Homeless people shouldn鈥檛 be camping on the lawn next to the courthouse. They shouldn鈥檛 be setting up tent communities in city parks. But chasing them away isn鈥檛 the answer.
Banishing campers from public properties might alleviate some concerns that have arisen, but it would only be shifting the problem elsewhere, allowing us to pretend, for a moment or two, that the problem doesn鈥檛 exist.
And it is a problem. Courthouse lawns and city parks were not designed for camping. Such activity creates unsightly messes in areas that are supposed to be beautiful spaces, but esthetics are a side issue. The real ugliness lies in the fact that in our prosperous society, some people have no place to call home, no safe place to sleep at night, no permanent shelter from the elements.
The misplaced tents are a symptom of a chronic disease that Victoria has not been able to cure. There鈥檚 much treating of symptoms, little progress in treating the illness.
Campers in city parks are taking advantage of a city bylaw passed after a sa国际传媒 Court of Appeal ruled in 2009 that, in the absence of shelter beds, it is unconstitutional to prohibit people from putting up shelters in parks. However, the city is allowed to roust the campers out of bed at 7 a.m. each day, so police, park workers and others wake up the homeless every morning and send them on their way.
It鈥檚 an unsatisfactory arrangement for all concerned, yet it鈥檚 in danger of becoming entrenched as normal. The more we accept it, the less likely remedies will be found and implemented.
Housing the homeless should not be solely the responsibility of municipalities. In fact, the larger share of the burden should be carried by more senior levels of government. The city has gone knocking on provincial and federal doors for help, with skimpy results.
Now the problem is literally on the province鈥檚 doorstep, as a tent city has sprung up on the lawn of the courthouse 鈥� provincial government property, which means the city can鈥檛 insist the campers move on every morning.
As a result, people are complaining about refuse, disturbances, feces and crime. It鈥檚 unfair to stereotype homeless people, but problems will inevitably arise when people are trying to live in an area not meant to be residential, in a place without such things as proper sanitation facilities.
Who are the homeless and why are they homeless? They are real people and their reasons for homelessness are many. Few are homeless by choice 鈥� who would choose such an uncertain, uncomfortable existence?
One reason is the high cost of housing in the capital region. Addictions and mental illnesses are other reasons. Poor choices and bad luck are undoubtedly factors.
The 2009 court ruling said campers could not be kept out of parks when there is a lack of shelter spaces, but shelters, too, are a makeshift solution.
The obvious solution to homelessness is a home. Permanent or long-term housing arrangements would give people the opportunities to be treated for mental and physical illnesses, to get help overcoming addictions and to find employment or improve education. You can鈥檛 do much without a permanent address and a place to call home.
It鈥檚 not acceptable that homeless people are despoiling parks and courthouse lawns, but lifting them up, not booting them out, should be our goal.
It鈥檚 not a burden the city should be carrying alone. The provincial government is responsible for health care and social programs. The federal government has jurisdiction over housing. More heavy lifting should be done at those levels.
