2011 early by-election?

I was really saddened to hear that Larry McNabb passed away on the 24th. My wife Gayle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late March of 2003 and passed away after a 5 month fight on August 26th. Our 10th anniversary would have been the following day, I still think of her every day. My sincere and deepest condolences go out to Larry's family, he will be remembered by the many people he touched in life.

Larry was in a way part of what got me involved in the political climate of the city. When I first started attending council meetings he would come out prior to the start and bum a smoke off me and we would chat. I may not have agreed with every decission he made but I had a huge amount of respect for him and unlike others, though he did call me a liar at one meeting, he never lied to me.

So now that he is gone the news comes that we will likely have a by-election in the spring of 2011, Nanaimo must hold byelection to replace McNabb . I had to chuckle because I made a comment, see the comments to the story, that I had heard a rumour I might be running. This comment is followed by three others supporting me if I do.

The liklihood is about 99.9% that I will run and then of course have to run again in November. It is a good thing I have a lot of signs left from my last three shots, will really cut down cost I can little afford. Guess I will have to go through my other posted stuff re the last election. I believe most of what I posted then is pertinent today so my platform, updated, has changed but little.

Seems many of the issues affecting the community have a tendancy to drag on. With me what you see is what you get; HONESTY, INTEGRITY & above all NO BULLSHIT!

Anyway would appreciate any feedback that comes my way

Happy Holidays

More Cold/Wet

Below is a story published in the Nanaimo News Bulletin as well as a letter from me, also published, in response.

Nanaimo's Social Planner, John Horn, is simply trying to cloud the issue by talking about a fulltime shelter for men. We do not need such and are in no way even talking about a full time shelter. His comparrison of Nanaimo with Edmonton is also ludicrous but spin he knows will influence those not aware of what the issue really is. What is really unethical is Mr. Horns attempts at smokescreening the real issue in the community, that of people having a warm bed during the months of November thru March.

Wallce has been great during this process as he is constantly bombarding numerous people with e-mails in an effort to shame them into doing something. His efforts have worked to a degree in that Mr. Horn is moving into territory that may slap himself in the face. In a recent e-mail reply to one of Wallace's he paints a condesending picture of what he thinks Nanaimo's Mayor and Council role will be in these discussions. Will have to wait and see what they think as they were forwarded these conversations.

Anyway I have been working on this with one local councilor and speaking about it to others. I have drafted up a plan with costs and funding source and the plan is to have city staff peruse and then perhaps early in January Wallace and I will appear as a delegation to council. The means to provide Cold/Wet weather funding for a temporary shelter are there and through partnerships we can make this happen.


Advocates push for more shelter
Nanaimo News Bulletin
By Rachel Stern - Nanaimo News BulletinPublished: December 19, 2010 12:00 PM
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/112093869.html
Social advocates in Nanaimo are pushing for changes to the extreme weather shelter policy, saying it isn’t adequate to protect the community’s most vulnerable citizens.

The 24-bed extreme weather shelter is operated by the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo on Townsite Road, but the call to open the facility remains with the city.

“I love this community and want to see everyone in this community taken care of,” said advocate Wallace Malay.

Malay and Gord Fuller, a social advocate and chairman of the Nanaimo 7-10 Club, are pushing for the shelter to become a cold weather shelter open October to March from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Malay said the cold weather shelter would be short-term assistance to bridge the gap until the planned 160 units of supportive housing are built.

John Horn, social planner for the city, said turning the extreme weather shelter into a full winter shelter would be unfair to the neighbourhood. “Changing that is unethical,” said Horn. “We won’t support turning the existing extreme weather shelter into a full-time winter shelter.”

However, he said the city recognizes there is a need for more shelter space for men. The Samaritan House, operated by Island Crisis Care Society, for women and children is underutilized, but places that house men are consistently full. Horn says he would like to see advocates who want a cold-weather shelter take the initiative and find a location and with which organizations to partner.

Malay questions whether the criteria for opening the extreme weather shelter is adequate.
“There’s a push for social housing, yet they will allow people to suffer in our community. The criteria is inadequate at best,” said Malay. He’s concerned about inconsistencies in shelter openings and that information isn’t getting out in time to inform people who would use it.
“It’s not only the physical harm, but when you are out there it affects you psychologically and emotionally,” said Malay. “You’re not placing any hope in the community if this is the way you are being treated.”

Conditions for opening the extreme shelter aren’t as stringent this year, with criteria specific to Island extreme weather.

Horn said in places like Edmonton the shelter is open at –10 C, but here it can be opened above freezing if there is heavy rainfall and wind. “That can be just as bad as snow because you get soaked to the skin,” he said.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

City requires temporary shelter
Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: December 22, 2010 2:00 PM Updated: December 22, 2010 2:25 PM
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/opinion/letters/112341124.html

To the Editor,

Re: Advocates push for more shelter, Dec. 18.

Comparing Nanaimo to Edmonton stretches the bounds of imagination and confuses the issue. A far better comparison would be with places like Vancouver and Victoria, both of which have received funding for temporary shelters 24/7 during the cold/wet months of November through March.

Like Nanaimo, both of these cities have comprehensive action plans around homelessness and it is expected that once the new housing, rent subsidies and other components are in place these types of shelters would no longer be needed.

Nanaimo is well on the way in the process with committed funding to build 160 new units of supportive housing. Securing rent subsidies to get people off the street and into existing rental accommodation and purchasing existing properties, which could in fact be used for abstinence based housing, will complete the package.

Nanaimo in no way needs another permanent shelter. What I and other advocates are looking for is not even a full-time winter shelter. We would like to see the existing extreme weather shelter open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the cold/wet weather months of November through March. Rather than being opened at the whim of a few who deem the weather to be extreme, the choice then is that of those living on the street, far more empowering.

Rather than flat out stating, “we won’t support turning the existing extreme weather shelter into a full-time winter shelter,” by the way not what was asked for, are we not morally and ethically responsible to at least explore the possibility of an initiative that can prevent illness and perhaps even death?

Gordon W. Fuller
Nanaimo

Extreme or Cold/Wet

This is my latest letter published in both our local papers.

Efforts to aid homeless in Nanaimo falling short
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, December 09, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=c1542897-f067-412f-b088-2e3002b13bd1

The extreme weather shelter is an issue I have been working on for the past 4 years and it just keeps on going. It is ludicrous that we allow those with warm beds and homes to go to to determine just what is too extreme for those living on the streets.

Despite the lower numbers of people needing the space and the change in the criteria, see below, the word is not getting out to the people and those that make the decision to open the shelter are also not being consistent. There have been many days that the weather when the shelter is closed is equal to or worse than the weather when open.

The bottom line for me is to see the space/beds available from November thru March eliminating the need for others to choose the fate of those outdoors. This would in fact make the choice to come in out of the cold/wet that of the homeless themselves.

I am hopeful that, through the work I am doing, Wallace Mallay's outspokeness on the issue, and with the help of a few other integral links in the community, that this will be the year progress gets made.

Extreme Weather Definition
Extreme weather is defined as a prolonged period during which it is much colder than the average for our locale. In addition, the presence of considerable precipitation in the form of snow, sleet or rain or high winds would be incorporated into a decision to open.

"Implementation of the Extreme Weather Response plan will be called when weather conditions are deemed severe enough to present a substantial threat to the life or health of homeless persons.

