On June 1, 2006 the city served notice to the homeless residing in “Compassion Park” that they had 72 hours to move, following through this action and closing the camp. I will address this City invasion separately because I want to examine some of the important lessons to be learned from the Woods rather than have these lessons lost or obscured in an argument about this action. Rather than being irrational – as all to many of those who want to find excuses for sitting around doing nothing, bury their head in the sand and pretend all is right and wonderful in their community – I would rather take a look at some of the important lessons we can gain from the past weeks. With homelessness growing not only across the nation, specifically in Abbotsford, it is an issue that demands action. This is such a complex issue, a problem with so many facets to it that it truly takes a community to respond in any meaningful way.

1) For years those who believe you handle difficult issues by sitting on your … posteriors and hoping someone somewhere finds an easy solution for you, have cried “We cannot do anything or the homeless hordes (or is that hordes of homeless?) will descend upon Abbotsford, savage and pillage the city!” Even around the discussion tables of the past few weeks, where those struggling to address homelessness gathered, some have worried that the city would attract a large influx of homeless. However, even with the coverage on television and newspapers in Vancouver there has been no flood. I went on record and told those who worried about this it would not happen because running off to Abbotsford to camp in the woods was/is not a wise survival strategy or move. Being homeless does not mean being stupid, which you would have to be to move from food, shelter and services you know to the unknown. When you are use to worrying about where your next meal is going to come from and where you will find shelter for the night, going in search for Nirvana is not on top of one’s ‘To Do’ list. Surviving is. So, we now have demonstrated proof that taking rational actions to address Abbotsford’s homeless issues will not draw masses of homeless to Abbotsford. I extend my condolences, for their loss of a favourite excuse, to those who want to use a flood of homeless as an excuse OR a scare tactic in order to do nothing.

2) Most people I have spoken to seem to agree that it is ridiculous to consider $325 an adequate amount to cover shelter costs in the lower mainland. One of the good things about the last few weeks is that the mayors of the lower mainland’s cities have spoken together about addressing issues of homelessness. With issues such as the shelter allowance and the homeless there is the possibility of applying enough political leverage to get the Liberals to act in a rational manner as opposed to their past blind denial of reality when it clashed with their ideological belief’s. Given the fact that many of the issues connected to the homeless and poverty demand rational thought and actions in order to be addressed and given that the provincial Liberals and federal Conservatives wish to continue to blindly follow their beliefs and dogma while ignoring the overwhelming evidence that these approaches not only fail but contribute to worsening the situation, it is only by building political consensus at a grassroots level that we will be able to apply enough pressure on those senior levels of government to begin to get them to act in a rational, thoughtful manner to deal with these complex, messy but needing our attention issues.

3) Personal contact and follow may well be the most important and necessary ingredients in any plan designed to help people. The actions taken over the past few weeks have resulted in those residing in the Park getting onto income assistance, but without any direct one-on-one help they have remained living in the park, frozen in place. Been there, done that myself. The process of becoming homeless, of living homeless and the way society treats the homeless inflicts a great deal of psychological damage, especially to one’s self-esteem. The result of this is that self-doubt, fear of making a bad choice, lack of self-confidence and not trusting your own judgment paralyze you. You need a sounding board, a friend, someone to help you decide what to do and if needed, drag you around to accomplish what you have decided needs to be done. Further to this, the changes involved in moving off the streets and into some form of housing are stressful. Going to work every day, job training, dealing with coworkers, customers and bosses are each a major change and a major source of stress. Lacking any support to deal with all this stress, people trying to get their lives back on track are in grave danger of ending back on the streets – homeless. This is especially true for those who are also struggling with addiction. Not only for those who are trying to get off the streets but also for those coming out of treatment and into or back into our community. I have witnessed to many people, who coming out of treatment without any contacts and support, end up slipping back into their old behaviours and back into their addictions.

4) In the beginning there were many people stopping and dropping off donations at the Park. They had so much food donated that residents of the Park were not coming to eat at the Salvation Army, their donated rations being more abundant and tasty. Over the weeks of the camp’s existence the donations tapered off and the Park inhabitants had to again turn to Salvation Army for food – a food program that is in for the long haul. The important point here is that most people tend to have a short attention span while this issue and its associated problems require a long-term commitment in order to be effective and accomplish anything useful. Since success needs community involvement, one must design one’s plans so as to draw people in over time and get their interest engaged so that they remain involved for the longer haul.