Tent City or Real Fix

Opinion | Waterloo Region bought a better tent when we needed a house​

We keep investing in the immediacy of need — tents, cots, temporary sites — while the longer-term infrastructure of real, supported, dignified housing sits underfunded understaffed, writes the chief executive officer of YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo.

Above is the lead paragraph from the July 5 Waterloo Region Record. A few points are offered below. To get the full story, well worth reading go to the the July 5th article that really offers a valuable perspective and insight into a serious (taxpayer issue) money consuming temporary fix.

The article points out the short term thinking that goes into trying to address the homeless issue faced by more and more unfortunate people by throwing money at it with little or no regard actually making a dent on what is the cause and what is the strategic fix needed to create positive change.

The well reasoned article identifies with the need to fully understand the causes that create the homeless situation faced by those who often find themselves alone, destitute with nowhere to turn. The response by all levels of government seems to - give them a place to sleep and food to eat. This s not a solution it is a short term fix that is snowballing out of control.

We the fortunate ones ,need to work harder at helping the unfortunate ones, find the support, ways and means to become self sufficient productive and re-engaged with society.

The link to the Record article is:

Waterloo Region bought a better tent when we needed a house