Factors taken into account include:

• temperatures at or below 2 Celsius with rainfall that makes it difficult or impossible for homeless people to remain dry; and/or
• sleet/freezing rain; and /or
• snow accumulation; and/or
• sustained high winds; and/or
• temperatures at or below 0 degrees Celsius”

MORE ON THIS TO FOLLOW

Tardy again

Okay so nothing for a bit again. Been asked why I do not put more on the blog and I think I have come up with a rationalle. What I tend to put on the blog is stuff around Homelessness and Poverty with a smattering of Civic and other issues. Many bloggers will do daily updates with a lot of persoanal stuff, me not so. I mean really who in there right mind wants to know whether I piss sitting down or enjoy watching reality programs, if thats the case then call me.

Part of why I post so seldom is that I live what I am talking about. I have a full time job working with youth, coordinate the 7-10 Club Societies Breakfast Program, sit on a number of Boards and Committees (including the Working Group on Homelessness) and am involved with a few neighbourhood groups (currently chairing the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network). All this towards making Nanaimo a Community that is ONEforALL.

I also, on weekends, will take a walk Downtown to see who is out and about and how things are going. I do not discriminate and while my intent is to talk to the street folk (buskers, homeless, etc.) will even take time for the mayor and others I may run across.

So, and here is a bit of personal, when I do have free time I like to rent DVD's, the gorier the better. The pretty colours help me to turn off the brain.

So the upshot is; with this blog you get what you get.

More on Low barrier suportive housing

This incorporates and expands on some of the stuff in my last post. I have also included every story and letter from the Daily News to date.

WARNING: The following is lengthy but in my opinion necessarily so.

Homelessness and Housing the Homeless has proven to be a contentious issue throughout North America. Strategies in the past have included creating shelters and housing and concentrating the facilities and other services to provide for large numbers in one location. Just about every recent study done would say that doing so leads to urban blight and the ghettoization of these areas.

Housing first is not a new idea; it has been practiced in cities like New York and Toronto for over a decade, with great success, and has gradually become the ideal being practiced in other cities. Essentially the premise is to get the homeless, many with concurrent disorders(mental health & addiction), into housing ASAP and then through assessment attaching supports to the individual or family. Housing can take the form of New Build and existing Social Housing or be accomplished through rent subsidies for market based rental accommodation. Locations are spread throughout the city.

Nanaimo’s strategy, developed over the last few years, proposes both of the above. Despite recent news stories and letters to the editor, close to 30 in the Daily News, about the proposed location in the Hospital area of two new build projects there seems to be one area where all agree, that being concentration and the need to place facilities and services in all areas of Nanaimo. Easy to say but difficult when the reality of a service becomes imminent in a neighbourhood.

Despite what many think of the current provincial government and despite the fact that this government is responsible for the dramatic increase, some say 2 or 3 hundred percent, in homelessness they have in the last couple of years been committing funding to cities that have a comprehensive homeless action plan. Nanaimo is one such city which has received a commitment to address homelessness through Housing First. Approximately 40 million has been promised to 160 units in 7 locations throughout Nanaimo as well as separate funding for an Assertive Community Treatment team, VIHA ACT TEAM meant specifically for those with concurrent mental health and addiction issues.

One flaw in the provinces plan is with regards to creating more Detox and Treatment/Recovery Facilities.. This aspect, while happening, falls far short in relation to the housing that is being created. Without far more detox and treatment beds becoming available as people are transitioning into housing opt for change those options will remain limited.

The issue of the Dufferin/Boundary (Townsite) location is proving to be contentious partly because of the misinformation and fear being spread by the Hospital Area Neighbourhood Association (HANA) as well as letters in support of their position that also spread misinformation. Comments that the complex “will inevitably lead to an increase in crime and urban blight” as well as spreading fear that the people being housed will contribute to youth drug use and prostitution are examples of the fear being spread in order to gather support.

A recent letter to the editor Low density for 'wet' housing better option is a prime example. It tries to compare Pruit-Igoe, without stating the fact that this was 33 - 11 story buildings, with the Dufferin/Boundary building. The writer is also misinformed in his comments with regards to Toronto’s Streets to Homes & Affordable Housing Program being all low density. Of the 20 complexes recently completed or in progress, Toronto Affordable Housing Development Status, only two are comprised of below 30 units with the majority above 100 and rising to 427 units.

Another fear being put forward, that property values will drop has no basis on fact. Properties beside Clearview Detox, Surfside Recovery House and Columbian Centre Societies housing have kept pace with those in the general vicinity with the assessed values rising and falling with the economy not because of any social facility. One property next to Surfside is actually valued far higher than much larger properties 6 blocks away. It is important to know that Surfside Recovery House and Columbian Centre Societies housing are located literally a stones throw from one another.

A simple question; How well do you know your neighbours?

Physical, Child, and Sexual abuse; Pedophiles, Alcoholics, Drug Addicts and Criminal activity, are all happening within homes in Nanaimo. Perhaps even in the home of your neighbour.

Low Barrier, Wet House, the reality is that these terms describe every house, condo and apartment in the city. One can do pretty much anything in their home provided they remain under the radar. Rather than using the terms Low Barrier or Wet Housing, which are also proving contentious and misleading, I much prefer the term Supportive Social Housing.

The people you see on the street are, for the most part, not there because they want to be but because of the very behaviours that happen behind closed doors. Many do drugs to cope with what has happened to them behind those closed doors and many to cope with emotional or mental illness.

The bottom line is that the proposed Supportive Social Housing and the people that are housed there will have the same right to maintain their addiction (aka Behaviour) as anyone else in the city. The biggest difference will be that when they do choose change they will have it far easier to do so because of the supports in place.

As someone who for years has advocated a ‘housing first approach’ and the decentralization of services, even before the concepts became the adopted approach in the city, I have seen firsthand how stable housing can enable people to address barriers that might seem overwhelming without the option of easily accessible supports. The overwhelming anxiety/fear that is being generated by misinformation put out by HANA and the lack of overall communication on the part of the City has generated a response in the Hospital Area that was easily predicted.

As Douglas Hardie so aptly puts it in a recent letter, Low barrier housing can work in any community , regarding the South End Community Associations opinion on the issue, "Anxiety is remarkably contagious. It's easy to get swept up in an emotional process that tends to simplify and polarize the issues in a way that makes the development of good, long-term solutions less likely."

HANA, despite spreading fear and misinformation, does however have a legitimate concern when it comes to concentration. As stated in the MOU ( Memorandum of understanding ) signed by BC Housing and the Municipality Nov. 12, 2008, the site proposed for Boundary and Dufferin (Townsite) was put forward as “suitable for tenants with mental health and addiction issues” the proposed site on Bowen Road, not relatively far from the other, “could accommodate commercial or service uses on the ground and residential units above” and “could serve more independent tenants.” Somewhere along the way the City began stating all will be low barrier and this type of designation is what is causing the recent problems in the Hospital Area.

In my opinion the City should sell the property on Bowen to a developer for mixed use with a 5 year covenant on the residential for people with an income of less than $20,000 and basing rent on 30% of income. After the 5 years the city could covenant a percentage of the units to stay that way with the rest either being sold or rented at market value. Once the property is sold to a developer the City could then look at purchasing properties in other areas of the city.

Part of the problem in touting these facilities as low barrier is people assume that the units will only be available to those with mental health and addiction issue. The reality is that most of the extreme cases will likely end up housed at Wesely Street it being the first under the MOU to come on line. The reality is as people move towards treatment and other housing options you would likely see a variety of people being housed in the buildings which could be a good thing.

The primary goal of Housing First is to get the person off the street and then look at each individual and tailor supports to their need at that particular time and place in their life. The first step, getting the person(s) off the street or out of the revolving door of substandard accommodation, is immediately creating a better/safer lifestyle.

