Homeless in Abbotsford, BC
I DO NOT, HAVE NOT, WOULD NOT ever suggest throwing money at a problem. I am a REALIST, believing in examining a problem to understand what the situation IS. I am not an Ideologue who, wearing the blinders of ideology, looks at a situation and sees what they want to see, not what really is. There is NO perfect solution. A system dealing with people demands flexibility and denies neat, easy answers. Rigidly applying Ideology guarantees failure. How I came to homelessness: click Backstory below.
Can-opener Ride Side of Life.
Sometimes the only way to truly understand something is to gain that understanding the hard way, which all to often turns out to be the painful way. It is recognition of this fact that had Philip Mangano saying that if you want to end homelessness you need to talk to, to consult with, the homeless themselves.
This came to mind this week because I had the opportunity to learn another painful lesson in reality. Years ago I had a friend who had an old car that required frequent repairs in a range of $100 - $300. She scrambled to find cash for the repair bills, robbing peter to pay paul.
I always told that for what she was spending in repairs she could get a much better car and she always told me I just didn’t, I couldn’t understand. I owe her an apology now that I DO understand.
These days I need a car to get around and although ease of travel is a nice benefit, it is not why I NEED a car these days. Between my knees, hips and back I no longer have the walking range to walk to the bus. Recently I was forced to use the bus so I took my cane, set out for the bus stop and when I finally hobbled up to the stop I collapsed onto the bench in agony.
When my rear wheel suspension broke I was literally trapped in one location, imprisoned not by bars but by the pain walking results in. As an aside – if you know someone with trouble walking please take the time to make sure that they get free of their prison by giving them the gift of your time and transportation. I need the car to get to the pool to swim in order to do the exercise program for my back that gives me what mobility I have, with no swimming comes a life of constant pain, a very limited life.
Anyway I found myself in desperate circumstances needing my car, a car needing repair to run now and in need of several more items of work in the $100 - $300 range on an ongoing basis. Now the accountant/business side of me knows it would be smarter to get another vehicle but … I do not have the money and homelessness rather ruins your credit rating.
I had to wait until Wednesday cheque day to take the car into the shop to be able to cover the bill. Fortunately I deal with a very good garage and they were able to find used parts for the car, still $400 is a budget busting expense as will be the ongoing needed repairs. My friend was right I did not understand – I do understand now, but I would rather have passed on the opportunity to gain such understanding.
This major cash flow dilemma put me on the can-opener ride. Those who have seen the TV commercial will understand, for those who have not seen it, a brief synopses: can-opener opening can, voiceover “to pay the rent she cannot buy food, to buy food she cannot pay the electric bill, to pay the electric bill….”
The ad strikes a deep cord with me as I need to lose weight which for me is a matter of what I eat requiring me to switch to a switch to a diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and a supply of lean meat (protein). With a budget of $20 - $40 per month peanut butter is a staple and bread (as it can be found for free) is a major staple. So a healthy diet is currently financially out of reach due to the need to pay other living expenses.
So now I can get around and to the pool (the pain is lessening) but I have a car sized hole in my budget leaving me facing a chat with my landlord, the phone company …. The same type of chat a growing number of citizens face as the term affordable housing becomes an oxymoron and for many wage levels do not reflect the true cost of living.
Just when it seemed that I had managed to balance my budget and cash flow so as to not have to constant worry, the reality of poverty and an unexpected bill put me right smack dab onto the great can-opener ride of life for the poor. Another understanding I would gladly have forgone.
Sometimes the only way to truly understand something is to gain that understanding the hard way, which all to often turns out to be the painful way. It is recognition of this fact that had Philip Mangano saying that if you want to end homelessness you need to talk to, to consult with, the homeless themselves.
This came to mind this week because I had the opportunity to learn another painful lesson in reality. Years ago I had a friend who had an old car that required frequent repairs in a range of $100 - $300. She scrambled to find cash for the repair bills, robbing peter to pay paul.
I always told that for what she was spending in repairs she could get a much better car and she always told me I just didn’t, I couldn’t understand. I owe her an apology now that I DO understand.
These days I need a car to get around and although ease of travel is a nice benefit, it is not why I NEED a car these days. Between my knees, hips and back I no longer have the walking range to walk to the bus. Recently I was forced to use the bus so I took my cane, set out for the bus stop and when I finally hobbled up to the stop I collapsed onto the bench in agony.
When my rear wheel suspension broke I was literally trapped in one location, imprisoned not by bars but by the pain walking results in. As an aside – if you know someone with trouble walking please take the time to make sure that they get free of their prison by giving them the gift of your time and transportation. I need the car to get to the pool to swim in order to do the exercise program for my back that gives me what mobility I have, with no swimming comes a life of constant pain, a very limited life.
Anyway I found myself in desperate circumstances needing my car, a car needing repair to run now and in need of several more items of work in the $100 - $300 range on an ongoing basis. Now the accountant/business side of me knows it would be smarter to get another vehicle but … I do not have the money and homelessness rather ruins your credit rating.
I had to wait until Wednesday cheque day to take the car into the shop to be able to cover the bill. Fortunately I deal with a very good garage and they were able to find used parts for the car, still $400 is a budget busting expense as will be the ongoing needed repairs. My friend was right I did not understand – I do understand now, but I would rather have passed on the opportunity to gain such understanding.
This major cash flow dilemma put me on the can-opener ride. Those who have seen the TV commercial will understand, for those who have not seen it, a brief synopses: can-opener opening can, voiceover “to pay the rent she cannot buy food, to buy food she cannot pay the electric bill, to pay the electric bill….”
The ad strikes a deep cord with me as I need to lose weight which for me is a matter of what I eat requiring me to switch to a switch to a diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and a supply of lean meat (protein). With a budget of $20 - $40 per month peanut butter is a staple and bread (as it can be found for free) is a major staple. So a healthy diet is currently financially out of reach due to the need to pay other living expenses.
So now I can get around and to the pool (the pain is lessening) but I have a car sized hole in my budget leaving me facing a chat with my landlord, the phone company …. The same type of chat a growing number of citizens face as the term affordable housing becomes an oxymoron and for many wage levels do not reflect the true cost of living.
