homelessness
I try to make it a priority to look at the issues that are in our local news daily and there are some reoccurring themes, two of which are increasing rates of crime and homelessness. Is there a correlation? From what I read and understand I believe there is a connection between crime and homelessness.
The reason I'm adding this post is because of 3 articles in today's news...........
- First, is an article about safety on public transit.
- Second is the article about the growing number of homeless people.
- Lastly, is the recent report about crime in various parts of our city.
So called experts and professionals have looked at both of these issues for years but statistics and common sense verify that their answers and recommendations aren't working. Now the question is there something ordinary citizens could and should do to help turn things around? I believe there is.
Media reports are that Mayor Sohi and Premier Danielle Smith has a "positive meeting" during which comparisons were made between Calgary & Edmonton with regards to addictions and homelessness. To address the discrepancies Mayor Sohi outlined seven points that need to be addressed. Premier Smith's office hass said she is "committed to working with the city of Edmonton on the issues they raised, but identified the need for detailed plans to address their specific asks."
Addictions and homelessness are rampant and jurisdictions everywhere are seeking ways to effectively address the problems.
#MayorSohi #PremierDanielleSmith, #addictions, #homelessness
Edmonton's winter can be cold and uncomfortable for anyoner but for the homeless they can be tragic and deadly as has already been proved this month. At least 3 homeless people died in early November and there may be others whose deaths were not recorded.
There is widening gap between the number of homeless people and the total of shelter spaces which means 1000+ people are have no shelter even on the coldest nights.
"Don’t let anybody try to tell you that an investment of a few million dollars in shelter space is doing anything about the catastrophe of homelessness" says Jim Gurnett, of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness.
I'm not meaning to belittle or demean the lives of anyone especially those who are being remembered by Homeless Memorial Plaza , far from it. When reading the article below I was reminded of the words of someone who works with homeless people. This person said that rather than saying he works with the homeless it would be more accurate to say he works with the hopeless. That bore witness with me and I thought it is a greater loss to be hopeless than it is to be homeless.