Category Archives: Homeless

Homeless

Treat animals better than people?

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Being in a risk taking mood (or should that feeling suicidal?) I thought I would hazard commenting on recent letters on the treatment animals. The recent BCSPCA advertising blitz featuring Sara McLaughlin adds impetus to my need to comment.

Having an intimate acquaintance with the realities of poverty, mental illness and homelessness in our province and our country causes me to wince deeply when ever I see letters, ads or campaigns to protect and shelter animals.

Not because I do not believe in applying ethics to the treatment of animals, but because this highlights a profoundly disturbing and troubling reality of our society. It is far easier to raise money, to get the public and “STARS” to support animal care and rights causes than it is to accomplish these task for the care and ethical treatment of human beings.

What does this say about us as people, a society or a race: that with the use of pictures of cute kittens, injured animals and animals that look profoundly sad you can raise far more funds and support than you can with the picture of a mentally ill person in filthy clothing wandering the streets arguing with the voices only they can hear in their heads?

Abbotsford City Council and city hall plead poverty when the issue of helping the homeless is raised. They have been studying, or is that stalling, for over two years while the problem worsens as they sit around talking instead of acting. Yet they quickly decided on and found thousands of dollars for a local animal shelter – while people live without shelter on the city streets.

To those animal lovers who are feeling a little upset at this point I say consider the words of Mr. George F. Evans: “Except for perceived compassionate people …who speak out, many if not most, take an apathetic role; This plays right into the hands of indifferent …”.

When was the last time you spoke out about the treatment of PEOPLE in need of help, shelter and healing? Or do you just sit apathetically by, thereby playing into the hands of the indifferent and permitting them to ignore and do nothing.

Why should this matter to those who pursue animal’s rights and ethical treatment? What is the connection between these two issues?

How can you expect a society to behave ethically towards animals when it does not treat human beings ethically? When you have permitted society to have created a class of disposable human beings; when you permit society to allow this class of disposable humans to continue to exist and grow; how could you possibly expect society not to treat animals in exactly the same disposable manner?

Open your eyes look around and see how unethically people are treated. Why would you expect animals to be treated differently?

In fact with some treating animals far better than they treat fellow humans; with others apparently more concerned about food, shelter and medical treatment for stray animals; with some fighting, advertising, advocating or writing letters for the ethical treatment of animals while sitting by with indifference and apathy to the reprehensible, unethical treatment of people – are they not contributing not only to the mistreatment of their fellow man but to society’s attitudes to and lack of ethics in dealing with animals?

I am not calling for advocates to stop working for the ethical treatment of animals or to not work to provide homes and healing for homeless animals. I am not demanding that stars such as Sara McLaughlin do not support the BCSPCA.

What I would ask is to think about the homeless – the mentally ill, the addicted, the poor – research/ think about these issues and when the opportunity presents its self, help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness. This applies to “stars” as both the person (Sara) and “(Sara) the Star”.

I am saying that these advocates and their supporters cannot sit around apparently indifferent, apathetic and condoning society’s current treatment of homeless people and those in need of help but must help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness

Because until we begin to treat our fellow man ethically, there is no hope we will treat animals ethically either.

Consider, Homeless

Hmmmmm? Does her family flee when they see her coming?

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This is the flipside of “I had not known Hunger took Holidays” which has been appended to the end of this piece. Ironically this was written almost exactly one week before Hunger took Holidays; the two pieces forming bookends, truely Ying and Yang. I have also appended the Invitation I sent out to some newspeople I know inviting them to the holiday Monday (emergency) lunch.

Last year it was her mother, this year it was her brother and sister-in-law. Which is what has me wondering if her family is tempted to flee at the first sight of her blonde head approaching?

I feel I must protect her identity lest people take to fleeing at her approach since, with her short legs, catching them could be problematic.

The need to press-gang family into service arises at this time every year as the Seventh Day Adventists of the Open Door congregation gather out of town for a several weeks long church camp. This church retreat gives rise to the need to find someone to make and serve the bagged lunches the Open Door serves the homeless 40 Sundays a year.

