A couple of years ago the Salvation Army Center of Hope had a soup kitchen that was accessible to those that needed it. Anybody that needed a meal used to be able to come every day between 4:00 and 4:30 for a hearty bowl of soup. This included those that were in paid rooms at the Center of Hope. This however is no longer something they do and I believe they should bring it back.
I would like to compliment them for the service they used to provide and encourage them to put it back in place. Saying this, I would also like to point out that I do understand that it was a very costly program and feel that it may be necessary to make some minor changes to make it less costly. I do also understand that they had problems with outside homeless people that were causing some of the problems that shut down this soup line up.
My suggestion would be to provide this service to those that are actual paid clients of the Salvation Army whether it is the Booth clients or Center of Hope clients. This would save them some money and provide at least a meal to those who may be struggling in their transitional housing program.
Even if you provided this service Monday to Friday, I think it would improve the quality of life for those less fortunate. As it stands, you have people who are on assistance receiving limited funds that barely make it through a month. It would help quite a few people. I really hope you consider this.
One Final Note;
Right now you have some of these paid clients coming into the dining area during meal hours looking for leftovers. So this would possibly cut back on people trying to get meals off those in non paid rooms.
By the way, this soup line up wouldn’t apply to those already getting free meals. You could use the same format for the soup kitchen as you do for the non paying clients. That of course is where you use cards and room numbers as a way to track those that are dining.
Just a thought,
Tim Barber
Homeless, but not without HOPE
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Would You Like Some Cheese With Your Whine?
Oh, I've heard it on the gripe-vine:
A construction worker, obvious from his new-looking safety vest and coveralls, stands in line at a Shelter offering free boots. A volunteer sees him walk away with a new pair of safety boots, climb into a new-looking 3/4-ton truck with extended cab in the parking lot, and drive away. Obviously, he could afford to have bought the boots.
Another construction worker brags about how he banks his pay cheque by staying at a shelter, as he waits in line for a lower-cost meal than available elsewhere. He saves $26,000 in 6 months, then takes the rest of the year off from working. The shelters are geographically convenient for migrant trades workers to use.
As the author was walking across a steel bridge, on his way to his favorite restaurant on General Avenue, he sees two policemen stopping everyone as they approach the end of the bridge. He anticipates being questioned, but the officers tell him, "Sir, you can go ahead." Presumably, the officers are attempting to reduce the crime wave in the neighbourhood by redirecting shelter residents and street people away from
that side of the river.
An article in a community newsletter magazine tells of how the residents gathered to assemble a new set of playground equipment for children. It goes on to say that it hopes local improvements like that will discourage "marginalized" members of society from lingering there. Without a consideration that some of those
"marginalized" persons did not choose to be in that state, but that other persons and circumstances chose it for them.
A man in the dining room in a shelter frequently utters phrases, but when you look at him, they are directed to no one in particular. Some of the remarks are demeaning or derogatory, the behaviour is disrespectful. People nearby are stressed, as this person drums his fingertips on the table every few minutes. He finally stands up to leave, and declares "I am not on drugs." Perhaps he should be?
The posters of the mission statements of shelters and others telling of how they help and respect those who seek help from them bear little resemblance to the over rule-bound and lack of respect displayed by the staff to clients. An example is their "revolving-door" eviction policy. Someone sneezes, a quick check is made of their record in the computer by a sometimes-alert staff member. Has the sneezer had an H1N1 flu shot? No! He is evicted. Oh, sure, he can come back in after waiting the prescribed time. Where can he stay in the meantime? That's the person's problem, not the shelter's. They have hundreds of people waiting to get in, so they use the slightest excuse to clear a bed for another one of them. Instead of being helpful, supportive, and assisting, they rule the establishment by fear and fault-finding. Exactly the atmosphere that ensures that some persons will be forever trapped and dehumanized in the system, rather than lent a helping hand to climb back out into the rest of society that shuns the "marginalized" portion of the city residents, even though large numbers of them are one paycheque away from falling into the same plight.
