While sitting at the city council meeting listening to the comments regarding the rezoning of the Super 8 to Compass Court I was struck at how many people realize the future tenants are an extremely vulnerable population.
I decided not to speak as there was nothing I could add to those speaking in favour of the rezoning. While driving home however I realized that there was something else that could add to the discussion.
Present at the meeting were a number of agencies and organizations that are working together to address homelessness. Interior Health, Brain Injury, B.C. Housing, 100 Homes Penticton, PDCL, South Okanagan Women In Need Society to name a few. All of us collaborate to find solutions to end homelessness. A number of people from these organizations and agencies spoke in favour of the rezoning and the importance of housing, something of which many of us take for granted. Homelessness costs. The cost savings from housing people include fewer ambulance, and RCMP calls along with fewer visits to the emergency room have been proven statistically over and over again.
Financial and fiscal responsibility is important however these are real people. People that live in our communities. I wonder how well any of us would do without a home and a safe place to live; a place where we go and lock the door, shower, eat and sleep in safety. Many of us expect these individuals to get it together by dealing with their addictions, mental health and get a job. The reality is trauma can play a large role in addictions and mental health and when you are sleeping on the street every night, panhandling for money for food and your addictions day-to-day, week after week, month after month, we lose our enthusiasm and energy to find “normalcy” in life.
In sum, we collaborate and now this is the opportunity for the community to play a role; an important role in assisting of the creation of homes for 42 homeless individuals. This is an opportunity for us as community members to make a difference in someone’s life and it will. Just ask a person living on the street what a home will do to change them and their life. Not only will it change their life, it may save their life.
Debbie Scarborough
Executive director of SOWINS