I was recently asked if this type of housing is actually able to get the monkey off people’s backs, or just provide more comfortable surroundings. The easy answer would be yes if looking at the Balmoral Hotel, converted to low barrier housing by CMHA in 2009, and Columbian Centre Society located on Rosstown Rd.. Both provide safe and supportive housing, the latter for over 25 years, and both have not resulted in degradation of their neighbourhoods or a drop in property values, but have proven beneficial, in the case of the Balmoral, to a reduction of crime.

Myself, I prefer to think of it not as more comfortable, though it is that, but that they are safer surroundings. Getting the proverbial monkey off someone’s back will depend on the willingness of the person to access supports. In some cases the safer more comfortable surroundings may be enough to promote change even without the need to look at things like detox or treatment. For many however these later two options as well as counselling will be necessary and by having the person in safe/comfortable housing they are far easier to bring to bear than if the person is cycling on and off the street.

Many housing first strategies, Toronto for example, rely on both putting people into existing accommodation http://www.toronto.ca/housing/about-streets-homes.htm through out the city and then lining up supports as well as providing new build housing http://www.toronto.ca/housing/about-partnership.htm .

When looking at existing accommodation; rent subsidies can be used to top income assistance rental rates which are usually far less than for most decent housing. I know of nowhere where Income assistance rates alone will provide enough for a single person to find adequate safe accommodation and this is a problem. Any housing first strategy must look at all means of getting people into housing and then doing it. Rent subsidies are the quickest way to do so and should be the initial focus, and then moving on to new builds of various types of social and supported social housing.

The vast majority of people with substance abuse issues are and will be able to maintain housing. The related behaviour issues, crime and violence are, in my belief, exhibited by the minority. Some, being the most entrenched, may have to resort to petty crime to both maintain their habit as well as safe accommodation. That being said there are many that are extremely vulnerable to the predators of society, the bottom feeders such as slumlords and pimps who profit from the misery they help and want to maintain.

One thing that has come out of the recent uproar by the HANA residents is that the scale of the project on Boundary/Dufferin has been reduced to 35 – 40 units from the initial 70 units. Another property in the North End is being proposed but at this point the location has not been released. Personally I think that 25 or 26 units would be a more ideal number and ensure greater success, a fact that was supported in a conversation I had with the Vancouver Island Health Authorities Marg Fraser at the HANA meeting.

While the Nanaimo Homeless Strategy may not be perfect; it is this writer’s opinion that the city needs to move forward with its Housing First Strategy. It has been known for years that well-placed social investments are able to save government millions of dollars over the years as people became more self-reliant and are diverted away from high-cost public services like jails and emergency rooms. Housing BC homeless could save $211M There are many easily accessible studies showing the savings provided.

Meaningful consultation must take place, and adjustments made as need be. The provincial government must also initiate the creation of detox and treatment facilities to keep pace with the creation of housing. With the monies in place council must stay the course in the strategy moving forward as it will help to greatly alleviate Homelessness and will result in a healthier overall community. If Council chooses not to do so we will be back at square one with no funding in place and none forthcoming in the foreseeable future


TIMELINE

May 2008: A Response to Homelessness in Nanaimo: A housing first approach
July 2008: Nanaimo's Response to Homelessness Action Plan
November 12, 2008: Memorandum of understanding between BC Housing and City of Nanaimo signed. Proposed properties are listed in appendix A
November 12, 2008 Press Release 160 NEW HOUSING UNITS FOR NANAIMO HOMELESS
April 2009 $14.95M HOUSING INVESTMENT TO CREATE 96 JOBS IN NANAIMO
This was for housing on 10th st.(First Nations) and Wesely St.(low barrier expected to be completed in 2011. While I do recall stories in the local media with regard to the above I have been unable to find them.
June 2010: $36.5M SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INVESTMENT CREATES 227 JOBS
This was to allocate funds to the rest of the housing outlined in the MOU. Shortly after this announcement there was a community meeting scheduled in the Hospital Area. While the townsite (dufferin/ boundary) housing did make it onto the agenda most thought the meeting was to do with crime, parking and other issues in the area.
I’m not sure when the City started publishing this, expect it was at some point this year, and while primarily with regard to the Wesely St. Location this document offers a pretty good general overview as well. Supported Housing Overview . Another with regard to dufferin/Boundary has been published but I am unable to find the link to it.

September 14, 2010: First story published in the Nanaimo Daily news resulting in almost consistent letters and stories since.
October 21st: HANA Meeting
October 25th: Council Meeting October 25 Council Meeting 7:11pm Delegations pertaining to items not on the agenda.
Some councillors had a lot of good stuff to say, the delegation and Q&A was almost an hour long, but pay attention to Merv Unger’s comments 57:45 into the council meeting. The guy is a social worker wannabee with really no idea what is going on. He does however mention that there was notification 2 years ago. Interestingly SAFER, a committee Merv Chairs, was the lead group when consultants were brought in to help develop Nanaimo’s Homeless & Harm Reduction Action Plan.
Merv was also responsible for making the motion to abandon rezoning, that would have allowed the 7-10 Club, Loaves and Fishes Food Bank and other community groups, to use the Harewood Firehall. He did this the day after telling me that we were on the right page and should keep moving forward. I would not be surprised if, to serve his own interests, he were to make a motion towards putting Nanaimo’s Homelessness Strategy on hold. Lets hope he has more sense than to do so.

Nanaimo Daily News Stories & Letters (will add as they come in)