Just when it seemed that I had managed to balance my budget and cash flow so as to not have to constant worry, the reality of poverty and an unexpected bill put me right smack dab onto the great can-opener ride of life for the poor. Another understanding I would gladly have forgone.
More Do, infinitely fewer excuses
I saw on the news that Microsoft is looking for a location to house the 200 people it is planning to initially move into the lower mainland. What I did not see or hear is any mention of Abbotsford being one of the municipalities seeking to advantage of the this business development opportunity, secure 200 high paying high-tech jobs, the potential future job growth they represent and the opportunities that would arise from being the city that lands Microsoft.
No doubt Abbotsford City Hall will have a laundry list of why they did not bother to seek these jobs and the possibilities these jobs and Microsoft would open for further business development.
Why was it when a growing high tech firm is seeking to open an office here is the city trying to, literally, flush this business down the toilets. The firm is moving into an existing building that had housed a similar number of people, but this firm suddenly faces the challenge of “the toilets flush two slowly”. Is the city trying to drive the potential of this high tech firm to another city? What secrets lie behind the toilet being fine for the previous occupant of these premises, but not for these new boys in town? What does city have against high-tech development?
I am also sure they will have a long list of excuses for why they are not working to develop office towers to lure business (and their taxes) from Vancouver to Abbotsford. It is a perfect time to promote building office towers/space in Abbotsford, a time when Vancouver council is consider action to rein in condo development in the downtown area because they need to act to ensure the development of more office space, .
Of course there is the barrier, erected by City Hall, of the exorbitant raises in DCC costs. These raises have already affected a business proposal in downtown old Abbotsford. What had been planned as a hotel development, with its taxes and jobs, will now be build as a condo development to save on the DCC costs.
Speaking of hotels: Why is the Sandman Hotel still un-built? Don’t tell me it is still over that $40,000 that the developer has quite correctly stated he should be exempt from. I do concede the city is legally correct that he failed to file the correct papers on time.
But the city position on the matter concedes the developer was entitled to an exemption. So in their greed for the $40,000, Abbotsford loses not only the considerably more than $40,000 in taxes it would collect but forgoes all the employment and tourism that would flow from the Sandman Hotel. But Abbotsford City Hall does put another notch in its reputation as an unfriendly, anti-business city – the kind of place you want to drive past on your way to business friendly Chilliwack.
Chilliwack, were the city’s proposal to turn the entire city into a wireless access area is attracting universities to build campus space in Chilliwack. The proposal by Chilliwack to become such an access zone has Universities from Vancouver opening campuses in Chilliwack and UCFV looking at new development in Chilliwack. Locally UCFV considered wireless access to be important enough that they paid to turn their campus into a wireless access area. Imagine the advantage wireless access would prove in attracting Microsoft and other high tech firms.
In Abbotsford the city just shrugged off a proposal that would not only have given the entire city wireless access, but would have earned the city income from the use of city infrastructure for installing the wireless system. Any other city in the area would have been more than happy to pursue this wireless proposal, but not Abbotsford who would rather stand in the way of progress for the city and citizens.
Why do we have a large well paid business development department when the evidence shows they are either doing nothing or lack any ability for business development? Just what does the city have against business development helping develop a balanced community as opposed to a community where most must travel elsewhere for work, especially in light of rising gas prices? Why are we spending all those millions of dollars of new facilities City Hall claims are needed to attract people and development when clearly the obstacle to developing and attracting business and people to Abbotsford is in fact Abbotsford City Hall?
I saw on the news that Microsoft is looking for a location to house the 200 people it is planning to initially move into the lower mainland. What I did not see or hear is any mention of Abbotsford being one of the municipalities seeking to advantage of the this business development opportunity, secure 200 high paying high-tech jobs, the potential future job growth they represent and the opportunities that would arise from being the city that lands Microsoft.
No doubt Abbotsford City Hall will have a laundry list of why they did not bother to seek these jobs and the possibilities these jobs and Microsoft would open for further business development.
Why was it when a growing high tech firm is seeking to open an office here is the city trying to, literally, flush this business down the toilets. The firm is moving into an existing building that had housed a similar number of people, but this firm suddenly faces the challenge of “the toilets flush two slowly”. Is the city trying to drive the potential of this high tech firm to another city? What secrets lie behind the toilet being fine for the previous occupant of these premises, but not for these new boys in town? What does city have against high-tech development?
I am also sure they will have a long list of excuses for why they are not working to develop office towers to lure business (and their taxes) from Vancouver to Abbotsford. It is a perfect time to promote building office towers/space in Abbotsford, a time when Vancouver council is consider action to rein in condo development in the downtown area because they need to act to ensure the development of more office space, .
Of course there is the barrier, erected by City Hall, of the exorbitant raises in DCC costs. These raises have already affected a business proposal in downtown old Abbotsford. What had been planned as a hotel development, with its taxes and jobs, will now be build as a condo development to save on the DCC costs.
Speaking of hotels: Why is the Sandman Hotel still un-built? Don’t tell me it is still over that $40,000 that the developer has quite correctly stated he should be exempt from. I do concede the city is legally correct that he failed to file the correct papers on time.
But the city position on the matter concedes the developer was entitled to an exemption. So in their greed for the $40,000, Abbotsford loses not only the considerably more than $40,000 in taxes it would collect but forgoes all the employment and tourism that would flow from the Sandman Hotel. But Abbotsford City Hall does put another notch in its reputation as an unfriendly, anti-business city – the kind of place you want to drive past on your way to business friendly Chilliwack.
Chilliwack, were the city’s proposal to turn the entire city into a wireless access area is attracting universities to build campus space in Chilliwack. The proposal by Chilliwack to become such an access zone has Universities from Vancouver opening campuses in Chilliwack and UCFV looking at new development in Chilliwack. Locally UCFV considered wireless access to be important enough that they paid to turn their campus into a wireless access area. Imagine the advantage wireless access would prove in attracting Microsoft and other high tech firms.
In Abbotsford the city just shrugged off a proposal that would not only have given the entire city wireless access, but would have earned the city income from the use of city infrastructure for installing the wireless system. Any other city in the area would have been more than happy to pursue this wireless proposal, but not Abbotsford who would rather stand in the way of progress for the city and citizens.
