We Are Not Immune to Global Issues: Facing the reality of poverty in our own backyard

Homelessness. Of all the social issues, homelessness seems to have the most stigmas and unwarranted myths attached to it. This is the one issue I feel we have all been guilty of settling assumptions on, whether from attitudes fed to us by society or by our own self-supposed reasoning. We’ve all heard (or perhaps thought) the following at some point; “Why don’t they just get a job?”, “Don’t give them money they’ll just spend it on booze or drugs”, and the most common I’ve heard, “It was their choice, no one has to be homeless”.

Most articles I write post-challenge but this is one I am looking for mass support on. This Friday, November 20 Volunteers on campus (VOC) club and FEDS will be hosting ‘Out in the Cold’ for the fourth time since 2007. Starting at 7pm and running until 7am Saturday morning students, faculty, and public members are encouraged to come out to support, engage and discuss issues of homelessness in the KW Region. The goal of the night is to bring about awareness to the inequalities that exist in our community in order that action can be taken to create opportunities of equal health, education, shelter, food and employment for those who lack supportive social structures.

Now, bear with me as I try not to let emotions dominate the remainder of this article. *Deep breath* They..them? As if they are another form of subspecies not capable of the same basic human respect and dignity the rest of us are! We well up when we see the bloated bellies of Ethiopian children on tv or when someone we watch weekly episodes of is struck with a terminal illness but when it comes to suffering here at home it becomes something to complain about.

Can you imagine spending nights alone and days ignored while fighting the pain of hunger and weather that you don’t have adequate shelter for? Me neither, but the thought alone makes me shiver and feel guilty for the variety of both I have a hard time choosing from each day. These are just the foundation of issues those without a place to call home deal with. Judgmental glares and overhearing whispers of “Ugh, I hate when they ask me for money” and “They freak me out when they try to talk to me” are just two of the phrases that make me want to disown the whole human race.

I am guilty of once assuming homelessness was a choice so I understand where these notions come from. I hope these following Myths reveal to you truths that provoke the humanitarian side of all of you so that you never step over another human being in the street and think of them as an inconvenience or a fault of their own.

Myth: People who are homeless are lazy and don’t want to get a job
False: We know ourselves how difficult it is to find a job, now maximize that by lack of education, adequate clothing, and an inability to be contacted by an employer because you don’t have an address or a phone. Employers are no less discriminatory of homeless people than the general public, even if they should be. Even more, what if I told you that 14% of people who use shelters actually are employed? Truth.

Myth: All people who are homeless are addicted to drugs or alcohol
False: Some people who are homeless do have addiction problems but studies show less than half have dependency on drugs or alcohol. In a survey taken in our local KW shelters results show that 37% of people say they never use alcohol and 66% say they never use drugs. Comparatively, you’ve probably met more people this year on campus that have problems with drugs or alcohol. The reason the majority of homeless people sleep during the day is because it is dangerous to sleep during the night, not as a result of alcohol or drugs.

Myth: Homelessness is a choice
A little bit of both: Homelessness may be a choice for some but that doesn’t mean it is easier than the life they had before. Published in “Understanding Homelessness in Waterloo Region” it was found that the most common reasons for homelessness were the breaking down of close relationships, inadequate income, insufficient housing and insufficient choices. Makes you feel a lot closer to the curb doesn’t it?

Now I want your help.

As I mentioned “Out in the Cold” is happening this Friday starting at 7pm in the SLC Courtyard (by Wasabi and Curry Up). Although this is a donation-raising event everyone is welcome to come out to experience a night you won’t forget, there is no time commitment but if you are up for the challenge why not try staying for the event. The night will be full of great discussions, food and games so get together your sleeping bag, warm clothes, musical instruments and don’t forget an open mind. At the very least, please display the “Out in the Cold” event as your profile picture on Facebook (poster can be found at www.outinthecold.com) but I would highly encourage you to make a point of coming out to the event to help support and learn more about the seriousness of homelessness in KW.

If you are heading home to Toronto for the weekend or know people that would be interested, the same event will be held for the first time this year at King’s College Circle,UofT. For more information on the event itself you can check out www.outinthecold.com.