The NDP solution to everything is to tax the s**t out of the middle class & then waste the money on more civil servants.

"And the NDP will do what with this information?"

So far they are letting everyone know waht they are doing. That is tooting their horn.

Whoever goes on these "fact finding" missions, whether BCLiberals or NDP or Conservatives or Bloq or God knows what other political banners are all out there, they all do the same. Why is it that people simply do not understand that.

Of course, they could all just stay home and do nothing and send in their votes by phone. Why would any of the politicians actually want to go out and meet some of the people who are involved with whatever is happening in this province.

Makes absolutely no sense to me. Get on the computer, use google and they can all find their appropropriate amphibexes to fix the problems. Saves a hell of a lot of money to be put into at least 6 housing units ... only 9,994 left to go.

;-)

I was near homelessness myself. That was CERTAINLY NOT by choice. I did not qualify for EI, I did not qualify for assistance, I did not have any savings cuz when you work min wage you merely survive. I lost my job because the company closed its doors. So tell me smart alecs, what was I supposed to do???? I was fortunate to find another job in the nick of time.

In this life there are NO GUARANTEES. Our basic human right to shelter protected by the UNITED NATIONS is not being upheld in this province. NO ONE SHOULD BE WITHOUT SHELTER!!! I don't care what the individual's situation is. Every human being deserves shelter, food and clothing.

I hope those of you ignorant of the issue please follow owl's suggestion and research before spouting off.

There are thousands of families, and singles who are one paycheck away from the street.

I hear ya tinyapplecork...been there but was lucky to have family and an able working body. We drove down Patricia Blvd. yesterday, I looked up at Connaught Hill and it looked liked a homeless person set up camp there but not totally sure. Maybe when they come to town they can take a little walk up the stairs and talk to the person there if in fact that is what I saw to see what their story is. It's nice to see the effort that will be put out to talk to the homeless. It might make more of an impact when you are looking the person in the face.

Don't I have a RIGHT to be homeless? Don't I have a RIGHT to sleep under a bridge? If I ain't hung up on material wealth, why I can just find myself some free din din from a soup kitchen, snooze overnight in a drop in shelter and if I wanna pair of clean socks I sure won't have to look hard to find a lot of do-gooders falling all over themselves to help me. No responsibilities, no obligations, no one after me to do this and that. Why, I can hang out all day and deal drugs, drink Listerine and maybe steal something to buy drugs. Kinda easier than dragging yer butt outa bed every morning and giving half yer earnings to the man. Like moths to a flame. Take away the flame and the moths will go away. Not to die but find another flame. It don't get much simpler than that.

Typical government. Hey! Let's talk about homelessness. Yeah, talk. Why not have every talker "adopt" a homeless bum and take him home and help him get his life in order. Talk. Talk. Talk. Grrrrrrr.

tinyapplecork...nobody here is saying that ALL homeless people are out there by choice!
I think we all agree,it happens.
All that is being said is that there ARE those who COULD work and won't.
That has to stop if we are ever to get a handle on homelessness.
And that's why our government handing out cheques of any amount with no strings attached and no accountability, is a big part of the probem!
If there WAS some accountability,maybe those who need the help would get it!

To those that have the idea of Homelessnessness is 100 percent due to unemployment and lack of ambition; Many of us who are employed live under a definition of "Homeless At risk". This is where one pays more then 1/4 of one's income towards shelter.

Many of us live from paycheck to paycheck, hoping to pay rent every month often at the expense of entertainment like cable TV or luxuries of electricity & groceries.

I personally know loads of employed people who are homeless due to the fact that Prince George has little to offer anyone in the way of affordable vacant suites all over the city. They have good jobs and live in the shelters (or motels if their jobs can afford it) for a while till things open up and they find housing.

If you have a mobility aid, that further limits the availability of suitable housing within a price range forced on the disabled by an uncaring government. This combined with mental illnesses and addictions are what causes homelessness, not laziness and unemployment. Get your facts straight b4 beaking off please!

To those that have the idea of Homelessnessness is 100 percent due to unemployment and lack of ambition; Many of us who are employed live under a definition of "Homeless At risk". This is where one pays more then 1/4 of one's income towards shelter.

Many of us live from paycheck to paycheck, hoping to pay rent every month often at the expense of entertainment like cable TV or luxuries of electricity & groceries.

I personally know loads of employed people who are homeless due to the fact that Prince George has little to offer anyone in the way of affordable vacant suites all over the city. They have good jobs and live in the shelters (or motels if their jobs can afford it) for a while till things open up and they find housing.

If you have a mobility aid, that further limits the availability of suitable housing within a price range forced on the disabled by an uncaring government. This combined with mental illnesses and addictions are what causes homelessness, not laziness and unemployment. Get your facts straight b4 beaking off please!

Yeah, you have a RIGHT to be homeless, and maybe even a RIGHT to sleep under a bridge. But what you don't have is a RIGHT to do what you want to do on your own land when it comes to "affording" shelter.

Gone are the days when you could 'pay as you go' in the construction of your abode. Nowadays "society" demands that you follow its standards. And not occupy any shelter of your own until they
are ALL met.

But does "society" provide you with the funds needed to do so? Under terms and conditions that allow you to repay them without committing yourself to a lifetime of slavery, and a more than ususal correct feeling that when you buy what "society" has insisted you must now have it will be worn out, or need re-constructing before you manage to get it paid for? What a wonderful 'incentive' to encourage people to try to make their own way in the world.

"pay as you go in the construction of your abode". We need these standards so we don't have slums and tar paper and corrugated iron shacks like they do in Calcutta, Rio and other Third World places. Places you wouldn't even park yer truck.By the way, that recent earthquake in Pakistan just goes ta show ya how nice our building codes are. What is the Pakistani name for rebar? Betcha they don't use it.

"...Homelessness due to mental health is a big problem..."

Everyone at the shelter is on to that one. They are all checking to see who has their disability cheques. Everyone is trying to qualify for disability (mental health), it is the welfare thing with none of the questions once you are on to it. Lots of happy bums out there now!

Don't worry tinyapplecork... the womens side of the shelter is never full and everyone qualifies of long term. Remember they do your laundry for you everyday! All personal hygene products are free.