Why do we have a large well paid business development department when the evidence shows they are either doing nothing or lack any ability for business development? Just what does the city have against business development helping develop a balanced community as opposed to a community where most must travel elsewhere for work, especially in light of rising gas prices? Why are we spending all those millions of dollars of new facilities City Hall claims are needed to attract people and development when clearly the obstacle to developing and attracting business and people to Abbotsford is in fact Abbotsford City Hall?
City attempting to sell another Illusion to taxpayers....
..... that they are worth what they are paid and more!!!
I see that our local Abbotsford politicians are planning to further plunder taxpayer’s pockets, in this instance to stuff their own pockets with taxpayer’s hard earned dollars.
Let us be clear on one matter. This was not an “independent body” unless the definition of independent is different within the walls of City Hall from the real world were independent means having no connection to.
The group recommending these astronomical 44% raises was the Remuneration Select Committee. Obviously the selection of members was correct since they managed to find a line of reasoning to give councillors raises. They were also a very select group in that they are not representative of the makeup of the citizenry of Abbotsford.
Half the residents of this city do not make the $34,700 ($16.68 hourly salary for a 40 hour work week) proposed new salary levels, many residents do not even earn in a year the $24,167 ($11.62 per hour) current level of councillor remuneration – and these citizens are working full time. Why we are paying full time wage levels for part time work?
Citizens earning these wage levels are the majority in this city, why were they not represented on the “Select Committee”? These are the citizens most affected by council’s large fee and tax increases, should they not have input on councils remuneration? Of course this group may have felt that if councillors need more money they should do what so many working families in the city do – get a third job.
The glaring omission from this “select committee” is an evaluation of what the remuneration level of council should be, based on council’s performance in leadership, problem solving, service provision and management. Of course the committee was looking for reasons to raise not lower councillor’s salaries or bill them for their mishandling of the City’s affairs.
Instead, in an insult to our intelligence, the “select committee” used a comparison to other lower mainland cities to justify this massive raise. Such a comparison is exactly the argument the city rejected when city employees used it in their negotiations. Ironically city management, which managed to provoke that strike, also bases its claims to higher salaries on comparison to other lower mainland cities.
Considering a strike resulted because the city rejected the validity of setting wages for Abbotsford based on comparisons to other lower mainland cities, does not accepting this comparison to other lower mainland municipalities when it is their salary being decided make City Hall’ hypocrites?
Once again it turns out only certain select citizens have input and are to be heard by the city, as they tell Abbotsford City Hall what it wants to hear. Once again the common citizen is not there to be listened to, but is only there to pay and pay and pay for City Hall’s reckless spending.
I suggest council and senior city management strike for higher wages as other city workers do. I look forward to a long, long strike … and a much better running city.
..... that they are worth what they are paid and more!!!
I see that our local Abbotsford politicians are planning to further plunder taxpayer’s pockets, in this instance to stuff their own pockets with taxpayer’s hard earned dollars.
Let us be clear on one matter. This was not an “independent body” unless the definition of independent is different within the walls of City Hall from the real world were independent means having no connection to.
The group recommending these astronomical 44% raises was the Remuneration Select Committee. Obviously the selection of members was correct since they managed to find a line of reasoning to give councillors raises. They were also a very select group in that they are not representative of the makeup of the citizenry of Abbotsford.
Half the residents of this city do not make the $34,700 ($16.68 hourly salary for a 40 hour work week) proposed new salary levels, many residents do not even earn in a year the $24,167 ($11.62 per hour) current level of councillor remuneration – and these citizens are working full time. Why we are paying full time wage levels for part time work?
Citizens earning these wage levels are the majority in this city, why were they not represented on the “Select Committee”? These are the citizens most affected by council’s large fee and tax increases, should they not have input on councils remuneration? Of course this group may have felt that if councillors need more money they should do what so many working families in the city do – get a third job.
The glaring omission from this “select committee” is an evaluation of what the remuneration level of council should be, based on council’s performance in leadership, problem solving, service provision and management. Of course the committee was looking for reasons to raise not lower councillor’s salaries or bill them for their mishandling of the City’s affairs.
Instead, in an insult to our intelligence, the “select committee” used a comparison to other lower mainland cities to justify this massive raise. Such a comparison is exactly the argument the city rejected when city employees used it in their negotiations. Ironically city management, which managed to provoke that strike, also bases its claims to higher salaries on comparison to other lower mainland cities.
Considering a strike resulted because the city rejected the validity of setting wages for Abbotsford based on comparisons to other lower mainland cities, does not accepting this comparison to other lower mainland municipalities when it is their salary being decided make City Hall’ hypocrites?
Once again it turns out only certain select citizens have input and are to be heard by the city, as they tell Abbotsford City Hall what it wants to hear. Once again the common citizen is not there to be listened to, but is only there to pay and pay and pay for City Hall’s reckless spending.
I suggest council and senior city management strike for higher wages as other city workers do. I look forward to a long, long strike … and a much better running city.
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child!
Shakespeare’s words came to mind while reading the story about the arrival of the big blue bus in Abbotsford, coming to feed the homeless, poor and hungry in the late afternoon on Sundays. Once again I was left to marvel at the many volunteers who give their time to help and feed many a “thankless child” in Abbotsford.
From Mr. Sheldon Francis’s words you would never know he had eaten many Sunday lunches courtesy of the dedicated volunteers of The Open Door Church of Seventh Day Adventists. Being a small church and having taken responsibility for serving lunch 40 Sundays a year they do not serve chilli but a nice bagged lunch. Much more important is that in the years I have known them they have never failed to serve their lunches. To those I have seen turn their nose up at a bag lunch: stop bitching - you’re obviously not hungry.
Chilli is the treat reserved for the first Sunday of the month and the church group that serves lunch that Sunday. It is a very tasty treat with plenty of food and often with home-baked treats. You have the Valley Christian Centre and the churches who supply the food for their Friday suppers; Street Hope is once again (thanks to Global Harvest providing a location) serving food on Wednesday; and Monday to Saturday the Salvation Army serves lunch.
