Sometimes a taste of reality is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to counting our blessings and realizing we are not always in control. Many Islanders have observed that the recent blizzard, or should we say blizzards, made them feel very insecure.
If there had been a health emergency, could they have gotten to the hospital in time? If the storms had lasted longer, did they have enough food and fuel on hand to survive?
Fortunately, most people didn’t have to find out the answers to those questions.
Unfortunately, there are Islanders who face those questions not every once in a while when a storm rolls around, but on a frequent basis. They are the homeless, those people who walk among us, and can seem like us, but in one large aspect they are not one of us: when night falls they have no warm and cozy home to go to.
When it comes to the issue of homelessness, it would offer peace of mind if a recent Guardian initiative on the issue painted an accurate picture of how much of a problem it is. Last month this newspaper took part in an Atlantic wide TC Media examination of homelessness. The goal of project Any Given Night was to offer a snapshot into the state of homelessness throughout the region.
When our reporter visited Charlottetown’s homeless shelter on a cold January night, he was the only person who showed up that day seeking shelter. This may sound a bit self-serving, but since our goal was to tell a compelling story on homelessness in Charlottetown, it would have helped to meet and talk to some homeless people.
On the other hand, when it comes to reality, it perhaps helps to tell the story of how hit and miss homelessness is. Some nights the shelter is full; other nights empty. That randomness in terms of numbers makes providing shelter difficult, but it doesn’t mean there is no need for the shelter.
The cold hard fact is no one plans to be homeless, it just happens. And it happens due to a myriad of reasons.
Charlottetown’s homeless shelter, The Salvation Army Bedford MacDonald House, is a credit to the city and the organization that runs it. The Salvation Army runs a tight ship — no one is allowed in who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and clients must provide a valid form of identification or be subject to a criminal check.
The MacDonald house has a reputation of being an available shelter if a person is under control. If you’re not in prime-time condition, your options are limited and consist of park benches, couch surfing or finding shelter in empty tractor-trailers or such places.
This past weekend, a group of Islanders well aware of the complexities of the issue of homelessness staged a walk in downtown Charlottetown. The event is called the Coldest Night of the Year and it saw 200 get bundled up on a chilly night and go for a walk. The event had two purposes — raise money for the cause and increase awareness of the problem.
On the financial front the walk was a success. It saw more than $25,000 raised to go towards Harvest House P.E.I. to aid individuals struggling with addictions, a major cause of homelessness.
The event encourages participants to strap on some walking boots, a warm jacket and scarf and get a feeling for what it would be like to live in the harsh conditions. So, in terms of awareness, it certainly accomplished its goal among participants.
Although all members of the public can’t walk a few blocks in the boots of the homeless, they must be prepared to leave room in their hearts for the plight of the less fortunate who walk among us.
Sometimes a taste of reality is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to counting our blessings and realizing we are not always in control. Many Islanders have observed that the recent blizzard, or should we say blizzards, made them feel very insecure.
If there had been a health emergency, could they have gotten to the hospital in time? If the storms had lasted longer, did they have enough food and fuel on hand to survive?
Fortunately, most people didn’t have to find out the answers to those questions.
Unfortunately, there are Islanders who face those questions not every once in a while when a storm rolls around, but on a frequent basis. They are the homeless, those people who walk among us, and can seem like us, but in one large aspect they are not one of us: when night falls they have no warm and cozy home to go to.
When it comes to the issue of homelessness, it would offer peace of mind if a recent Guardian initiative on the issue painted an accurate picture of how much of a problem it is. Last month this newspaper took part in an Atlantic wide TC Media examination of homelessness. The goal of project Any Given Night was to offer a snapshot into the state of homelessness throughout the region.
When our reporter visited Charlottetown’s homeless shelter on a cold January night, he was the only person who showed up that day seeking shelter. This may sound a bit self-serving, but since our goal was to tell a compelling story on homelessness in Charlottetown, it would have helped to meet and talk to some homeless people.
On the other hand, when it comes to reality, it perhaps helps to tell the story of how hit and miss homelessness is. Some nights the shelter is full; other nights empty. That randomness in terms of numbers makes providing shelter difficult, but it doesn’t mean there is no need for the shelter.
The cold hard fact is no one plans to be homeless, it just happens. And it happens due to a myriad of reasons.
Charlottetown’s homeless shelter, The Salvation Army Bedford MacDonald House, is a credit to the city and the organization that runs it. The Salvation Army runs a tight ship — no one is allowed in who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and clients must provide a valid form of identification or be subject to a criminal check.
The MacDonald house has a reputation of being an available shelter if a person is under control. If you’re not in prime-time condition, your options are limited and consist of park benches, couch surfing or finding shelter in empty tractor-trailers or such places.
This past weekend, a group of Islanders well aware of the complexities of the issue of homelessness staged a walk in downtown Charlottetown. The event is called the Coldest Night of the Year and it saw 200 get bundled up on a chilly night and go for a walk. The event had two purposes — raise money for the cause and increase awareness of the problem.
On the financial front the walk was a success. It saw more than $25,000 raised to go towards Harvest House P.E.I. to aid individuals struggling with addictions, a major cause of homelessness.
The event encourages participants to strap on some walking boots, a warm jacket and scarf and get a feeling for what it would be like to live in the harsh conditions. So, in terms of awareness, it certainly accomplished its goal among participants.
Although all members of the public can’t walk a few blocks in the boots of the homeless, they must be prepared to leave room in their hearts for the plight of the less fortunate who walk among us.