Residents may step up fight over housing
Walter Cordery, The Daily News
Published: Monday, December 13, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=8ffd138a-21d7-4cac-9483-8ce3abc02f43
Wet house should not go in Townsite area
Jim Swanson, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, December 09, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=a94010c7-072e-49de-9e3f-dbe2fe7cab2b
Housing needed to reduce harm caused by drug use
Expert tells symposium nation's harm-reduction strategy has deteriorated under Tories
Walter Cordery, The Daily News
Published: Tuesday, December 07, 2010http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=c50594bd-ebcd-4cb0-840e-16e8b7ccbaac
Be 'fearless' about harm reduction: Expert
Founder of Toronto task force addresses needle exchanges, supported housing
Dustin Walker, Daily News
Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=45e77bbf-defb-4575-9442-b7ba045a18f0
All areas must share in social responsibility
Jim Swanson, The Daily News
Published: Monday, November 15, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=c9889fc6-3649-40e0-83c7-a0585bf27e62
Low-barrier housing: Crime rates went down around successful project where residents get safety, stability
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=bdff2da0-7375-40ad-b94a-b951b1ac34d3
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=bdff2da0-7375-40ad-b94a-b951b1ac34d3&p=2
People in need of housing not monsters
The Daily News
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/opinion/story.html?id=362d4bab-007f-4cbf-8848-d88c56c989f3
Plan to help homeless not perfect, but needed
Gord Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Monday, November 08, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/opinion/story.html?id=f6b936a5-1b15-4060-a9c7-905b74e8e09d
Low density for 'wet' housing better option
Gareth S. Gardiner, The Daily News
Published: Friday, November 05, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=c3bb58b6-a845-4726-9016-b1074d0b227d
Housing plan is good for the entire community
Bill Bard, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=9bae0c43-0c3c-4c76-9cc1-78841b280a9f
Everyone deserves safe, affordable housing
Josephine Staddon, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=b9e249f5-f3df-4e06-b34f-33756fa401dc
City should review cost of project with residents
Nicole Sendey, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, November 03, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/opinion/story.html?id=8a5d3d06-92f5-44d3-ada2-a7c8f8bd5019
Stop coddling drug users with wet houses
Shirley Lee, The Daily News
Published: Monday, November 01, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=ebef974f-dcd1-45a7-894d-72d49e62ef93
Poverty, addiction not limited by geography
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Saturday, October 30, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=6111b761-066f-451a-8b97-e9fc333e0d8b
Fresh start can be a remarkable opportunity
Bev Cole, The Daily News
Published: Friday, October 29, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=23511538-9253-44b2-9b9e-71aa1f2e330c
Group housing can be detrimental for some
Madeline Bruce, The Daily News
Published: Friday, October 29, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=2d4879cd-dc3b-40a3-aa5b-4a71a9c626df
Residents grapple with city's housing plan
Council members prepared to stay the course with its plan to build 160 units of housing for homeless people
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=7df01b35-bcc8-4ca2-b194-324bd52829e6
'Wet' housing is worrisome
Darrell Bellaart, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=9c1a9043-a491-43a7-a4f0-507b03d69f3c
Low-barrier housing is unfair to local residents
Carol Anderson, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=dbb93bdb-b788-40ce-8ce3-eebaa57c3f82
Those in hospital area have a right to be angry
Barb Wilson, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=16055f8d-363e-4622-97fd-84708738722a
Low-barrier housing can work in any community
Douglas Hardie, The Daily News
Published: Monday, October 25, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=b770c081-853e-4b92-8004-1d78f667edf1
Neighbours still fume about housing project
Meeting does little to dispel fears about plans for proposed unit
Robert Barron, The Daily News
Published: Saturday, October 23, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=ceaac0bf-46a2-4b7a-aa00-098a57a784b3
Fears about 'wet house' are real for neighbours
Denise Goldsack, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=8e1c1f25-90df-4207-b47f-4e3e540995bf
People in recovery need somewhere to get clean
Vivian Johnson, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Re: 'Fight against low-barrier housing isn't
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=a5784c67-8374-4a7a-9232-da96ff2f895f
Do we really aspire to be a classless society?
Gordon Youngman, The Daily News
Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=839f4322-4614-4dbd-9994-dc8c3d4f9447
Don't assume worst of housing residents
Wallace Malay, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=9c1caed9-6ce4-471b-948f-952244be6335
Compassion is crucial in our community
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=bd5af4e4-0868-4165-8403-c9ef761a63c4
Fight against low-barrier housing isn't over
Susan Knight, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, October 07, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=17fc88d6-0a28-486e-8d99-1045ec39adab
Conclusions about housing are absurd
Cody Harman, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=e89ba8f3-d535-429e-86b2-f85d070891d0
Idea of social housing is more popular than the reality of it
Community tensions rise over integration plan
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Saturday, October 02, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=5e61a832-fa91-4091-a035-ed544f21219a
Low-barrier housing residents not welcome
Tina Coates and Michael Coates, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=2b4b7348-9954-49ee-ab27-1b06f5e77927
NIMBY noise makers are in the minority
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/ours/story.html?id=35c4ff47-a376-46ec-9195-d0d2ffb9847d
A little tolerance could go a long way
Sue Kurucz, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/letters/story.html?id=75e47cdb-6809-442c-871e-77c2d85f89a4
Don't risk safety of hospital workers
Denise Goldsack, The Daily News
Published: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=e69abaad-f115-4940-8a0e-135bf982a0a9
Services should be available in all areas
Editorial, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/opinion/story.html?id=f07a1b6a-fcdc-4ea8-a9ee-c48d9cf5910d
'Rich' end of Nanaimo has its share of problems
Social services concentrated in south
Dustin Walker, The Daily News
Published: Monday, September 20, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=8e628071-037d-44a7-82e0-26161e0a3715
Neighbours don't want low-cost housing nearby
Hospital-area residents fear safety at risk from unsupervised drunks, drug addicts
Walter Cordery, Daily News
Published: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=16efb8d5-d352-4888-b722-e08354f5fcd5

Low Barrier ie. Supportive Social Housing

There is a fairly large bit of information below but I sincerely welcome and will answer any questions regarding what is a very complex issue. The debate rages on in Nanaimo around placing so called Low Barrier or Wet Housing into the Hospital Area. Below you will find every link, from the Daily News, to stories and letters about this particular issue at Dufferin and Boundary Crescents. I am also pasting some commentary with regards to questions asked of me (looks better here because I actually ran spell check).

Correspondence with Jim Taylor – Nanaimo Info Blog
As a voice for social change I am seeking your opinion on the effectiveness of the 'low barrier' housing program which is causing a bit of a stir in the hospital area. Any light you can shed on the matter would be helpful?

As someone who for years has advocated a ‘housing first approach’ and the decentralization of services, even before the concepts became the adopted approach in the city, I have seen firsthand how stable housing can enable people to address barriers that might seem overwhelming without the option of easily accessible supports.

The overwhelming anxiety/fear that is being generated by misinformation put out by HANA and the lack of overall communication on the part of the City has generated a response in the Hospital Area that was easily predicted. As Douglas Hardie so aptly puts it in a recent letter regarding the South End Community Associations opinion on the issue, "Anxiety is remarkably contagious. It's easy to get swept up in an emotional process that tends to simplify and polarize the issues in a way that makes the development of good, long-term solutions less likely."
HANA (Hpospital Area Neighbourhood Association) does however have a legitimate concern when it comes to concentration. As stated in the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) {see attached} signed by BC Housing and the Municipality Nov. 12, 2008, the site proposed for Boundary and Dufferin (Townsite) was put forward as “suitable for tenants with mental health and addiction issues” the proposed site on Bowen Road, not relatively far from the other, “could accommodate commercial or service uses on the ground and residential units above” and “could serve more independent tenants.”

Somewhere along the way the City is stating all will be low barrier and this could cause problems when locating these services. Then again I would contend that every house, apartment and condominium is low barrier. Provided you stay under the radar a person can do pretty much whatever they want in their own home.

In my opinion the City should sell the property on Bowen to a developer for mixed use with a 5 year covenant on the residential for people with an income of less than $20,000 and basing rent on 30% of income. After the 5 years the city could covenant a percentage of the units to stay that way with the rest either being sold or rented at market value. Once the property is sold to a developer the City could then look at purchasing properties in other areas of the city.

Part of the problem in touting these facilities as low barrier is people assume that the units will only be available to those with mental health and addiction issue. The reality is that most of the extreme cases will likely end up housed at Wesely Street it being the first to come on line other than the old Balmoral. The reality is as people move towards treatment and other housing options you would likely see a variety of people being housed in the buildings which could be a good thing.

Do you know if these programs are actually effective in assisting people with many different 'issues' in getting off the streets and into what we may think is a better lifestyle?

Yes. The primary goal of Housing First is to get the person off the street and then look at each individual and taylor supports to their need at that particular time and place in their life. The first step, getting the person(s) off the street or out of the revolving door of substandard accommodation, is immediately creating a better/safer lifestyle.

Are they actually able to get the monkey off people’s backs, or just provide more comfortable surroundings?

I prefer to think of it not as more comfortable, though it is that, but safer surroundings. Getting the proverbial monkey off someone’s back will depend on the willingness of the person to access supports. In some cases the safer more comfortable surroundings may be enough to promote change even without the need to look at things like detox or treatment. For many however these later two options as well as counselling will be necessary and by having the person in safe/comfortable housing they are far easier to bring to bear than if the person is cycling on and off the street.

I sometimes wonder if getting people off the streets, is the issue, then what is lacking with our social assistance programs if they are not allowing folks enough money to afford to live in a safe apartment which must already exist someplace, rather than building another institution and putting everyone together in one place?

Many housing first strategies, Toronto for example rely on both putting people into existing accommodation http://www.toronto.ca/housing/about-streets-homes.htm through out the city and then lining up supports as well as providing new build housing http://www.toronto.ca/housing/about-partnership.htm .