_____
"Trays Bien": As a result of a severe shortage of trays in a shelter's cafeteria, the operator decides that the "no trays to be removed" clause in the posted "Operating Philosophy" is to be enforced by hired security guards. They eagerly accept the job, harassing those who need to put away a meal for later, because of a meeting that they need to attend. Arguments that the tray will be returned a few minutes later are not accepted. Because of the "Philosophy" and shelter's meal rules, meals can only be saved by those residents that opt into a "meal plan". The security guard says that he will look after what is left at his counter while the person makes multiple trips. The person returns to find said "rent-a-cop", not at his post, but standing in line for his meal. When confronted, he gives no respect or apology, but some meaningless remark instead. On another occasion, the door to the dining room is closed and locked to outsiders, so the person has to wait for someone to leave by that door, before he can get the rest of his meal.
Other persons, who manage to acquire a white tray, are allowed to use it and leave undisturbed with it. Discriminatory? Yes, but there is probably a clause in the
"Philosophy" that allows the cafeteria to get away with it. After all, it's THEIR rules. The "Operating Philosophy" is really a one-sided manifesto, demanding rather than earning respect of the cafeteria's clients. With no assurance of respect for the clients, in return. They threaten to use the brute force, harassment, and
intimidation from rented armed security guards to obtain that respect if it is not given in response. The person who the dining room was named after would probably roll in her grave if she witnessed what takes place in that food establishment, with that "Philosophy".
____
A construction company, with the odd name of "Stephen the Worker", closes off a street and sidewalks which lead to a bridge that crosses the river. No information is given about alternate routes, instead the foreman threatens to charge the pedestrian with trespassing. The construction company's "over-holding" of access routes is so excessive, that a homeless shelter is almost totally isolated from the rest of the city. Residents and visitors and even volunteers and staff have to figure out where an access path is to the building. And where are the law enforcement people who would normally inspect and verify that there is always an access path available? Why, they are guarding a parking lot, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round if necessary. And what is so special about this
parking lot? It is a lot used by patrons of a Police Association building. And why was it necessary to guard the lot? Because the normal security-key access gate was no longer accessible, because of "Stephen the Worker" and other Destruction Company activities in the area. The access streets were tore up (several times, in fact, once for each Futility?), and they had to open a section of fence to allow vehicles to use the lot. Where is this lot? Just a mere stone's throw from the homeless shelter building with the moat dug around it.
Written by Anonymous45
A construction worker, obvious from his new-looking safety vest and coveralls, stands in line at a Shelter offering free boots. A volunteer sees him walk away with a new pair of safety boots, climb into a new-looking 3/4-ton truck with extended cab in the parking lot, and drive away. Obviously, he could afford to have bought the boots.
Another construction worker brags about how he banks his pay cheque by staying at a shelter, as he waits in line for a lower-cost meal than available elsewhere. He saves $26,000 in 6 months, then takes the rest of the year off from working. The shelters are geographically convenient for migrant trades workers to use.
As the author was walking across a steel bridge, on his way to his favorite restaurant on General Avenue, he sees two policemen stopping everyone as they approach the end of the bridge. He anticipates being questioned, but the officers tell him, "Sir, you can go ahead." Presumably, the officers are attempting to reduce the crime wave in the neighbourhood by redirecting shelter residents and street people away from
that side of the river.
An article in a community newsletter magazine tells of how the residents gathered to assemble a new set of playground equipment for children. It goes on to say that it hopes local improvements like that will discourage "marginalized" members of society from lingering there. Without a consideration that some of those
"marginalized" persons did not choose to be in that state, but that other persons and circumstances chose it for them.
A man in the dining room in a shelter frequently utters phrases, but when you look at him, they are directed to no one in particular. Some of the remarks are demeaning or derogatory, the behaviour is disrespectful. People nearby are stressed, as this person drums his fingertips on the table every few minutes. He finally stands up to leave, and declares "I am not on drugs." Perhaps he should be?
The posters of the mission statements of shelters and others telling of how they help and respect those who seek help from them bear little resemblance to the over rule-bound and lack of respect displayed by the staff to clients. An example is their "revolving-door" eviction policy. Someone sneezes, a quick check is made of their record in the computer by a sometimes-alert staff member. Has the sneezer had an H1N1 flu shot? No! He is evicted. Oh, sure, he can come back in after waiting the prescribed time. Where can he stay in the meantime? That's the person's problem, not the shelter's. They have hundreds of people waiting to get in, so they use the slightest excuse to clear a bed for another one of them. Instead of being helpful, supportive, and assisting, they rule the establishment by fear and fault-finding. Exactly the atmosphere that ensures that some persons will be forever trapped and dehumanized in the system, rather than lent a helping hand to climb back out into the rest of society that shuns the "marginalized" portion of the city residents, even though large numbers of them are one paycheque away from falling into the same plight.
