homelessness solved

Today (June 30, 2010) the scum, if not the Earth, the Victoria homeless industry, congressed in Street Link's living room (1634 Store St) for TV opportunity, to announce that thanks to politicians, unionized government employees and non-profit advocates, the homelessness problem is almost solved and most certainly is on its way out and dealt with. (please watch evening news) There was "sorely need a haircut" Tysick, of course, in his usual goofy and aloofness; and a horde of other merchants and purveyors of homelessness, filling the room to the brim. The few homeless who were on hand (customers of Street Link) sat in the lobby

Ida opened the show and introduced the minister of socialist housing; then the mayor, almost teary eyed in his worship, announcing that thanks to them and millions of dollars (from somebody's pocket) 30-some new shelter beds, some extra extreme cold night floor-mats, and a few upstairs rooms will be made available for street dwellers.

The radio says one of the definition of insanity is when one keeps repeating the same process, yet expects different outcome. If the mayor and the minister for one minutes thinks that the same old, tried and failed, shelter-bed-and-soup-kitchen for the homeless this time somehow is going to put an end to homelessness, they are mentally deficient or mentally ill. No, they are not sick, they are scum who would not solve the homeless problem if you put a gun to their head. Come back 2-3-4-5 years from now and there will be more homeless in Victoria (Vancouver, Toronto) than to-day. The $500 million budget will be spent on something (salaries, mainly) but street dwellers will be just as many, the vacancy rate will be just as low, rent and real estate price just as high. If you don't allow higher population density, taller condo buildings, if you do not open up new land for human settlement, you cannot honestly tell me that you seriously expect homelessness and in-affordability to decrease; you cannot be that dumb and still be able to walk on two legs and chew gum at the same time.

The minister told the story of the junky who used to cause so much trouble to police and cost so much money for the hospital, but now that she received the help from the helpers she is no trouble and cost very little. Oh so touching, and if these helpers of the homeless reached into their own pocket, would have been admirable. But what about all those who are not crack-heads, not drunkards, not in-and-out of jail ? is there no compassion for them ? what is the success story for them ? they don't look for welfare cheque, treatment program paid for by others, somebody to pay their rent; they are paying 2-3 paycheques for their housing. What will you do for them ? nothing. Nothing because that would mean real solution, that would mean helping those who deserve it, that would mean a reduction or elimination of your ill-deserved/earned paycheque.

There is land enough near Tillicum to build 10-15,000 small, inexpensive dwelling units and sell it (at cost) to owner-occupants; so that all those tenants in secondary units could buy their own place, instead of paying some else's mortgage. But that would destroy the real-estate prices and market

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Coalition found housing for 662 last year, but more using shelters.

Dear Coalition

The article in the T.C. reports (June 30, 2010) that the Coalition to end Homelessness in the past 12 month found housing for 662 homeless individuals. Since the number of Victoria street and park dwellers is less than 662, and all those faces who dwelled on the streets last year and the years before, are still on the streets, pray tell who are these 662 individuals ? where did you find them ? Even if we believe the official count of homeless in Victoria, the removal of 662 individuals from the homeless roll would leave a sufficient void, but instead of a void the official report states that there are more homeless in Victoria today than 12 or 24 months ago. Somebody is lying here.

But to the(my) point:-- I have been homeless in Victoria longer than your coalition existed, yet met not one of you so far. How could I get on your magic list, to be housed from the bush to a building ?