I personally want to say a special thanks to the many dedicated people who volunteer their time to come in prepare, serve and clean up the lunches at the Centre of Hope. As I watch all to many clients bitch, moan and complain I can only wonder at the spirit that moves these volunteers to continue to come in and endure such behaviour, feeding not only those who appreciate their hard work but every “thankless child”.
I welcomed the arrival of Mr. David Poulette and his big blue bus because the need in Abbotsford is large and as the Food Bank statistics show, growing. Speaking with Mr. Poulette he made clear that he would be glad to share his blue bus with any group interested in providing an evening meal lifeline@uniserve.com.
I once asked of Love Abbotsford why not spread its Love (and food) throughout the year, for the hungry are there 365 days a year not only when it is convenient. Now I ask the churches of Abbotsford, and their members what about your Love? Is it such that you are willing to make the commitment and small sacrifices to share it with those in need?
It takes a community to address and heal community issues. It is time to build a community of those with the Love to share caring for those in need, even the “thankless child”. If the spirit moves you but you do not have direction: ask homelessinabbotsford@hotmail.com - for this new “community” has need of those generous of heart.
To have a thankless child!
Shakespeare’s words came to mind while reading the story about the arrival of the big blue bus in Abbotsford, coming to feed the homeless, poor and hungry in the late afternoon on Sundays. Once again I was left to marvel at the many volunteers who give their time to help and feed many a “thankless child” in Abbotsford.
From Mr. Sheldon Francis’s words you would never know he had eaten many Sunday lunches courtesy of the dedicated volunteers of The Open Door Church of Seventh Day Adventists. Being a small church and having taken responsibility for serving lunch 40 Sundays a year they do not serve chilli but a nice bagged lunch. Much more important is that in the years I have known them they have never failed to serve their lunches. To those I have seen turn their nose up at a bag lunch: stop bitching - you’re obviously not hungry.
Chilli is the treat reserved for the first Sunday of the month and the church group that serves lunch that Sunday. It is a very tasty treat with plenty of food and often with home-baked treats. You have the Valley Christian Centre and the churches who supply the food for their Friday suppers; Street Hope is once again (thanks to Global Harvest providing a location) serving food on Wednesday; and Monday to Saturday the Salvation Army serves lunch.
I personally want to say a special thanks to the many dedicated people who volunteer their time to come in prepare, serve and clean up the lunches at the Centre of Hope. As I watch all to many clients bitch, moan and complain I can only wonder at the spirit that moves these volunteers to continue to come in and endure such behaviour, feeding not only those who appreciate their hard work but every “thankless child”.
I welcomed the arrival of Mr. David Poulette and his big blue bus because the need in Abbotsford is large and as the Food Bank statistics show, growing. Speaking with Mr. Poulette he made clear that he would be glad to share his blue bus with any group interested in providing an evening meal lifeline@uniserve.com.
I once asked of Love Abbotsford why not spread its Love (and food) throughout the year, for the hungry are there 365 days a year not only when it is convenient. Now I ask the churches of Abbotsford, and their members what about your Love? Is it such that you are willing to make the commitment and small sacrifices to share it with those in need?
It takes a community to address and heal community issues. It is time to build a community of those with the Love to share caring for those in need, even the “thankless child”. If the spirit moves you but you do not have direction: ask homelessinabbotsford@hotmail.com - for this new “community” has need of those generous of heart.
Forrest Gump was certainly correct with “Stupid is as Stupid does”. This point was thoroughly demonstrated by a Seattle radio host whom I had the misfortune of listening to on a CNN news report I had caught about a thoughtful approach to homelessness underway in Seattle.
I do not watch a lot of TV or CNN but as I was channel surfing for a way to kill some time inside out of the baking heat I caught the words homeless and Seattle as I flipped by CNN and having a strong interest in homeless issues felt compelled to stop and see what was going on.
It turned out that Seattle had developed a 59 (?) unit building to house the city’s worst homeless alcoholics. They defined worst as those who made the most hospital visits and had the most police interactions. In other words they defined worst as those homeless alcoholics who cost the most dollars to deal with.
For $13,000 a year Seattle had reduced the hospital visits by each individual from 3 – 4 a week to one a month and interactions with the police to near zero. Being Canadian I have to leave estimating whether this represents savings in the $$$100,000’s of dollars or $1,000,000+ to Seattle citizens and those more familiar with American medical costs. In any case this approach is saving Seattle taxpayers umpteen thousands and thousands of dollars per year.
In the middle of this report was a Seattle radio host criticizing this approach and calling for an end to the program. I am not sure whether this radio host was demonstrating his desperation for ratings or a complete lack of common sense, good judgment and financial wisdom. At any rate it was a pitiful sight and left me wanting to pass along this suggestion to the desperate or dumb host:
If you truly feel that strongly about this approach and want to end the program then step up and take responsibility. The solution is for the citizens of Seattle to pay for the first $13,000 of expenses, the current amount taxpayers are paying, for each and every person who would be in this housing tax- savings plan. You, and any other Seattle taxpayers foolish enough to agree this innovative housing approach should be shut down, will be responsible for paying the hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars incurred because they are once again homeless.
That is to say put YOUR money where YOUR mouth is; or put another way: put up or shut up!
I do not watch a lot of TV or CNN but as I was channel surfing for a way to kill some time inside out of the baking heat I caught the words homeless and Seattle as I flipped by CNN and having a strong interest in homeless issues felt compelled to stop and see what was going on.
It turned out that Seattle had developed a 59 (?) unit building to house the city’s worst homeless alcoholics. They defined worst as those who made the most hospital visits and had the most police interactions. In other words they defined worst as those homeless alcoholics who cost the most dollars to deal with.
For $13,000 a year Seattle had reduced the hospital visits by each individual from 3 – 4 a week to one a month and interactions with the police to near zero. Being Canadian I have to leave estimating whether this represents savings in the $$$100,000’s of dollars or $1,000,000+ to Seattle citizens and those more familiar with American medical costs. In any case this approach is saving Seattle taxpayers umpteen thousands and thousands of dollars per year.