_____
"Trays Bien": As a result of a severe shortage of trays in a shelter's cafeteria, the operator decides that the "no trays to be removed" clause in the posted "Operating Philosophy" is to be enforced by hired security guards. They eagerly accept the job, harassing those who need to put away a meal for later, because of a meeting that they need to attend. Arguments that the tray will be returned a few minutes later are not accepted. Because of the "Philosophy" and shelter's meal rules, meals can only be saved by those residents that opt into a "meal plan". The security guard says that he will look after what is left at his counter while the person makes multiple trips. The person returns to find said "rent-a-cop", not at his post, but standing in line for his meal. When confronted, he gives no respect or apology, but some meaningless remark instead. On another occasion, the door to the dining room is closed and locked to outsiders, so the person has to wait for someone to leave by that door, before he can get the rest of his meal.
Other persons, who manage to acquire a white tray, are allowed to use it and leave undisturbed with it. Discriminatory? Yes, but there is probably a clause in the
"Philosophy" that allows the cafeteria to get away with it. After all, it's THEIR rules. The "Operating Philosophy" is really a one-sided manifesto, demanding rather than earning respect of the cafeteria's clients. With no assurance of respect for the clients, in return. They threaten to use the brute force, harassment, and
intimidation from rented armed security guards to obtain that respect if it is not given in response. The person who the dining room was named after would probably roll in her grave if she witnessed what takes place in that food establishment, with that "Philosophy".
____
A construction company, with the odd name of "Stephen the Worker", closes off a street and sidewalks which lead to a bridge that crosses the river. No information is given about alternate routes, instead the foreman threatens to charge the pedestrian with trespassing. The construction company's "over-holding" of access routes is so excessive, that a homeless shelter is almost totally isolated from the rest of the city. Residents and visitors and even volunteers and staff have to figure out where an access path is to the building. And where are the law enforcement people who would normally inspect and verify that there is always an access path available? Why, they are guarding a parking lot, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round if necessary. And what is so special about this
parking lot? It is a lot used by patrons of a Police Association building. And why was it necessary to guard the lot? Because the normal security-key access gate was no longer accessible, because of "Stephen the Worker" and other Destruction Company activities in the area. The access streets were tore up (several times, in fact, once for each Futility?), and they had to open a section of fence to allow vehicles to use the lot. Where is this lot? Just a mere stone's throw from the homeless shelter building with the moat dug around it.
Written by Anonymous45
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
New directions to freedom from homelessness.
What sort of directions do we need in order to find the road to a self sustaining life. Feeling that we are accepted in the community and that we will have our basic needs met will allow us to find new directions so that we can flourish again in our own community.
Healthy communities need a mix of people and should include, I believe, a common garden and some self sustaining form of cottage industry. This would help defray overhead costs and provide a share of the community food basket. It will be important for the whole group to agree on a common philosophy, rules and consequences common to all. All would have an income adequate for their needs so that no other group member should feel burdened.
Regards,
AlexS.
Healthy communities need a mix of people and should include, I believe, a common garden and some self sustaining form of cottage industry. This would help defray overhead costs and provide a share of the community food basket. It will be important for the whole group to agree on a common philosophy, rules and consequences common to all. All would have an income adequate for their needs so that no other group member should feel burdened.
Regards,
AlexS.
A Possible Solution! What's Your Opinion?
I was reading an article today that states that there are 4580 homeless either in shelters or living on the street. I also read in that same article that said it costs $100,000 a year to provide for each homeless person.
I decided to do a little math and noted that 458 Million dollars is being spent on the homeless per year. So if these numbers are correct, how come we are not doing more to rid Calgary of our homeless problem?
The way I figure it, we could buy 1200 houses @ a ¼ million each, which would cost 300 million dollars and house all homeless people in Calgary. Please correct me if I am wrong. Basically, if we put 4 people in each house then we would still have room for extra homeless; 220 spaces to be exact.
I think that if the government really wants to help curb homelessness, then let’s save the taxpayers some money and get them housed. By building these houses or even buying houses that are already on the market, the savings over a period of time would be phenomenal. To start we would have 158 million dollars to put into other services that would be essential to helping the homeless.