When looking at existing accommodation rent subsidies are used to top up from the income assistance rate. I know of nowhere where Income assistance rates alone will provide enough for a single person to find adequate safe accommodation and this is a problem Any housing first strategy must look at all means of getting people into housing and then doing it. Rent subsidies are the quickest way to do so and should be the initial focus then moving on to new builds of various types of social and supported social housing.

Is the issue, that these folks are not candidates for most landlords because of alcohol or drug use and the related behaviour issues which arise as a result?

The vast majority of people with substance abuse issues are able to maintain housing. The related behaviour issues, crime and violence, I am assuming you speak of are, in my belief, exhibited by the minority. As an abuser for over 20 years of pretty much any substance I could get hold of I was never evicted because of my substance use. The few times I was evicted it was for failure to pay rent. Most people using alcohol or drugs are not violent and can do so in a very social manner and without having to resort to crime. Some, being the most entrenched, may have to resort to petty crime to both maintain their habit as well as safe accommodation. That being said there are many that are extremely vulnerable to the predators of society, the bottom feeders such as slumlords and pimps who profit from the misery they help and want to maintain.

My comment online to Darrel Bellart story (link below).

A simple question; How well do you know your neighbours? Physical, Child, and Sexual abuse; Pedophiles, Alcoholics, Drug Addicts and Criminal activity, are all happening within homes in Nanaimo. Perhaps even in the home of your neighbour. Low Barrier, Wet House, the reality is that these terms describe every house, condo and apartment in the city. One can do pretty much anything in their home provided they remain under the radar. The people you see on the street are, for the most part, not there because they want to be but because of the very behaviours that happen behind closed doors. Many do drugs to cope with what has happened to them behind closed doors and many to cope with emotional or mental illness. The bottom line is that the proposed Supportive Social Housing and the people that are housed there will have the same right to maintain their addiction aka. behaviour as anyone else in the city. The biggest difference will be that when they do choose change they will have it far easier to do so because of the supports in place.

Been a while

Been a while since my last post. I was away for a few weeks vacation, in September a very much needed break in a place I am not know. Went up and visited family in Tumbler Ridge and while not a place I would choose to live in it does have its attributes in that there is much in the way of natural beauty to see. Did a fair bit of hiking while there and found that on a whole the vaction was very relaxing.

Since getting back I have jumped in full force with the following two letters being written as well as helping to organize a community Thanksgiving Dinner More than 300people attend free thanksgiving dinner . I find these types of hands on events to be extremely gratifying.

This one almost didn't happen due to some trepedition on the part of some members of the Working Group on Homelessness. Fortunately Myself and a few others were not to be swayed and so within just over a week managed to set everything up. We had huge support from many community members who volunteered in a number of capacities and without whom the event would not have been a success. As I say very gratifying.

Letters: (Both in part to the announcement of low barrier housing that will go in off Townsite Rd. near the Hospital)

This first was in response to a prticulaily nasty letter to the editor published on the 7th, link below. The other problem, than the shere maliciousness, was that it is full of misinformation.
October 8, 2010

Re; Fight against low-barrier housing isn't over

Many people will read Susan Knight’s letter to the editor and immediately offer harsh judgment on her apparently unwavering attitude expressed towards those with addiction in our community. My first reaction was such.

As I thought about it further, putting aside the misinformation and fear mongering while looking at it objectively, I can see that this is someone who actually believes very strongly in her community. What is truly unfortunate is that her passion and opinion are articulated in such a malicious way.

This is a person that seems so stuck in her beliefs that at first one could surmise there would be no hope for change. Upon further reflection what I really feel for her is compassion, the same compassion I feel for those stuck in addiction.

When it comes to the issues of homelessness, addiction, prostitution and housing, all sides need to be objective and considerate of each other’s concerns.

I am reminded of a couple old ethics of reciprocity; ‘Judge not lest ye be judged,’ and ‘treat others as you would like to be treated.’


This one I wrote because I fully expect NIMBY to be harped on and also in that I believe the city needs to respond to the areas concerns ASAP.
September 28, 2010


Re: Neighbours don't want low cost housing nearby Sept 14, Rich end of Nanaimo has its share of problems Sept 20, and, Services should be in all areas Sept 22.

Sooner or later the dreaded term NIMBY will rear its ugly head when associated with these three recent stories. I have mentioned before that I believe those that are true NIMBY’s are in the minority and much like those they often accuse of abusing the social system occupy an extremely small niche when it comes to categorizing human behaviour. So far, except for some nasty comments on the internet versions, I believe the letters and other comments show a true concern for this community.

As an advocate for social change and the overall decentralization of services to avoid concentration and ghettoization of any area it behooves the City to enter into open discussion with the neighbourhood. It is a fact that poverty and addiction are not limited to any one area of the City and as such services should be interspersed throughout the greater community.

Low barrier housing is definitely one of these services. A number of properties are proposed for supportive housing throughout the City, a wise decision that took years for the City to buy into. If this form of housing is managed well, kept to a reasonable size and has adequate staffing, it can fit in. Often the result is, those receiving help become some of the strongest proponents for the neighbourhoods they are in.

Rent Subsidies & Community Contributions

The following are a couple of things I have been trying to push to see implemented.

Rent Subsidies

For year’s Social advocates such as I have mentioned rent subsidies as an easy cost effective means to get the homeless into safe housing. While creating new housing is a component of a ‘Housing First’ Strategy these projects take time and large funding commitments before they even get off the ground.

Nanaimo has an excellent, if costly, homeless strategy that the province has committed to support. The problem with this support is that it hinges on creating new build supportive housing, 160 units, which will not see a tenant for at least 2 – 3 years. Good for the province for actually putting the funding in place but as I say this will take time. Also part of the City’s homeless and harm reduction strategy is rent subsidies but to date the focus has been new build projects.

It is well established that housing the homeless would save the province between $8,000.00 up to $18,000.00 per person per year. Subsidizing rents and getting people off the street and into market based rentals would be relatively quick and the savings to the government would be almost immediate. Once housed the people would then be assessed as to what services they need and costs from frequent use of health services, involvement at all levels of the justice system and use of other services would drop.

A $200.00 monthly subsidy, on top of the income assistance housing allotment would cost $2400.00 per year. Allowing it at all levels of income assistance would go a long way to ensure individuals & families were able to secure safer and more stable housing. The savings to the government would be seen during the first year and would grow in following years so it is almost immediate. If one hundred homeless were housed using subsidies, assuming the total $200.00 per month were needed, would be between $560,000.00 and $1,560,000.00. To me this is a no brainer.


Community Contributions

Lately, in my role as Advocate for Social Change, I have been getting on City Councils case with regards to the paltriness of the community contributions by developers when requesting up-zoning/density bonuses for potential development projects.

My sphere of interest in this is with regards to Social Housing and so when a potential development, of more than 50 units, comes before council I have been encouraging the City to get a real contribution and not just the pittance they seem to be happy with. This year I have brought up the issue of Community Contributions at the February 18th public hearing to have the OCP amended to include the Oceanview (Cable Bay) Master Plan; the June 3rd rezoning to allow 231 unit development in the Stephenson Point Area; and most recently on Aug. 5th at the rezoning to allow a 26 story High-Rise on the Port Place Mall Property (no link to the hearing info or minutes at this point).

The common thread is increased density. Increased Density is the catch phrase for many potential developments, Cable Bay and Sandstone being the largest examples, getting their rezoning pushed through council. Never mind for these two that one could just as easily use the words urban sprawl as the outcome.