In the middle of this report was a Seattle radio host criticizing this approach and calling for an end to the program. I am not sure whether this radio host was demonstrating his desperation for ratings or a complete lack of common sense, good judgment and financial wisdom. At any rate it was a pitiful sight and left me wanting to pass along this suggestion to the desperate or dumb host:
If you truly feel that strongly about this approach and want to end the program then step up and take responsibility. The solution is for the citizens of Seattle to pay for the first $13,000 of expenses, the current amount taxpayers are paying, for each and every person who would be in this housing tax- savings plan. You, and any other Seattle taxpayers foolish enough to agree this innovative housing approach should be shut down, will be responsible for paying the hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars incurred because they are once again homeless.
That is to say put YOUR money where YOUR mouth is; or put another way: put up or shut up!
Commentary on Abbotsford BC's Recovery House Policy - part 1
I was speaking to someone I know about Abbotsford’s new recovery house policy. She told me that the intention was not to close the bad houses but to cause them to become recovery houses in fact, not just in name.
This statement contains some fundamentally mistaken beliefs.
What I consider the major failing in addressing the question of recovery houses is that the policy assumes that all those who are currently living in a recovery house in Abbotsford are there seeking recovery from their addiction (the economics of the recovery house industry and the effect of market forces will be addressed in part II). Reality is that many of those who are in a “bad” recovery house are only there so as to have a roof over their heads. These people have no real interest in getting clean, staying clean and getting on with recovery.
They have not yet reached a point where they are ready to move into sobriety and recovery. So, while you can force the houses to become bona-fide recovery houses, you cannot force the substance abusers into recovery.
The net effect will be the same whether you close the houses or force them to be legitimate places of recovery – more, a LOT more homeless on the streets of Abbotsford.
Understand that I fully support the need to clean up the recovery houses in Abbotsford so that those coming out of treatment and/or looking for a clean environment free of mind altering substances can be sure that in our city a Recovery house is a substance abuse free environment. We as citizens of Abbotsford owe a duty of care to those seeking help in overcoming substance abuse problems that require ensuring a safe environment for them.
Reality, what a concept, is that in ensuring this safe environment the city’s actions are going to displace 100 – 200 substance abusers out of their current housing and onto the streets. I say onto the streets because there are no viable housing alternatives for those abusing whatever substance they prefer.
Why do you think there are so many so-called recovery homes in Abbotsford? It is simple supply and demand, supplying demanded housing at affordable cost.
The Reality is that even with the best of intentions the net result of the city’s recovery house policy will put those 100 – 200 substance abusers on the street. The Question is why the city has ignored reality and proceeded as though there will not be any consequences of implementing their recovery house policy?
Common sense and leadership would seem to me to have demanded acknowledging the reality that the recovery house policy will have a significant effect on increasing the number of homeless on the streets of Abbotsford and taking action to address this reality before flooding the streets with more homeless bodies.
Clearbrook residents are currently screaming at City Hall about problems in their neighbourhood. The new city approach will likely close many of the recovery houses that residents are complaining about – and drive many of those in the recovery houses onto the streets in the Clearbrook area.
What then? Round ‘em up, move them out to fresh pastures in a new neighbourhood, much the same way a rancher would his herd of cattle? When the new neighbourhood starts to scream and complain loud enough, will the city perform another round-up of the homeless and drive them to new pastures in another neighbourhood and so on and so on ad infinitum?
It is time we stopped futilely dealing with social problems on a piecemeal basis that experience has shown not only fails to accomplish anything, but allows problems to worsen. We need to take a much more holistic approach, dealing with the entirety of a situation, issue or problem.
The new recovery house policy is not a solution. A solution does not merely trade one set of problems for a different set of problems, but address all the underlying facets of the problem. It does no good to take an action that will cause many of the current residents of recovery houses to leave the recovery houses …
… Unless you have also put in place policies to provide affordable housing for the newly “released to homelessness” in a manner and form that will encourage and facilitate their moving into treatment and recovery. Where are these policies and alternative housing?
We simply cannot afford the insanity of repeating past behaviours over and over hoping the outcome will be different this time and solutions magically appear.
I was speaking to someone I know about Abbotsford’s new recovery house policy. She told me that the intention was not to close the bad houses but to cause them to become recovery houses in fact, not just in name.
This statement contains some fundamentally mistaken beliefs.
What I consider the major failing in addressing the question of recovery houses is that the policy assumes that all those who are currently living in a recovery house in Abbotsford are there seeking recovery from their addiction (the economics of the recovery house industry and the effect of market forces will be addressed in part II). Reality is that many of those who are in a “bad” recovery house are only there so as to have a roof over their heads. These people have no real interest in getting clean, staying clean and getting on with recovery.
They have not yet reached a point where they are ready to move into sobriety and recovery. So, while you can force the houses to become bona-fide recovery houses, you cannot force the substance abusers into recovery.
The net effect will be the same whether you close the houses or force them to be legitimate places of recovery – more, a LOT more homeless on the streets of Abbotsford.
Understand that I fully support the need to clean up the recovery houses in Abbotsford so that those coming out of treatment and/or looking for a clean environment free of mind altering substances can be sure that in our city a Recovery house is a substance abuse free environment. We as citizens of Abbotsford owe a duty of care to those seeking help in overcoming substance abuse problems that require ensuring a safe environment for them.
Reality, what a concept, is that in ensuring this safe environment the city’s actions are going to displace 100 – 200 substance abusers out of their current housing and onto the streets. I say onto the streets because there are no viable housing alternatives for those abusing whatever substance they prefer.
Why do you think there are so many so-called recovery homes in Abbotsford? It is simple supply and demand, supplying demanded housing at affordable cost.
The Reality is that even with the best of intentions the net result of the city’s recovery house policy will put those 100 – 200 substance abusers on the street. The Question is why the city has ignored reality and proceeded as though there will not be any consequences of implementing their recovery house policy?
Common sense and leadership would seem to me to have demanded acknowledging the reality that the recovery house policy will have a significant effect on increasing the number of homeless on the streets of Abbotsford and taking action to address this reality before flooding the streets with more homeless bodies.
Clearbrook residents are currently screaming at City Hall about problems in their neighbourhood. The new city approach will likely close many of the recovery houses that residents are complaining about – and drive many of those in the recovery houses onto the streets in the Clearbrook area.