I realize there are still going to be issues with health care, and other essential needs of those in real housing. However there are already so many volunteers that want to help out and we could still use them. The volunteers could be used as a support network, visiting those that are in need. Some will have more needs than others and there will be those that will be able to live without the help of others.
Some people seem to think that the homeless wouldn’t be able to cope with such a responsibility as being housed in such a dwelling! I don’t agree! You would actually be surprised how smart some of the homeless really are. I know because I am homeless and I have met a lot of different types of homeless people through my life and found that some have very wise attitudes. I believe, given the opportunity, we could change so many homeless lives for the better.
One last comment:
This is just an idea and I hope I can receive comments on this blog, as I wish to hear what your opinion is! Please respond with your thoughts and ideas.
Tim Barber
Homeless but not without Hope
I decided to do a little math and noted that 458 Million dollars is being spent on the homeless per year. So if these numbers are correct, how come we are not doing more to rid Calgary of our homeless problem?
The way I figure it, we could buy 1200 houses @ a ¼ million each, which would cost 300 million dollars and house all homeless people in Calgary. Please correct me if I am wrong. Basically, if we put 4 people in each house then we would still have room for extra homeless; 220 spaces to be exact.
I think that if the government really wants to help curb homelessness, then let’s save the taxpayers some money and get them housed. By building these houses or even buying houses that are already on the market, the savings over a period of time would be phenomenal. To start we would have 158 million dollars to put into other services that would be essential to helping the homeless.
I realize there are still going to be issues with health care, and other essential needs of those in real housing. However there are already so many volunteers that want to help out and we could still use them. The volunteers could be used as a support network, visiting those that are in need. Some will have more needs than others and there will be those that will be able to live without the help of others.
Some people seem to think that the homeless wouldn’t be able to cope with such a responsibility as being housed in such a dwelling! I don’t agree! You would actually be surprised how smart some of the homeless really are. I know because I am homeless and I have met a lot of different types of homeless people through my life and found that some have very wise attitudes. I believe, given the opportunity, we could change so many homeless lives for the better.
One last comment:
This is just an idea and I hope I can receive comments on this blog, as I wish to hear what your opinion is! Please respond with your thoughts and ideas.
Tim Barber
Homeless but not without Hope
Where Has All The Funding Gone?
I’d like to talk about why a lot of homeless men and women are having a tough time trying to get out of the shelter. I personally think it’s because we are given lots of resources to find employment, but when we find prospective employers we don’t have the funds available to make it to job interviews. We also don’t have the resources to have clean laundry for our potential employers.
Basically, as it stands, most of the shelters don’t have funding in place in order to give the homeless bus fare to get to more than one job interview. For example, the Salvation Army only allows individuals staying there to receive only two bus tickets per month for work-related activities only. I believe the Mustard Seed Foothills Shelter never gives out bus tickets due to lack of funding. However, they will give a person a bus ticket to get back downtown if they have not been granted service to their shelter. The Drop Inn Center is very difficult as well to get a bus ticket out of. There are very few agencies these days that actually give bus tickets out at all anymore because the demand is just too great.
Let’s just say I line up an interview with a possible employer for tomorrow, if I go to this interview and find out that they want me back for a second interview, I then need to find my own way there. I don’t know of anyone in recent history that goes to one interview and automatically gets a job. Generally I have found that you end up doing at least three or four interviews before actually finding a good job, or any job for that matter. Then even after you do get confirmation that you have been hired on, you then need to worry about getting to work every day.
This is where Social Services come into play. However, you would first have to have a letter signed by your potential employer before receiving assistance from Social Services. That of course depends on whether or not you have already received a work allowance from Social Services in the last year. Social Services only allows this once a year, so if I already got this work allowance six months ago, I couldn’t even apply and I would be stuck trying to find some other way of commuting to work and back every day until I received that first pay cheque. By the way, the shelter doesn’t have the funding to help you to get to work.