Density Bonusing is a system that allows for variations to zoning in exchange for community amenities or beneficial housing. An example, using the Port Place High-rise, would be allowing the developer to increase the floor space, 6 to 26 stories, in his development in exchange for some amenity, housing bonus or the designation of a specific number of units for social housing.

My suggestion at the public hearing was that the first two floors be designated for social housing or the retail equivalent be put to the City’s Housing Legacy Reserve Fund. Currently the Cities Housing Legacy Reserve fund sits at $2,765,046.00 and is only expected to grow by $165,000.00 per year, not a significant increase by any means.

Currently Nanaimo bases the amenity contribution at $1000.00 per door, far too low in my opinion. Amenity contributions should be made more realistic with the goal of adding to Nanaimo’s Housing Legacy Reserve, monies could also go towards purchase of lands for future parks.

An example from another City would be Vancouver’s 20% policy which since 1988 “has required 20 percent of the units in new neighbourhoods be available for the de­velopment of affordable housing.” Langford, with one quarter the population of Nanaimo, has a one in ten policy, not quite as flexible but interesting none the less.

Using $300,000 as an average for a housing unit Vancouver’s model on a cash contribution basis of 20% would be $60,000 per unit. In Nanaimo the $1000.00 contribution would equate to .3333%. Nanaimo doesn’t need to use the same percent base as Vancouver but it should be, at the very least, a more realistic $10,000.00 per unit or 3.3333%. Unfortunately the City is not looking at this though I continue to ‘encourage’, on a regular basis, they do so.

With realistic contributions we should have seen, based on a 3.3% or $10,000.00 contribution, $25 million from the Cable Bay project, another $25 million from the future Sandstone project and $2.3 million from Stephenson point. While this may sound like a lot the potential profits to the developers of these projects are in the 100’s of millions.

In my opinion the City is literally lining the pockets of developers with untold millions of dollars at the expense of the community. I am not against development but it needs to take place to benefit the many not just the few.

With rising unemployment, poverty and an increasing population, the need for social housing, parks and other community amenities dictate the need for Nanaimo to do better. $10,000 per unit or 3.333% seems a little more equitable commitment and while nowhere near that of Vancouver and Langford it could see some of those potential profits trickle down towards real contributions to the community and possibly the above needs being accomplished.


Letter to the Editor (edited version published in the Bulletin August 21)

Recent rezoning of part of the Port Place Mall property to allow a 26 story High-rise is touted to benefit the downtown community simply by increasing density, nothing else.

Increased Density is the catch phrase for many potential developments, Cable Bay and Sandstone being the largest examples, getting their rezoning pushed through council. Never mind for these two that one could just as easily use the words urban sprawl as the outcome.

Another purported benefit the community sees is that of a community contribution on the part of the developer for the privilege of density bonuses and potential millions lining their pockets. Sadly Nanaimo’s amenity contribution is archaic ne pathetic to say the least. Based on $1000 per door/unit these contributions usually amount to little more than a tot lot.

Vancouver requires 20% of units or the equivalent in cash or land go towards future social housing. Langford, with one quarter the population of Nanaimo, has a one in ten policy. Based on a $300,000 average home value Nanaimo’s contribution would be only one third of one percent.

With rising unemployment, poverty and an increasing population, the need for social housing, parks and other community amenities dictate the need for Nanaimo to do better. $10,000 per unit or 3.333% seems a little more equitable commitment and while nowhere near that of Vancouver and Langford it could see some of those potential profits trickle down towards real contributions to the community and possibly the above needs being accomplished.

More on Unemployment

Hate to say I told you so but I certainly called this one.

Nanaimo's unemployment rate continues steady climb

Couple Letters - Unemployment & Poverty

A recent story in the Daily News Nanaimo welfare rates up, provincial numbers down mentions an 8% increase in income assistance application since the same period last year. This is a bit misleading in that it only talks about those applications in the expected to work category. Truth be told there are approximately 13,000 people or more on income assistance.

Another story Jobeless rate in Nanaimo drops 1% in one month for which I wrote this first letter seems to contradict the above though reality is without proper disclosure of numbers pretty much anything is up for interpretation. The 2nd letter briefly mentions the higher rate Jobless rate in Nanaimo climbs over last years numbers but also talks about BC's record of longstanding Child Poverty.

In a society such as ours it is shameful the rates of poverty and homelessness exist in the numbers they do.


July 16, 2010
Unemployment Rates

The fact that unemployment in Nanaimo dropped from 9% to 8% in June may not be cause for jubilation. Generally an increase in employment usually takes place during the summer though these are primarily low paying service based jobs with little likelihood of permanency. Still there are no real statistics to say an increase in employment in Nanaimo is the reason for the decrease and so perhaps other reasons should be explored.

One reason might be apparent when looked at in conjunction to the rise of the vacancy rate in Nanaimo to 4.4% in June. A correlation between the drop in unemployment and the rise in vacancy rates is not unfathomable and perhaps both are due simply to people leaving the community for better prospects elsewhere.

Then, of course you have those on EI whose claims may have run out and until they apply and are catalogued as Income Assistance recipients will be in limbo statistically. That is of course if they aren’t already among those who have migrated elsewhere.

One thing that is evident is the decrease to unemployment will have little or no effect on the endemic poverty that exists in the community. As a service based economy Nanaimo is affected by lower wages and part time employment, both of which affect the living standards of families

As summer wanes the jobs created for the season will end and unemployment will climb in Nanaimo as it inevitably does.


June 25, 2010

Re Child Poverty Rates

So once again BC tops the provinces for the highest child poverty rates in Canada. Since coming to power in 2001 the Provincial Government of BC has ensured this dubious honour being imparted for one of the longest continuous periods of any province.

While the Child Poverty numbers may have dropped, it is important to note the statistics this is based on are from the boom times of 2007, across BC they in no way reflect the reality of today in Nanaimo. At 9% Nanaimo has one of the highest unemployment rates in the province.

This is based on employable income assistance and employment insurance recipients. It does not take into account the many income assistance recipients categorized as persons with persistent multiple barriers, persons with disability or the many families that are exempt from searching for work if they have a child under the age of three. With all of the above we are looking at over well over 13,000 people.

Nanaimo’s overall poverty rate, when one takes into account low income cut offs, the income a person or family needs to be categorized above the poverty line, or based on a person or family spending more than 30% of their income on housing, would put poverty rates at close to 50% for the population in Nanaimo.

Don’t get me wrong, and lest I paint too bleak a picture, Nanaimo is a great place to live overall and its citizens would likely be well above average when it comes to volunteerism and giving.

HST Petition faces court challenge

Had the note below e-mailed to me. It appears Cambell & his Cronies, through a coalition of business groups, are challenging the HST Petition. This adds a whole new dynamic to the process in that if they fail there is the possibility the HST could be struck down as unconstitutional. Would love to see that happen and what a slap in the face of the Fiberal Government it would be. I hope the Fight HST group still plans to do a recall of certain MLA's, Nanaimo Parksvilles Ron Cantelon would certainly be one and one that has every chance of success.