What then? Round ‘em up, move them out to fresh pastures in a new neighbourhood, much the same way a rancher would his herd of cattle? When the new neighbourhood starts to scream and complain loud enough, will the city perform another round-up of the homeless and drive them to new pastures in another neighbourhood and so on and so on ad infinitum?
It is time we stopped futilely dealing with social problems on a piecemeal basis that experience has shown not only fails to accomplish anything, but allows problems to worsen. We need to take a much more holistic approach, dealing with the entirety of a situation, issue or problem.
The new recovery house policy is not a solution. A solution does not merely trade one set of problems for a different set of problems, but address all the underlying facets of the problem. It does no good to take an action that will cause many of the current residents of recovery houses to leave the recovery houses …
… Unless you have also put in place policies to provide affordable housing for the newly “released to homelessness” in a manner and form that will encourage and facilitate their moving into treatment and recovery. Where are these policies and alternative housing?
We simply cannot afford the insanity of repeating past behaviours over and over hoping the outcome will be different this time and solutions magically appear.
The Abbotsford Blight is Bloating!
I see from the front page of the July 3, 2007 Abbotsford Times that the NO-FUN pestilence infecting Abbotsford BC has spread to another Fraser Valley community – Chilliwack. Like a plague, Abbotsford’s NO-FUN pestilence is lowering the level of fun in our neighbour Chilliwack.
Before you know it Chilliwack will be as devoid of fun as Abbotsford. One can only speculate what kinds of panic the City Councils in other neighbouring communities are experiencing with this proof that the Abbotsford NO-FUN pestilence is contagious and spreading.
Langley, Mission and smaller communities such as Yarrow must now worry that the misery of this NO-FUN malady will infest and curse their communities with NO-FUN - turning them into lifeless, funless Abbotsford clones.
Langley perhaps can hope that being in the GRVD will result in the fun and nightlife of Vancouver inoculating them against the plague of NO-FUN invasion from Abbotsford.
Mission has no such hope for inoculation against the plague of NO-FUN spreading outwards from Abbotsford City Hall, leaving Mission’s council and citizens to desperately search for ways to remain uncontaminated by the epidemic of NO-FUN from Abbotsford.
Mission does have the Fraser River Bridge going for it in the battle against contamination, a choke point to make a stand against contracting the NO-FUN plague from Abbotsford. Strict decontamination procedures before being allowed across the Fraser River will hopefully prove effective in preventing Abbotsford’s NO-FUN pestilence poisoning Missions entertainment, nightlife and anything else resembling fun.
If this decontamination proves ineffective we face the depressing possibility of quarantine as communities scramble to protect their fun and joy in living. Finding ourselves condemned to a bleak and joyless gloomy future of NO-FUN confined to the Abbotsford Blight, a deadly dead zone of NO-FUN.
Abbotsford City Hall will discover it has spent $100,000,000.00+ on Plan A to no avail in attempting to bring back life and fun into the city. It matters not how much they spend while the city is infected with the NO-FUN virus. The only cure is to fumigate Abbotsford City Hall, cleansing it of the parasites infecting our City with the NO-FUN pathogen.
I see from the front page of the July 3, 2007 Abbotsford Times that the NO-FUN pestilence infecting Abbotsford BC has spread to another Fraser Valley community – Chilliwack. Like a plague, Abbotsford’s NO-FUN pestilence is lowering the level of fun in our neighbour Chilliwack.
Before you know it Chilliwack will be as devoid of fun as Abbotsford. One can only speculate what kinds of panic the City Councils in other neighbouring communities are experiencing with this proof that the Abbotsford NO-FUN pestilence is contagious and spreading.
Langley, Mission and smaller communities such as Yarrow must now worry that the misery of this NO-FUN malady will infest and curse their communities with NO-FUN - turning them into lifeless, funless Abbotsford clones.
Langley perhaps can hope that being in the GRVD will result in the fun and nightlife of Vancouver inoculating them against the plague of NO-FUN invasion from Abbotsford.
Mission has no such hope for inoculation against the plague of NO-FUN spreading outwards from Abbotsford City Hall, leaving Mission’s council and citizens to desperately search for ways to remain uncontaminated by the epidemic of NO-FUN from Abbotsford.
Mission does have the Fraser River Bridge going for it in the battle against contamination, a choke point to make a stand against contracting the NO-FUN plague from Abbotsford. Strict decontamination procedures before being allowed across the Fraser River will hopefully prove effective in preventing Abbotsford’s NO-FUN pestilence poisoning Missions entertainment, nightlife and anything else resembling fun.
If this decontamination proves ineffective we face the depressing possibility of quarantine as communities scramble to protect their fun and joy in living. Finding ourselves condemned to a bleak and joyless gloomy future of NO-FUN confined to the Abbotsford Blight, a deadly dead zone of NO-FUN.
Abbotsford City Hall will discover it has spent $100,000,000.00+ on Plan A to no avail in attempting to bring back life and fun into the city. It matters not how much they spend while the city is infected with the NO-FUN virus. The only cure is to fumigate Abbotsford City Hall, cleansing it of the parasites infecting our City with the NO-FUN pathogen.
Canada Day Musings
I like to celebrate Canada Day by volunteering at Abbotsford’s Canada Day celebration. It is the spirit of volunteerism, sharing and caring that sets Canada so strongly, so clearly apart from our neighbour to the south. This volunteer spirit, in its mix of manifestations, I see as a key to addressing the major social issues and problems facing us as a community, province, country – as a people, a race.
And if you are going to open your mouth and comment on the behaviour of your community one had better be willing to practice what you preach. Fortunately for me, in this instance volunteering is easy, rewarding enough to bring me back year after year.
I like to get my volunteer registration in ASAP so I will get to work? play? in the zone of my choosing. There is something therapeutic in watching kids enjoying the day, playing games, listening to stories and doing crafts.
Some kids think carefully and only then take action while others are a frenzy of crafting activity. Watching them, helping them recharges one’s positive attitude battery even as the day in the sun outside leaves you physically tired.
Finished and packed up at the Canada Day celebration I had just enough time to grab a bite to eat, a shower and open the shelter for the night. Quite a thought provoking contrast between these two very different groups of people I spent my Canada Day with.
