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Times Colonist, January 4th, 2009
People respond to stress or crisis in many different ways; sometimes, I cook. When my wife went into labour in the middle of the night a few months ago, I got out of bed and made braised lamb shanks, garlic pork ribs, and Thai curry to stock us up until the birth of my daughter Sophie three days later.
That may explain why I recently found myself spending a snowy afternoon in December making chicken noodle soup for those seeking shelter from the cold at AIDS Vancouver Island’s Street Outreach Services.
A few nights previous I had joined local hero and homelessness activist Rose Henry on a “reality tour” of Victoria’s cold weather shelters. Despite the tension driven by fear and desperation that at times develops between City Hall, advocates for the homeless, shelter staff and volunteers, and the local street population, on that evening all in sight seemed focused on the same goal: Keeping everyone alive through the dark, damp winter night.
As I adjusted the seasoning in the chicken soup simmering on my stove, it occurred to me that if so many local people and resources could be directed at the needs of our street population on a blustery December evening, surely our community could resolve homelessness and the perils of addiction in Greater Victoria under less desperate circumstances.
So what can be done?
I believe that our most pressing challenge is resolving the oppositional/conflict dynamic between the general population, our street community, and the individuals and organizations working to bring about positive change in our community. The misguided premise is that this is a battle pitting homeless campers against City Hall, or the parents of St. Andrews School against our city’s injection drug use population, or the Vancouver Island Health Authority against Harm Reduction Victoria.
While the legitimate health and safety concerns of our community must be our primary concern, I suggest that we have become unwitting victims of these paralyzing false dichotomies. We are not enemies locked into an endless ideological battle for our streets, but rather allies in a joint struggle for compassion, social evolution and greater understanding.
Although we may not all share the same background, we do share the same ultimate goal: To live in a safe and vibrant city in which those who want or need a home have the opportunity to access it.
The high levels of homelessness and addiction in Victoria debase and affect every level of our society.
In 2009, our community must enter into a grand relationship between local citizens, our street population, social service agencies, the press, police and policy-makers at every level of government; all with the singular goal of bettering the fate of our most disadvantaged citizens, and thus elevating each and every one of us in return.
The Coalition to End Homelessness is a good start, but it won’t succeed alone.
During this recent spell of cold weather thousands of residents chipped in with coats, blankets, money, volunteer time, and even the occasional pot of chicken soup in order to help us all meet this challenge and rise up together. This was not done by government order, nor was it simply a sense of guilt or obligation; it was a massive public act of love, caring and empathy. By working together to keep our most disadvantaged citizens safe, warm and dry, we’ve made Victoria a better place for us all.
And so while I realize that my chicken soup will only feed a few hungry people and won’t by any means wipe away the painful spirits of ignorance, intolerance and inaction, it certainly seems good for the soul of our city, and that may be the very thing that most needs saving right now.
Philippe Lucas has researched addiction, drug policy and homelessness with the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, the Center for Addictions Research of B.C. and the Committee to End Homelessness in Victoria. He was recently elected to Victoria city council.
To find out how you can help, contact the Coalition to End Homelessness at 250-370-1512, or email plucas@victoria.ca.