The minister of a Downtown Eastside church that has doubled as a homeless shelter for three years has launched a blistering critique of the provincial and city governments' efforts to address homelessness.
Rev. Ric Matthews of the First United Church near Main and Hastings posted an opinion piece on his blog over the weekend that concluded both governments have to do a better job in getting people off the street.
"Simply doing more of the same with greater determination and within the same old government silos will not produce the change we need," Mathews wrote. "We need the political will to move beyond traditional regulations and best practices. We need a sincere commitment to find new and effective strategies via collective wisdom."
Matthews said a new approach can only be achieved by getting governments, agencies and those affected by homelessness working together to develop "out-of-the-box" strategies.
"Only the political leaders at provincial and city levels have the authority and resources to finally get all the parties in one room," he said. "Only they can ensure the parties are committed and empowered to deliver what has been agreed. We have had enough talking and enough posturing. We have had enough of doing more of the same over and over again. It's not about numbers and statistics and regulations. Ultimately, it's about people-real people in very real pain. We need something different. We need it from the leaders in the city and province. And we need it now."
In his blog post, Matthews doubted comments made recently by Housing Minister Rich Coleman and Mayor Gregor Robertson who suggested about 30 per cent of so-called homeless people residing at the church have housing.
Mathews said the number is closer to 17 per cent and he based that on previous surveys conducted by staff from the provincial and city governments.
"People who are not staying in the housing provided for them have real reasons for doing that," he said. "Some housing units are too cockroach and lice infested."
Other accommodations, he said, have neighbours deep in their addictions and mental illness. Some prefer the church because of loneliness and don't want to get taken in scams at single-room occupancy hotels.
Drug dealing and violence are also commonplace in various hotels near the church, as documented by the Vancouver Police Department in various high profile investigations.
"We all agree that the state should not pay twice for housing for somebody," Matthews said. "But the real challenge lies in addressing the reason for why the housing is not 'working,' not in ensuring they don't have anywhere else to be."
Added Matthews: "Refusing people entry does not result in them being back in the inappropriate housing that has been paid for. It puts them onto the streets."
The provincial government announced last week that it will re-open a shelter on Howe Street to alleviate the overflow at First United Church, which has operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week since December 2008 and has a capacity of 240 people.
Another shelter is to open at Kingsway and 14th Avenue, which will be in addition to the 42 beds opening up at the province-owned Marble Arch hotel and a 26-bed women's shelter in the Downtown Eastside.
In addition, the provincial government funds "extreme weather" shelters at various locations, including the Tenth Avenue Alliance Church at 10th and Ontario and First Baptist Church at 969 Burrard St.
The provincial government also opened four new housing projects this year where almost 400 tenants have access to counselling and medical needs.
----
Twitter: @Howellings