The kids full of energy and bright promise, the decisions that will affect the course of their lives ahead of them. For the clients of the shelter some of those life altering decisions have been made – poorly made, with to some extent, appalling outcomes and consequences. But like the kids out celebrating Canada Day every client’s future still holds more life affecting decisions ahead of them, holding out the promise of making wiser choices.
One of the harsh truths of our world is that some of those happy children out exploring and enjoying Canada Day are going to make bad choices and end up struggling with addiction, mental illness, misfortune, homelessness or some combination thereof. There can be no doubt that on past Canada Days some of our clients too had spent the day exploring and enjoying the day as happy children, their life altering bad decisions and poor choices in the future.
Looking across the sea of young people on Canada Day it is impossible to know which young people will make good decisions and wise choices and which ones will make bad decisions and unwise choices. All you can know is that some will end up clients in need of help.
The point of this train of thought, this musing, is that at some point in their lives shelter clients were young children full of life and promise. They were, and are, somebody’s children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, sisters and friends.
There is no way to tell which children, whose children will suffer the fate and fallout of bad decisions and poor choices. All you can do is make sure that the housing, programs and support for those in need of the help to start making better decisions and wiser choices, to begin the road to recovery, are in place.
Ensuring that when those unfortunate, unlucky kids from Canada Day July 1, 2007 make their bad decisions and choices their road to recovery will not run into the barrier of indifference. And all the barriers and obstacles that indifference throws into the path to recovery; those barriers and obstacles that deny prior generations of children who made bad choices - recovery.
Ending homelessness, supporting those in recovery from mental illness and addictions are a matter of choice. We can choose and commit ourselves to accomplishing these goals. We merely need the will to DO IT, the willingness to change from sticking Band-Aids on these wounded fellow citizens to actually dealing with the issues and needs.
We need only commit ourselves to these goals and demand that our elected representatives do what we elect them to, but they loath risking, providing leadership on addressing difficult issues and problems. We have to exercise the patience of “one day at a time” and “progress not perfection” ever remembering we are dealing with people problems, guaranteeing a certain messiness.
If we as Canadians so choose, Canada Day 2008 can hold the promise of a brighter, healthier future for our children and all Canadians and our country – Canada, whose day we celebrate.
I like to celebrate Canada Day by volunteering at Abbotsford’s Canada Day celebration. It is the spirit of volunteerism, sharing and caring that sets Canada so strongly, so clearly apart from our neighbour to the south. This volunteer spirit, in its mix of manifestations, I see as a key to addressing the major social issues and problems facing us as a community, province, country – as a people, a race.
And if you are going to open your mouth and comment on the behaviour of your community one had better be willing to practice what you preach. Fortunately for me, in this instance volunteering is easy, rewarding enough to bring me back year after year.
I like to get my volunteer registration in ASAP so I will get to work? play? in the zone of my choosing. There is something therapeutic in watching kids enjoying the day, playing games, listening to stories and doing crafts.
Some kids think carefully and only then take action while others are a frenzy of crafting activity. Watching them, helping them recharges one’s positive attitude battery even as the day in the sun outside leaves you physically tired.
Finished and packed up at the Canada Day celebration I had just enough time to grab a bite to eat, a shower and open the shelter for the night. Quite a thought provoking contrast between these two very different groups of people I spent my Canada Day with.
The kids full of energy and bright promise, the decisions that will affect the course of their lives ahead of them. For the clients of the shelter some of those life altering decisions have been made – poorly made, with to some extent, appalling outcomes and consequences. But like the kids out celebrating Canada Day every client’s future still holds more life affecting decisions ahead of them, holding out the promise of making wiser choices.
One of the harsh truths of our world is that some of those happy children out exploring and enjoying Canada Day are going to make bad choices and end up struggling with addiction, mental illness, misfortune, homelessness or some combination thereof. There can be no doubt that on past Canada Days some of our clients too had spent the day exploring and enjoying the day as happy children, their life altering bad decisions and poor choices in the future.
Looking across the sea of young people on Canada Day it is impossible to know which young people will make good decisions and wise choices and which ones will make bad decisions and unwise choices. All you can know is that some will end up clients in need of help.
The point of this train of thought, this musing, is that at some point in their lives shelter clients were young children full of life and promise. They were, and are, somebody’s children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, sisters and friends.
There is no way to tell which children, whose children will suffer the fate and fallout of bad decisions and poor choices. All you can do is make sure that the housing, programs and support for those in need of the help to start making better decisions and wiser choices, to begin the road to recovery, are in place.
Ensuring that when those unfortunate, unlucky kids from Canada Day July 1, 2007 make their bad decisions and choices their road to recovery will not run into the barrier of indifference. And all the barriers and obstacles that indifference throws into the path to recovery; those barriers and obstacles that deny prior generations of children who made bad choices - recovery.
Ending homelessness, supporting those in recovery from mental illness and addictions are a matter of choice. We can choose and commit ourselves to accomplishing these goals. We merely need the will to DO IT, the willingness to change from sticking Band-Aids on these wounded fellow citizens to actually dealing with the issues and needs.
We need only commit ourselves to these goals and demand that our elected representatives do what we elect them to, but they loath risking, providing leadership on addressing difficult issues and problems. We have to exercise the patience of “one day at a time” and “progress not perfection” ever remembering we are dealing with people problems, guaranteeing a certain messiness.
If we as Canadians so choose, Canada Day 2008 can hold the promise of a brighter, healthier future for our children and all Canadians and our country – Canada, whose day we celebrate.
♪♪♪ I’ve found a strange place to dwell…
…down the end of Loony Street at the Lunatic Hotel ♪♪ …
The inside of my head can be a pretty strange place to dwell these days. Not to deny that my head space has always occupied a slightly different space-time continuum. Currently compounding my somewhat different view of reality these days is a weird and wonderful, remarkable strangeness.
I had a week or two of mental stress and upset leavened with frustration. Using tools from my mental wellness toolbox I worked my way through this period and into a more positive state of mind. The biggest annoyance was that for the final few days of this grey period for my grey matter, I had the Sleepies. Anytime I stopped moving and tried to read or write I could not stay awake – even after 12 – 16 hours of sleep.
