How many homeless do you have?
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- Thread starter Black 03 Z06
- Start date
750+ in Red Deer.
Less than a week ago . ....... but seriously, there are at last count done around October I believe around 250 . The vast majority, over 90% aren't from the City they are from other communities. There are enough shelter spaces to get them in out of this kind of weather fortunately. Like many places in the country it is an ongoing problem. A high percentage of these unfortunate souls have mental health and substance abuse disorders as is often the case. A surprising number won't use the available shelter spaces when the weather is still good enough to live in a tent . They say the shelters aren't safe or they are antisocial and perhaps somewhat paranoid. Really sad situation that no one seems to have a solution for.
What's the population?
We are at about 22,000 so a bit higher percentage on the street . Problem is that no matter how much money and resources you throw at the problem it's not going to go away. Very sad . The city and government set up a "camp" , fully equipped with separate rooms, shower facilities, full kitchen with cooks etc . This is one of several over the years. One problem of course is nobody wanted it near their property so they located it out past the airport and of course none of the prospective clients have transportation. It was too far from the liquor store and areas where they usually pan handle so many wanted nothing to do with it. That's just the reality of the situation.
I think Homelessness goes a long way in these weather warnings. Regardless of population 15,000 sounds a lot more dire than 750.
Plus, of course, what the area is used to.
Plus, of course, what the area is used to.
Same problem here. The NIMBY effect holds a lot of pull with elected councils here too.
Not sure who at Environment Canada decides who gets temperature warnings for cold but they IMHO are idiots. -40 degrees feels the same given wind and humidity no matter where you are. A lot of areas open warming shelters when it gets really cold but they aren't always or even sometimes open 24/7 . There are a surprising number of under housed individuals with mental health and substance issues that come fall or early winter commit a B&E or some similar non violent crime just so they can spend the next 5 or 6 months inside with three squares a day and cable . I have known a few over the years. Really really sad to see but there is nothing you can do.
Ironically this just showed up today in the local feed.....
yellowknifer.com
64 new Yellowknife housing units intended to aid homeless population - Yellowknifer
Federal government investing $24 million
yellowknifer.com
That use to be the case here as well but there's no room in our remand centers anymore. The courts know this and short of a violent murder lately, they are turned loose with a court date 6 months down the road. When you are arrested here for a B & E and it's your third time but they put you back on the street with a future court date that you never show up for, the system needs overhauling. This happened to a friend of mine. His shop alarm went off when a guy broke the window and stole his tractor. He confronted him as he drove the tractor out and got hit with a hammer trying to drag the guy out of the cab. The RCMP caught up with him a couple miles down the road after the drove through several fence lines, hit 2 of my neighbours cows that both were pregnant and had to abort the calves. Turns out he had 3 existing warrants for his arrest for B & E's and a car jacking. 2 days later he was released again with a future court date. Go figure... There's no phucking incentive for criminals to even consider changing their ways....
Sounds good and affordable housing might work up there for homeless but 90% of our homeless either don't have money to rent "affordable units" without upping their crime interests, or they refuse to go into a housing unit due to the criminal element these units typically attract....Ironically this just showed up today in the local feed.....
64 new Yellowknife housing units intended to aid homeless population - Yellowknifer
Federal government investing $24 million
Same issue here . The portion of these units set aside for the street people homeless will be paid for by taxpayers and the public housing units are subsidized. What quite often happens is the tenants party too much or create other disturbances or cause damage and have to be evicted. 95% of the time due to substance abuse issues. Vicious expensive circle unfortunately.
Toronto has "warming sites" that are only open when there is an "extreme cold warning" and even then there aren't enough.
The homeless sleep on vents or in tents under highways. There are NO bathroom facilities at all. It's terrible how they are treated here.
The homeless sleep on vents or in tents under highways. There are NO bathroom facilities at all. It's terrible how they are treated here.
Far too many " bleeding heart " so called progressives . It's unfortunate how over the last ten years or so many mandatory minimum sentences have been eliminated in favor of bail for all and allowing much more lenient sentencing guidelines in particular for certain segments of offenders because their Uncles neighbor was somehow traumatized by the " system " 50 years ago. Absurd.
I thought I did see somewhere recently that there was pending legislation, after much public outcry, to make bail a reverse onus situation. Let us hope so . It's insanity to continue to release repeat offenders who have 60 or 70 convictions on their record. Just ask any Policing agency, and statistics show that 2 % of the population are responsible for 90% of crime .
At least, for reasons unfathomable , what is considered extreme cold there is a lot warmer than northern locations.
It sounds like your area is a lot kinder to the homeless. Perhaps that is part of the reason.
A lot has to do with the lack of facilities for those awaiting trial etc.
Even during the warmer times of the year . There are outreach groups who patrol the city in vans keeping an eye out for them, providing drives to shelters, giving out warm clothing when available etc. This is a very caring compassionate society here for the most part . A fair number of nonprofits doing a variety of good works. Also some of the best seniors care and facilities in the Country.
In some areas I'm sure but here the new Correctional Center isn't at capacity.....