Our Fight HST Citizen’s Initiative petition to eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax is under legal attack by a so called “coalition” of business groups.
We all know it is really the Gordon Campbell-BC Liberals using their corporate friends to try to have our petition thrown out by the court despite 705,643 BC voters signing it.
We are not going to let them!
We have hired noted BC lawyer Joseph Arvay, Q. C. to defend our citizen Initiative petition, and to challenge the legality of the HST in BC.
If Mr. Arvay is successful, the HST could be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional because the BC legislature never passed legislation to implement the HST – they only removed the Provincial Sales Tax. Every province with an HST has passed legislation to implement the tax, except BC where it was done simply with the stroke of the finance minister’s pen.
The government desperately wants to stop the people's voice from being heard. They do not want their MLAs to have to vote on the HST - because they know it could result in an open revolt that has the potential to bring down the government.
Every move the government makes raises the stakes even higher in the battle to defeat the Hated Sale Tax in BC. But we must win - for the sake of our families, the sake of our businesses, and the sake of our democracy.
We are approaching business groups, labour groups and individuals to help us fund our legal case. We are asking people to help in any way they can – your donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or whatever you can contribute will give us the funds we need to win and eliminate the HST.
But we need your help now! Please provide whatever you can, as soon as you can, so the people's petition can proceed and the HST can be defeated.
We can't let the self interests of a narrow group on behalf of an undemocratic government get their way over the wishes of over 85% of the people.
Please send cheques or money orders made payable to:
HST Legal Challenge370 East BroadwayPO Box 95023Vancouver, BCV5T 4T8
You can also donate on-line via Pay Pal using your credit card at www.fighthst.com
Thank you for your support – together we will defeat the HST!
Bill Vander Zalm
LeaderFightHST

Related News

BurnabyNow
HST Legal Challenge Part One: In opposition of the HST
HST Legal Challenge Part Two: In support of the HST

Times Colonist
Legal bid to block petition launched

Vancouver Sun
Court challenge to HST petition will reignite public anger

Alberni Valley Times
Why are associations fighting HST petition

Canwest
Anti HST team files court challenge

Cheri (Cheryl Lynn Sim)

The death (murder) of Cheri (Cheryl Lynn Sim) has affected me pretty hard since word came on june 29th of her death. I have been working with the homeless and those in poverty for about 15years and in those years I have known quite a number of people who have passed away. Usually this happens from misadventure or health problems related to street life. What makes Cheri's death particularily sad is the sheer senselessness of it.

I give kudoes to Sue De Ballinard, a neighbour in the vicinity of where Cheri was murdered, who with myself arranged, in the matter of two days, to have a Vigil/Memorial for Cheri near the location of her death. Over 100 people from all walks of life showed up and I am certain that given more time the number would have been over 200. It was a great celebration of life and a tribute to Cheri from the many people she came into contact with in her time in Nanaimo. Cheri was only on the street for approx. 2 years but in that time her soul touched many including myself. I will forever cherish the hug she gave me on the day of her death.

Kudoes also to the RCMP. The RCMP have been throroughly investigating this and I hope when a suspect is finally arrested the evidence is there to put the person away for life. Also many thanks to Danielle Bell and other reporters for not letting this story die. You have kept in in the news for over a week and in doing so help to keep Cheri's memory alive. Thank you all.

In the News:

police investigate after body found in downtown Nanaimo

Police identify woman found dead in vacant lot

Police now have suspect in woman's death

Friends say everyone liked woman killed near bus depot

Memorial for Sim near spot where she may have died

Friends hold emotional vigil for killing victim

Police seek help in probe of woman's suspicious death

Sad death raises issues

HAPPY CANADA DAY

From the Feds and Province to all citizens of British Columbia a Canada Day present.

HST kicks in tomorrow

Petition Charts new territory in BC

Nice, now it is time to start the recall of some BC Politicians. The voters of BC can reciprocate with a gift of their own.

Poverty in Nanaimo

The following is a bit long. It is a presentation I have done in schools and elsewhere which I update each year.

Presentation: Poverty & Food
Gord Fuller - 2010

The enemy is not poverty sickness and disease. The enemy is a set of institutions and interests that are advantaged by clienthood, that need dependency, masked by service. We are in a struggle against clienthood. We must reallocate the power, authority, and legitimacy that have been stolen by the great institutions of society. We must commit ourselves to the reallocation of power to the people we serve so that we no longer will need to serve. (McKnight, J. The Careless Society: Community and Its’ Counterfeits [1995]).

--------------
Poverty pimp
Is a label used to convey that an individual or group is benefiting unduly by acting as an intermediary on behalf of the poor. The term is used to suggest that "poverty pimps" profit from their attempts to alleviate the misfortune of others, and therefore do not really wish poverty to be eliminated permanently as it is not in their own interest for this to happen. Poverty pimps gain a higher quality of existence from exploiting the poverty of others.
True poverty pimps are worse than just those who live off of helping others. They are the ones who perpetuate poverty in order to keep their job. They add more bureaucracy in order to expand their programs and their power. They provide just enough of a service to keep clients coming back. They are the firms who purposely overcharge and pad the bills, wasting money supposedly given to help the poor. Poverty pimps are the workers and administrators who keep expanding the public and private social services system, thereby expanding their job and salary opportunities. They contribute more money to keep the cycle eternal. They are the ones who make the system so challenging that you practically need a college degree to navigate it, causing many poor people to opt out of the system and often into the street.

-------------

If the poor weren't so conveniently invisible, maybe we'd come to our moral senses and devise a national strategy for eliminating poverty. Imagine yourself in a state of constant dread. That's poverty.
David Olive – Toronto Star

--------------
Presentation:

If profit was eliminated as a factor, great steps in the alleviation of poverty would begin to truly occur.

Poverty is not a choice but a reality for many. The greatest poverty is not the homeless or the panhandler but that which you don’t see. It is the working poor, the unemployed, seniors, students and the many children in families that are struggling to make end meet.

The past 8 years saw an economic boom then recession and in the last year the start of recovery. Despite this Unemployment is rising, 9% in Nanaimo, as are the numbers of people receiving income assistance, 75% in the last year.

During the boom prices for real-estate increased with many rental properties being converted for sale. The downside of the burgeoning economy and rise of real-estate values is that these are also the very things that can contribute to increased poverty. These polar opposites have simply furthered the widening the gap between the financially able and financially challenged.

Low income has been recognized as the single most significant indicator of health status, putting adults and children at a higher risk of poor physical and mental health, involvement in crime, and unemployment. Most low-income families have gross incomes that are thousands of dollars below the poverty line and most are headed by a person in the labour force, they are commonly known as the working poor. Part of the problem is inadequate hours of work, 1 in 5 jobs are part time, and inadequate pay, BC has the lowest minimum wage set at $8.00 per hour.

Canada's food banks association notes that the predominant users of food banks are working people who complain of not being able to obtain more than 25 hours of work per week from any given employer. Many of the Homeless across Canada are working but simply don’t make enough to pay for accommodation and food.

British Columbia has had the highest child poverty rates in Canada 7 years running; one of every four children in BC lives in poverty. The vast majority of poor children in BC (67.6%) live in families with some earned income, but not enough to get them over the poverty line. Approximately 98,000 families are living in poverty in BC. with 90% of single -parent families headed by women. In BC the number of clients receiving income assistance and expected to work increased by 52% from September 2008 to September 2009; the number of dependent children in families receiving assistance increased by more than 20% over the same period.

In Nanaimo 31%, 20512, of the over 66,000 people to file tax returns have an income of less than $15,000, $18,900 being one established low income cut off determinant of poverty for a single person. 49% make below 25,000 per year.
The numbers of individuals and families making under $10,000, the under employed, those receiving income assistance, as well as many Old Age Pensioners, has remained stagnant over the past 10 years at approximately 15%.

Close to 13,000 people, excluding children, approximately 15% of the total population live on income assistance in Nanaimo. With over 5000 single employable people on income assistance living on approximately $7000 dollars per year, as well as those on disability and families on assistance, you begin to see just how extensive poverty is in Nanaimo. Income assistance is too low to pay rent and buy healthy food, shelter and food costs consume an unreasonable proportion of the income.