It transpired that this following week I was at a tele-seminar for WRAP (wellness recovery action plan). The seminar reached the part of the Plan on early warning signs and when things start to go bad (downhill). As the seminar was covering these areas I was mentally reviewing those portions of my personal WRAP.
As I was doing this mental review it dawned on me that considering my WRAP’s early warning signs and when things start to go bad – I was depressed the previous week or two. At the end of that very busy day I had to sit down meditate, reflect and examine this enlightenment.
Yes, I was depressed and used the tools I have gained to work through this minor bout of depression – without consciously noticing I was depressed. Knowledge and having taken personal responsibility for my mental health had allowed me to deal with this period of depression without getting despondent, but merely annoyed at the inconvenience it was causing.
How strange is my mental landscape these days that I could pass through a period of depression that would have, just a few years ago, had me panicked and incapacitated with my major reaction having been annoyance over the interference with my writing and plans. Having invested time and effort in my mental health recovery and continuing to invest time and effort in my recovery has given a certain mental serenity – and a certain mental strangeness.
These days I am comfortable having a headspace a little weird and offbeat and gladly embrace that little bit of madness we should all strive to never lose A weird and wonderful playground for my thoughts.
…down the end of Loony Street at the Lunatic Hotel ♪♪ …
The inside of my head can be a pretty strange place to dwell these days. Not to deny that my head space has always occupied a slightly different space-time continuum. Currently compounding my somewhat different view of reality these days is a weird and wonderful, remarkable strangeness.
I had a week or two of mental stress and upset leavened with frustration. Using tools from my mental wellness toolbox I worked my way through this period and into a more positive state of mind. The biggest annoyance was that for the final few days of this grey period for my grey matter, I had the Sleepies. Anytime I stopped moving and tried to read or write I could not stay awake – even after 12 – 16 hours of sleep.
It transpired that this following week I was at a tele-seminar for WRAP (wellness recovery action plan). The seminar reached the part of the Plan on early warning signs and when things start to go bad (downhill). As the seminar was covering these areas I was mentally reviewing those portions of my personal WRAP.
As I was doing this mental review it dawned on me that considering my WRAP’s early warning signs and when things start to go bad – I was depressed the previous week or two. At the end of that very busy day I had to sit down meditate, reflect and examine this enlightenment.
Yes, I was depressed and used the tools I have gained to work through this minor bout of depression – without consciously noticing I was depressed. Knowledge and having taken personal responsibility for my mental health had allowed me to deal with this period of depression without getting despondent, but merely annoyed at the inconvenience it was causing.
How strange is my mental landscape these days that I could pass through a period of depression that would have, just a few years ago, had me panicked and incapacitated with my major reaction having been annoyance over the interference with my writing and plans. Having invested time and effort in my mental health recovery and continuing to invest time and effort in my recovery has given a certain mental serenity – and a certain mental strangeness.
These days I am comfortable having a headspace a little weird and offbeat and gladly embrace that little bit of madness we should all strive to never lose A weird and wonderful playground for my thoughts.
Customer service? Get real; we are talking about Abbotsford BC’s City Hall.
Patrons of ARC (the Abbotsford Recreation Centre) have had to sacrifice and adjust their exercise schedules to accommodate the Abbotsford Whalers; displaced from Centennial Pool its its failure to open at the beginning of May due to the lack common sense at City Hall. Beginning in June patrons have also had to run the gauntlet thrown up by the start of construction for ARC’s new, superfluous basketball courts.
On July first, in a show of total distain and disregard for patrons, the mere hour granted to patrons was reduced by half. With the need to leave the pool before 10PM if you want to shower and the delay in getting the Whalers from the pool and the patrons into the pool you have enough time to warm up and cool down – leaving no time to actually exercise.
To add insult to the injury they have dealt to patrons exercise programs: on July 1, 2007 the cost to use ARC went up – two months ahead of the normal September 1st date. On the day they all but eliminate the opportunity for those who must exercise in the evenings to swim they increased the fees.
My first thought was: “Only in the oxygen starved atmosphere of Abbotsford City Hall, with its total disconnection from what goes on in the real world, would reducing services and raising fees on the same day be considered an acceptable way to conduct the City’s business”.
I should not have been surprised as this year citizens have been handed enormous tax hikes while department budgets and services are cut back. Now they hike fees and cut access for ARC. Are they adopting a new city motto: “Abbotsford BC, where we tax you for deluxe services but deliver mediocre services”?
My second thought was to wonder how many other fees and charges will go up as services decrease, will go up earlier than usual and just how many inventive new fees and charges citizens will be taxed with. After all, they just announced the need for an extra million $$$ for Plan A’s steadily increasing cost.
Patrons of ARC (the Abbotsford Recreation Centre) have had to sacrifice and adjust their exercise schedules to accommodate the Abbotsford Whalers; displaced from Centennial Pool its its failure to open at the beginning of May due to the lack common sense at City Hall. Beginning in June patrons have also had to run the gauntlet thrown up by the start of construction for ARC’s new, superfluous basketball courts.
On July first, in a show of total distain and disregard for patrons, the mere hour granted to patrons was reduced by half. With the need to leave the pool before 10PM if you want to shower and the delay in getting the Whalers from the pool and the patrons into the pool you have enough time to warm up and cool down – leaving no time to actually exercise.
To add insult to the injury they have dealt to patrons exercise programs: on July 1, 2007 the cost to use ARC went up – two months ahead of the normal September 1st date. On the day they all but eliminate the opportunity for those who must exercise in the evenings to swim they increased the fees.
My first thought was: “Only in the oxygen starved atmosphere of Abbotsford City Hall, with its total disconnection from what goes on in the real world, would reducing services and raising fees on the same day be considered an acceptable way to conduct the City’s business”.
I should not have been surprised as this year citizens have been handed enormous tax hikes while department budgets and services are cut back. Now they hike fees and cut access for ARC. Are they adopting a new city motto: “Abbotsford BC, where we tax you for deluxe services but deliver mediocre services”?
My second thought was to wonder how many other fees and charges will go up as services decrease, will go up earlier than usual and just how many inventive new fees and charges citizens will be taxed with. After all, they just announced the need for an extra million $$$ for Plan A’s steadily increasing cost.
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