On another note, let’s say that I did get this job interview and I was hired on. Now I need to make sure that I can have clean clothes everyday for work. Depending on what type of job I have, I could probably get away a few days with the same clothes. The problem is this: At the Salvation Army they only give you tokens once a month, which covers one load of laundry. At the Mustard See Foothills Shelter, you would have to volunteer to clean the bathrooms in order for staff to do a load of laundry for you, but for the most part there is no laundry done for anyone. By the way, there are only two spots available each day for men and women in this shelter, so good luck. The only option we have left is to go to the Drop-In Center, and I personally stay as far away from there as possible. I don’t like being scared for my life, and that’s how I personally feel going anywhere near there. Even if I did want to do my laundry there it would have to be after work, and they close the washers at seven o’clock. Not to mention, you need to book an appointment time in the morning, so unless you get lucky you aren’t getting your clothes washed.
On a final note, I would like to point out that if we think that we are unable to commute to work every day or are unable to show up with clean clothes, we tend to think less of ourselves. I know from personal experience that I felt like a no-body and didn’t care much about the worry of trying to get to work and be dressed nicely to make a good impression on my employer, not to mention other employees. If you think about it, trying to go to a job in construction you are more likely to get away with wearing the same clothes to work every day, but I am sure after a while a boss may wonder what’s up and this puts your job in jeopardy. Now if I was working in a customer service position I would definitely need to have clean clothes on a daily basis. Otherwise, I know if I was a boss seeing someone with the same clothes day after day I would have to find someone more representing for the company.
We need to find a way to keep the homeless focused on a future for themselves, and to keep them clothed in clean clothes. More funding needs to be allocated to helping the homeless think better of themselves.
Are those government and/or agency bodies whom are in a position to allocate funds aware that in Toronto, if you are in a shelter, for every night you spend there you receive 4$ for a personal needs allowance? Maybe it’s about time we did the same here in Calgary. Just think, with that extra 28$ a week the homeless could not only do their own laundry but could also cover bus fare to get to work. Basically you could get a book of bus tickets and do one load of laundry every week with that money. In my opinion, even if they gave us the book of bus tickets and laundry tokens, it would make a big impact a lot of people. I am not saying this is going to work for everyone, but hey! Why not just give it a try and see how many people we could make a little happier? Let’s start treating the homeless like people with basic needs like everyone else. Please lets all think about where we want to go in the future, because right now while the homeless population continues to grow so does the need for a reassessment of how money is allocated to and within the shelters.
Written by Tim Barber
Homeless but not without Hope
Basically, as it stands, most of the shelters don’t have funding in place in order to give the homeless bus fare to get to more than one job interview. For example, the Salvation Army only allows individuals staying there to receive only two bus tickets per month for work-related activities only. I believe the Mustard Seed Foothills Shelter never gives out bus tickets due to lack of funding. However, they will give a person a bus ticket to get back downtown if they have not been granted service to their shelter. The Drop Inn Center is very difficult as well to get a bus ticket out of. There are very few agencies these days that actually give bus tickets out at all anymore because the demand is just too great.
Let’s just say I line up an interview with a possible employer for tomorrow, if I go to this interview and find out that they want me back for a second interview, I then need to find my own way there. I don’t know of anyone in recent history that goes to one interview and automatically gets a job. Generally I have found that you end up doing at least three or four interviews before actually finding a good job, or any job for that matter. Then even after you do get confirmation that you have been hired on, you then need to worry about getting to work every day.
This is where Social Services come into play. However, you would first have to have a letter signed by your potential employer before receiving assistance from Social Services. That of course depends on whether or not you have already received a work allowance from Social Services in the last year. Social Services only allows this once a year, so if I already got this work allowance six months ago, I couldn’t even apply and I would be stuck trying to find some other way of commuting to work and back every day until I received that first pay cheque. By the way, the shelter doesn’t have the funding to help you to get to work.
On another note, let’s say that I did get this job interview and I was hired on. Now I need to make sure that I can have clean clothes everyday for work. Depending on what type of job I have, I could probably get away a few days with the same clothes. The problem is this: At the Salvation Army they only give you tokens once a month, which covers one load of laundry. At the Mustard See Foothills Shelter, you would have to volunteer to clean the bathrooms in order for staff to do a load of laundry for you, but for the most part there is no laundry done for anyone. By the way, there are only two spots available each day for men and women in this shelter, so good luck. The only option we have left is to go to the Drop-In Center, and I personally stay as far away from there as possible. I don’t like being scared for my life, and that’s how I personally feel going anywhere near there. Even if I did want to do my laundry there it would have to be after work, and they close the washers at seven o’clock. Not to mention, you need to book an appointment time in the morning, so unless you get lucky you aren’t getting your clothes washed.