I had someone who labelled themselves a christian tell me that as Adventists the were not really christians. All I can say to that is that the poor, the hungry, the homeless and those in need in Abbotsford would benefit from a lot more congregations who “are not really christian” but who live the golden rule, practice Christrianity and live their faith.

To her brother, sister-in-law and her “sister” thank you for not running, thank you for the lunch and thank you for the pleasure of your company. To her mother, thank you for the fine job you did with this daughter and son.

I don’t suppose you would consider writing a book on parenting? The world could use many more loving daughters and sons, practicing their faith.


I had not known Hunger took Holidays.

Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours – if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?

Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.

Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.

A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.

Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.

I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.

Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.

That is not to say that those who give to their community and the less fortunate in that community do not deserve holidays. It is just that being responsible adults requires making provision for those depending on us for sustenance to be served and not left hanging – and hungry.

Hmmm, Homeless

Is a simple coffee simply coffee?

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A short time ago a forwarded email came to me asking if I knew anyone in need of help. There was a church group who wanted to help some of their fellow Abbotsfordians in getting on their feet and moving forward with their lives. Toward that end they had requested suggestions for people they could help. The person they made the request of forwarded it on, it was forwarded on and so on until it landed in my email box.

It was heartening to hear of people interested in making a difference, who had gotten together to take positive action on their own initiative without waiting around for instructions. What I particularly liked about their approach is they wanted it to be hands on, not looking strictly to give money or some other material object, although such actions were a possibility. They were looking to be involved with the people they would be helping on a continuing basis over the year.

One of the realities I have observed is that continuing support is needed to help achieve a successful outcome in changing lives. Your time, concern and a willingness to listen and just talk are in many ways far more important a contribution than merely material items be they money, furniture, food etc.

We often forget that Man is a social animal. For years due to mental illness and other issues I was a loner, able to go for days (weeks or months at my lowest point) without seeing or interacting with people. One of my concerns as my recovery progressed was slipping back into that isolation. It turned out one of my counsellors was correct; I had reached a point in my recovery where I could not comfortably go back to being a loner.

I am still sometimes surprised by my need these days for social interaction, make that healthy social interaction. What with car troubles and other looming changes life has been a little stressful lately. A good friend called and we did coffee, finishing just minutes ago.

Some of the conversation was about the car and forthcoming changes, but most was about other interesting things going on in Abbotsford and our lives. Being able to sit down and write this comment on the “help needed” email and the thoughts it raised in my mind, is a reflection of what a calming, centering effect a simple coffee and conversation can have.

I also really liked the education possibilities. The church group would get the opportunity to know the people involved and see past the stereotypes; get to observe the many barriers that have come to exist in our society and its structure for those trying to get on with their lives after some problem or trauma had knocked them down; they would also see what difference even simple actions like sharing a coffee can have.

For those who would be on the receiving end of the help there would be the opportunity to change mental thought patterns. It is amazing just how negative an effect on your thought processes, patterns and outlook the beating your mind, your Self, takes in being homeless, addicted, poor or just on a unlucky streak has. An important aspect of your recovery turns out to be to change your way of thinking, of perceiving.

It is an idea with plenty of potential on both sides of the equation, the catch?

Even off the tops of people’s heads and on short notice the list of those in need in our community was overwhelming, far outstripping what this group could do. The request revealed a breadth and depth of need that is daunting and a little frightening.

It is perhaps a little damning that we as a community have failed to see this need and have allowed it to become so deep and wide spread. As a positive balance to this, those forwarding the request are working on finding ways to address the rest of the listed needs.

In that lies what is truly needed for our City, Canadian society, to begin to successfully address the social ills and problems we face: the involvement of the people of the community in helping other members of the community. Sitting around, waiting for someone to tell you what to do, fancy planning or plans will not do it.

The beginning of the end of social ills lies with people simply getting out, getting together and taking actions to address what is needed.