2008 Before-Tax Low-Income Cut-Offs for a city the size of Nanaimo were as follows; a family of 1 -$18,900, 2 - $23,600, 3 - $29,000, 4 - $35,200 and increasing by approximately $5,000 per person. Low income cut-offs (LICOs) are by far Statistics Canada’s most established and widely recognized approach to estimating low income. In short, a LICO is an income threshold below which a family will likely devote a larger share of its income on the necessities of food, shelter and clothing than the average family

As the price of real-estate rose many apartments have been converted to condominiums, many rooming houses converted back to single family, and many of the secondary suites in homes, used to help pay mortgages, are being rented at ever increasing rates due to larger mortgages.

Approximately 53 percent of renters, as well as many low-income homeowners in Nanaimo, are paying far more than 30 percent of their income towards rent, 30% being a determinant of poverty. Of those living on pensions or income assistance the percentage of income towards rent rises to more than 50%.

The most significant barrier to healthy eating is inadequate income. Once fixed costs such as shelter and utilities are met there may be little money left for food.

Food and shelter costs have increased significantly over the past decade, while income assistance rates have remained virtually unchanged and minimum wage has not increased. Not all residents of British Columbia have enough money to purchase healthy food. In urban centres the high cost of housing leaves little money left for food and many people with low income face challenges purchasing healthy foods.

Income-related food security is an important health issue in Canada and is a key social determinant of health. People with inadequate incomes are far less likely than those with higher incomes to enjoy diets that are consistent with healthy eating. Less is spent on food and they eat fewer servings of fruit, vegetables and milk products. They are also more likely to suffer illness than Canadians with higher incomes.

Ultimately in order to address poverty we must address the high cost of housing and ensure adequate income above poverty levels. Municipally we must adopt a proactive stance with respect to advocacy on poverty issues at the Provincial and Federal levels.

What can the BC government do to alleviate poverty and ensure that more British Columbians have enough money to purchase healthy food?
• Raising income assistance rates to account for the actual cost of healthy food and safe housing and indexing rates to the cost of living
• Raising the minimum wage to a level that supports an individual working full-time, full-year with an income above Statistics Canada low-income cut-off in a major urban centre
• Supporting a wide range of initiatives, including working with Federal & Municipal authorities, to ensure all British Columbians have access to safe and affordable housing
• Supporting initiatives that increase access to healthy food for all British Columbians, especially those living in rural and remote communities, or for whom access to food is difficult
• Building a system of high quality, affordable, accessible child care

LINKS:
http://www.dietitians.ca/resources/resourcesearch.asp?fn=view&contentid=1944

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2009002-eng.pdf

Nanaimo:
http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/dd/facsheet/CF231.pdf
When mentioning Income Assistance more often than not it only includes basic not disability etc.

http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/Departments/Economic~Development/Why~Nanaimo/CommunityProfile.pdf

This one is interesting but the stats are for 2006 and prior
http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/Departments/Economic~Development/Sectors/2010%20Profile%20of%20Demographic%20and%20Economic%20Trends%20-%20Nanaimo.pdf

BC STATS Good source for all over BC and a number of subject areas as well as community profiles.
http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/pubs/pr_compr.asp

HST still a hot topic

Getting a little behind on a lot of things, the stories below are from the 18th. I have also put a link to an interesting letter as well, have not even tried to link many stories or letters as there are just sooooo many.

So I'm thinking there is something to the confusion around the HST, though I am firmly convinced it is a horrible plan.

The right wing Liberals seem to have started their campaign to educate the population albeit under the guize of the Fraser Institute. The recently released right wing Fraser institute report says Lower income families in B.C. will actually pay less overall tax once the harmonized sales tax takes effect. Interesting! I have also been hearing , recently, that Statistics Canada estimates the average person will be paying $520 more in taxes. So just what would the truth be. I have re-attached the link to the HST calculator on the NDP website, just how acurate it is you will have to judge for yourself as the NDP while not the leftist party of days gone by certainly lean farther in that direction than most other parties in BC.

Liberal MLA stands by hated HST
Editorial: Cantelon's defence of HST convincing

Letter from the 11th.

HST anger surprises even campaigners

HST Calculator

Quick HST update

The ANTI-HST campaign now has 15% of registered voters in all 85 electoral districts. Still a couple weeks to go and then we will see what Mr Campbell and Friends do. At least one Liberal MLA has resigned and lets hope a few more come to their senses, if not recall may be the answer.

Tangled Webs

This in the Daily News today Charities willing to feed the needy together .

Its both interesting and amusing that with my two previuous posts, by the way my letter to the editor made it into both papers, we are now at where were at. Bottom line for me is to ensure that those in need get at least one, two if you include the bag lunch the 7-10 Club provides, decent free meal per day. The amusing, though sometimes challenging, thing is being both an Advocate for Social Change (aka Activist) and in this case the Chair person of the Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society www.nanaimo710club.com .

What the above story doesn't say is that the S/A will ultimately drop their lunch and that the 7-10 will enhance its program as well as operate on weekends. This of course will be with the support, funding & food, of the S/A as well as working to bring other partners from the community on board. This will not happen in the next month or so, details need to be worked out. Will keep one and all posted as they emerge.

Starvation Army Reprise 2

Sent the following letter to the editor in yesterday and have attached a couple more stories from Friday and Saturday.

It is true that if one sifts through the various things Rob Anderson has said a kernel truth emerges. My take is they want to download the service and I have no doubt that it will happen in some form or another. What the Sally wants Sally gets. What we need to do is ensure that if another organization picks it up the Salvation Army provide the ongoing funding for it. If this were not to happen then programs like the 7-10 Clubs, http://www.nanaimo710club.com/, FREE Breakfast and Bag Lunch will not only have to compete for funding with the S/A but the new service as well. Bottom line for me is that if a new service evolves it be FREE to the community.

All this being said it is not as simple as just downloading the program. There are limited zonings in which "Social Service Resource Centres' (city of Nanaimo http://www.nanaimo.ca/ definition) are able to locate and even then it would have to be of an appropriate size and have an industrial kitchen installed.

Here is a term I have used in the past and I leave it to you the reader to determine if the shoe fits the S/A; Poverty PIMP is a term used most often to convey a person or organization profiting excessively by acting as an agent for the poor and disadvantaged and benefiting from their misfortune.

To the Editor:

Recent stories about the Salvation Army discontinuing their meal programs contain far too much inconsistent and contradictory information. Fortunately as stories come out we are, if one sifts through this information, getting a more accurate picture.

Despite union staff we now know the Salvation Army does use volunteers and rather than 250 – 300 meals number actually dropped 50% since they implemented a charge for those meals. We have also been informed by Divisional Headquarters the only way the meal program would be cancelled is if there was no longer need or another organization were to take it on.

They readily admit that the meal programs are not the cause of the purported $250,000 shortfall; they are simply the easiest to cut. What we don’t know is where the shortfall stems from, only that it is.

The community by their very donations has mandated the Salvation Army to provide this service. Recognizing whatever the true costs, $500,000 or $400,000, would they be willing to provide this funding to another group to provide this service?

With the information available I pose these two hypotheses; the Salvation Army simply no longer wishes to provide a meal program, and, the $250,000 shortfall may just be in monies raised in Nanaimo and being sent to Divisional Headquarters.

After contributing to the Salvation Army for over 120 years the Citizens of Nanaimo deserve the truth but the reality is until we have full and honest disclosure we may never know.
--------------
Published: Friday, May 28, 2010
Enduring charity struggles with funding crunch 1
Funding Crunch 2
Funding Crunch 3

Published: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Salvation Army not alone in struggles : 7-10 Club chairman says they can't fill void if lunch program is cancelled