On a final note, I would like to point out that if we think that we are unable to commute to work every day or are unable to show up with clean clothes, we tend to think less of ourselves. I know from personal experience that I felt like a no-body and didn’t care much about the worry of trying to get to work and be dressed nicely to make a good impression on my employer, not to mention other employees. If you think about it, trying to go to a job in construction you are more likely to get away with wearing the same clothes to work every day, but I am sure after a while a boss may wonder what’s up and this puts your job in jeopardy. Now if I was working in a customer service position I would definitely need to have clean clothes on a daily basis. Otherwise, I know if I was a boss seeing someone with the same clothes day after day I would have to find someone more representing for the company.
We need to find a way to keep the homeless focused on a future for themselves, and to keep them clothed in clean clothes. More funding needs to be allocated to helping the homeless think better of themselves.
Are those government and/or agency bodies whom are in a position to allocate funds aware that in Toronto, if you are in a shelter, for every night you spend there you receive 4$ for a personal needs allowance? Maybe it’s about time we did the same here in Calgary. Just think, with that extra 28$ a week the homeless could not only do their own laundry but could also cover bus fare to get to work. Basically you could get a book of bus tickets and do one load of laundry every week with that money. In my opinion, even if they gave us the book of bus tickets and laundry tokens, it would make a big impact a lot of people. I am not saying this is going to work for everyone, but hey! Why not just give it a try and see how many people we could make a little happier? Let’s start treating the homeless like people with basic needs like everyone else. Please lets all think about where we want to go in the future, because right now while the homeless population continues to grow so does the need for a reassessment of how money is allocated to and within the shelters.
Written by Tim Barber
Homeless but not without Hope
My Proposal To Curb Homelessness.
To Whom It May Concern,
This is my proposal to help curb homelessness, and possibly rid the city of Calgary’s homeless situation.
My idea is to start a 3 Phase system, each requiring the building of supportive apartment-type dwellings.
There will be 3 buildings in all, possibly more depending on other ideas made available. I suggest (remember this is just a rough idea) the first building have at least 12 floors with 15 Units (apartments) on each floor. In each of these Units will have 5 private rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom set-up. Each private room will have a bed, dresser, closet, mini-fridge, a T.V, and a phone. This first building will be what I call Phase “A” of my idea. Phase “B” and “C” are similar buildings, except that the units in these other 2 buildings will have less private rooms per kitchen/bathroom area. I recommend that we go from 5 private rooms (Phase “A”) to 3 private rooms (Phase “B”) to 1 or 2 private rooms in Phase “C” of my proposal.
Phase (A):1 Unit - 5 Private Rooms
Each individual will have his/her own key for a room that is equipped with a bed, dresser, closet, mini-fridge, a T.V, and a telephone. The 5 separate rooms will be adjoined by the full kitchen area, as well as a full bathroom. This area is for the use of the occupants of this 1 unit only. For example, if we had 15 units per floor, we could call the unit apartment 101-115, with each private room having an A-E format.
Example:
· Mr. Smith may live at #116E-123 street S.E, Calgary, AB
· Mr. Smith can only use the kitchen and bath area in unit 116/ not in any other unit. I.e. unit 117 or 118
Every private room if possible should have cable hook up, and the T.V should be protected from vandalism and theft. The phone is provided only for local calls only. Any long distance phone calls will be granted by the Resource Counselor on site (I will explain further on this matter shortly). The whole purpose of having a private room is to give a person his/her own space, and a place to call home. (Other suggestions are welcome)
Phase ‘B’:
Phase ‘B’ is similar for the fact each private room will have the same things as the rooms in Phase “A”.
Phase ‘C’:
Phase “C” differs slightly due to the fact that some of the units will be a self contained bachelor suite in which they will not have to share kitchen and bathroom facilities. However they will be downsized accordingly. In Phase “C” there are also going to be units that have 2 private rooms in each, again they will be downsized according to fewer people. Phase “C” will also be accessible to those with children, as well as couples who are homeless.
