The three of us were there because
- we know of teens in our community who are couch surfing because of Family Conflict;
- there are children whose parents are facing eviction after long term unemployment who are being fed and clothed by a neighbor;
- there are children whose parents who have died and they are too old for CAS – and too young to work;
- there are senior heating their house with an oven set to 400ºF ;
- Retired seniors who have been farmers have people who live in their barns alone;
- because homelessness can be hidden - with the people in the big house at end of the cul-de-sac choosing between food and hydro;
- because people in our midst suffer severe deprivations of the basic elements of life;
- we see people who are clearly homeless, carrying backpacks, walking into town and spending time in cafes or library, sometime thumbing a ride, a woman, with a bundle-buggy holding all her earthly belongings, sitting dazed on a bench in the Goodfellow building, a gentleman eating his breakfast apple at CCS in the morning, folks who are denied housing because they have a pet.
We were 3 members of the Caledon Homelessness Partnership Strategy Committee that met for over a year - looking at an issue that is a Provincial and Regional responsibility.
We have committed our time to this because our conscience bothers us as citizens at the thought that people are spending cold nights sleeping in the outdoors exposed to the elements, while others live on the edge and struggle not to become homeless.
“Homelessness is the real or imminent absence of a home over which individuals or families have personal control”The Committee found that in many ways one can be homeless
before one is without a house, and that there are many factors causing this:
• Decreased access to affordable housing
• Family crisis and conflict – Disintegration / and re-constitution
• Abuse • Addictions • Physical and/or mental health challenges
• Limitations of living on a fixed income (OW, ODSP)
• Loss of many kinds (job, spouse, child)
• Shame and isolation regarding one’s situation
The Committee had an 8 month community consultation including
three Community Forums, and approached many different community demographics including:
OPP; Youth; High School Chaplain; Guidance Counselors; Optimist Club; Crisis Case Workers; Homeless Youth; Public Works Employees; Library Staff; Motel Managers; Faith Leaders; Kinsmen Club; Salvation Army; Street Outreach Workers; Town Outdoor Staff; LCBO Employees; Tim Horton Employees; Residents; Family Transition Place; Meals On Wheels Staff; and Street Nurses.The themes that emerged during this study were:
• Hamlets matter - Caledon is full of smaller communities
• Animals matter • Seniors/Farmers matter
• People are employed but precariously housed
• Youth need places to be, become and matter
• Some people are passing through, but others have no option except to leave because there is no support system here.
• People want to help. People asked again and again: what to do?
In the end we reminded council that the people in Caledon have been known as people who care for their neighbours. This is traditionally so in the hamlets and small communities of Caledon: if a farmer's barn is on fire, the whole village rallies to put the fire down and to give shelter, if need be, to the family affected by the disaster. This sentiment was expressed repeatedly by people in the course of this study and also at the forums held in Claude, Bolton and with the faith community: we care for our own and Caledon should and would support and look after needy members within its communities.
All we ask, today, is that you take time to read our report and to offer support to the strategic homelessness effort initiated at the Caledon Community Services and overwhelmingly backed by Caledon residents.
It was something different to be nervous presenting and speaking in public! Yet this is something we can address - before the problem of homelessness becomes like other bigger cities in our region.
Peace
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