Supportive Services in all Phases
The first thing is talking to all the staff at different shelters to find out who they think would be good to go into each Phase of this proposal. We also need to build 3 buildings side by side, and there should be different resources made available for those requiring different needs. I am going to list things I feel would be useful for this proposal to work. (Mandatory things are marked with *)
*Medical Center
*Security
*Police Mini Station
*1 Restaurant
*Staff
*Resource Room, for employment purposes etc….
- Convenience Store
- Gym
-Lounge (possibly like a games room, library, etc….)
To sum up my proposal I would like to speak freely on some things that I know are probably going to come up when discussing this proposal. First of all, in my opinion I think it we talked with some of the companies that may take part in the building of my proposal, I would hope they would be willing to take on a handful of homeless in these dwellings to work with them and even train new people, give the homeless a chance to build a better future for all. Also I know the biggest problem is going to be with those drinking or drugging, and as we are well aware its probably the concern with the drugs then the drinking that is of the biggest concern, and I agree. However if we do this proposal right , we are giving people a chance to better there lives and we are putting into place the security and police presence. However I know it will still continue, as it does now in the shelter system, my whole point is the fact that when a person gets caught doing these things in a shelter, they get barred making them live on the street, and I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think a person having a couple of beer after work is such a big deal. However if you have even 1 beer and get caught at a Salvation Army Shelter, you get thrown out. Some shelters are a little lenient, but the whole point is that if a person had there own space it would mean less criminal activity in the community. Not to mention the fact that every shelter kicks you out in the morning and doesn’t allow you back till late in the day. This would relieve some of the homeless from being on the streets all day. Thus creating a much happier environment for people of all walks of life.
Just my Idea,
Tim Barber
This is my proposal to help curb homelessness, and possibly rid the city of Calgary’s homeless situation.
My idea is to start a 3 Phase system, each requiring the building of supportive apartment-type dwellings.
There will be 3 buildings in all, possibly more depending on other ideas made available. I suggest (remember this is just a rough idea) the first building have at least 12 floors with 15 Units (apartments) on each floor. In each of these Units will have 5 private rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom set-up. Each private room will have a bed, dresser, closet, mini-fridge, a T.V, and a phone. This first building will be what I call Phase “A” of my idea. Phase “B” and “C” are similar buildings, except that the units in these other 2 buildings will have less private rooms per kitchen/bathroom area. I recommend that we go from 5 private rooms (Phase “A”) to 3 private rooms (Phase “B”) to 1 or 2 private rooms in Phase “C” of my proposal.
Phase (A):1 Unit - 5 Private Rooms
Each individual will have his/her own key for a room that is equipped with a bed, dresser, closet, mini-fridge, a T.V, and a telephone. The 5 separate rooms will be adjoined by the full kitchen area, as well as a full bathroom. This area is for the use of the occupants of this 1 unit only. For example, if we had 15 units per floor, we could call the unit apartment 101-115, with each private room having an A-E format.
Example:
· Mr. Smith may live at #116E-123 street S.E, Calgary, AB
· Mr. Smith can only use the kitchen and bath area in unit 116/ not in any other unit. I.e. unit 117 or 118
Every private room if possible should have cable hook up, and the T.V should be protected from vandalism and theft. The phone is provided only for local calls only. Any long distance phone calls will be granted by the Resource Counselor on site (I will explain further on this matter shortly). The whole purpose of having a private room is to give a person his/her own space, and a place to call home. (Other suggestions are welcome)
Phase ‘B’:
Phase ‘B’ is similar for the fact each private room will have the same things as the rooms in Phase “A”.
Phase ‘C’:
Phase “C” differs slightly due to the fact that some of the units will be a self contained bachelor suite in which they will not have to share kitchen and bathroom facilities. However they will be downsized accordingly. In Phase “C” there are also going to be units that have 2 private rooms in each, again they will be downsized according to fewer people. Phase “C” will also be accessible to those with children, as well as couples who are homeless.
Supportive Services in all Phases
The first thing is talking to all the staff at different shelters to find out who they think would be good to go into each Phase of this proposal. We also need to build 3 buildings side by side, and there should be different resources made available for those requiring different needs. I am going to list things I feel would be useful for this proposal to work. (Mandatory things are marked with *)
*Medical Center
*Security
*Police Mini Station
*1 Restaurant
*Staff
*Resource Room, for employment purposes etc….
- Convenience Store
- Gym
-Lounge (possibly like a games room, library, etc….)
To sum up my proposal I would like to speak freely on some things that I know are probably going to come up when discussing this proposal. First of all, in my opinion I think it we talked with some of the companies that may take part in the building of my proposal, I would hope they would be willing to take on a handful of homeless in these dwellings to work with them and even train new people, give the homeless a chance to build a better future for all. Also I know the biggest problem is going to be with those drinking or drugging, and as we are well aware its probably the concern with the drugs then the drinking that is of the biggest concern, and I agree. However if we do this proposal right , we are giving people a chance to better there lives and we are putting into place the security and police presence. However I know it will still continue, as it does now in the shelter system, my whole point is the fact that when a person gets caught doing these things in a shelter, they get barred making them live on the street, and I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think a person having a couple of beer after work is such a big deal. However if you have even 1 beer and get caught at a Salvation Army Shelter, you get thrown out. Some shelters are a little lenient, but the whole point is that if a person had there own space it would mean less criminal activity in the community. Not to mention the fact that every shelter kicks you out in the morning and doesn’t allow you back till late in the day. This would relieve some of the homeless from being on the streets all day. Thus creating a much happier environment for people of all walks of life.
Just my Idea,
Tim Barber
Monday, February 15, 2010
Zero Tolerance Towards Drugs and Alcohol: A Fair Policy?
I would first like to thank all shelters for their kindness with keeping our homeless men and women sheltered. Upon saying this, however, I would like to comment on an issue that I think is very worthy of discussion: shelter policy on drugs and alcohol.
I don’t entirely agree with the policies that are in place presently. Most shelters have a zero tolerance policy towards drugs and alcohol. I fully agree that no person should be drinking or using drugs in a shelter. I do not agree with a zero tolerance, however, for those individuals who would like to have an alcoholic beverage after work or even on a very draining day.
True or false? Is it illegal to have an alcoholic beverage if you are eighteen years of age here in Alberta? False. It is not illegal for an eighteen year old to drink.
Also, what is the age requirement to gain entry into most shelters? It is generally a requirement to be at least eighteen to get into most shelters.
[I won’t be discussing youth shelters at this time. I will save that for another article in the near future.]
So my question to you is simple: Why is a man or woman of legal age who has had one alcoholic beverage after a long day refused service at most shelters? This is a question I am aiming towards shelters such as The Salvation Army and The Mustard Seed.
However, this zero tolerance policy also applies to getting on some floors at the Drop Inn Centre. The Drop Inn forces those that are under the influence to sleep in the lobby on the floor without a mat. This is very unhealthy.
I understand that it is illegal to use drugs, and drug use is still a very big problem in the shelter systems. However, because it is so much harder to detect a person who has been using drugs, it generally goes unnoticed. Drugs, in my opinion, are what should be the real zero tolerance policy!
I am not saying they should allow alcohol to be brought into the shelters, but that they would at least allow those that like to have the occasional drink after work into the shelter system without discipline.
I am not saying that one should be able to go out and get completely drunk. However, I don’t think it’s such a crime to have a drink or two. Even though I am a recovering addict, I wouldn’t be bothered by people drinking responsibly.
I believe that if shelters weren’t so strict with not allowing the homeless to have a couple of drinks after work (that is, those who like to drink), they would probably see a change in the way people approach the shelter systems. For example, the homeless wouldn’t sleep on the street as often, nor would they think so harshly of the shelter system.
This would also give security and staff the ability to concentrate on the big problem of drugs in the shelter system. As we all are aware, drugs are still very illegal.
I think the use of breathalyzers for those clients shelter staff feel may have had a little too much is justified. They could also put a new policy in place, setting a limit of what is an acceptable alcohol level. Take for example the limit for driving under the influence. This could be the limit for entering shelters as well.
I do understand that the Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed are both classified as Churches, and believe this is why they have a zero tolerance policy in place. What I would like to mention though is the fact some churches that do a proper communion actually offer wine to drink as the blood of Christ. So I guess if I go out and take part in communion and have this wine, I may not be allowed back in the shelter. That is the way it is run right now, and that is wrong.
The following are a couple of quotes from the Bible I like:
Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Use every chance you have for doing good. Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.
- Proverbs 3:27
Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
- Romans 12:2b
Written by Tim Barber (Homeless, but not without HOPE)
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