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Homelessness in Vancouver

Homelessness in Vancouver. Brian Bossmann Geography US & Canada. Vancouver. Vancouver is a hotspot for economic migrants The mild temperatures make it livable outside almost year round Vancouver is renowned for its flourishing drug trade and high rates of HIV infections

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Homelessness in Vancouver

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  1. Homelessness in Vancouver Brian Bossmann Geography US & Canada

  2. Vancouver • Vancouver is a hotspot for economic migrants • The mild temperatures make it livable outside almost year round • Vancouver is renowned for its flourishing drug trade and high rates of HIV infections • Homelessness is becoming one of Vancouver's biggest problems

  3. Police Intervention • On February 21 police chief Jaime Grahm addressed the community about their problem with the homeless • Vancouver police are being accused of picking up the homeless in the city and bringing them remote places outside of Vancouver • Police are also putting together stings to catch people who go around and beat up and steal from the shelter less • March 15th marked the second only count of the homeless across the region totaling around 1200 people • Vancouver recently bought 300 shopping carts to distribute to the homeless • Drug dealers in the area are dressing up like the homeless and using the carts to hide and distribute drugs

  4. The Homeless • Absolute- living with no shelter • Relative- those living in spaces that don’ t meet basic health and safety standards, individuals who rely on emergency shelters and hostels for accomidation • 80 % of the homeless suffer from depression • 75 % receive no money or income • Without a permanent address finding work is almost impossible • Around 70 % of the people are men • Single women account for about ¼ of the population • Squeeging and prostitution are the means of them getting money • Tuberculosis and HIV are very common among the homeless because of sharing needles and having multiple sex partners • Population has doubled in the last 2 years • 2/3 of the homeless are between the ages of 20-34 (this age group is the most vulnerable to drugs and disease)

  5. B.C. Government • In the late 80’s there was generous social assistance and welfare payments, this caused higher than normal market prices for economy rental accommodation • By the early 90’s the government was making large cuts in Income Assistance • Right know a family of 4 receives $590 a month and rent for the average 2 bedroom is $772 • 25 % of renters pay more than half their income on rent • Since 1994 the BC Government responded through a program called HOMES BC, which supplied more than 4,100 units of housing for individuals who are homeless or who are at risk of being homeless • In 2001 all ten provinces signed the Affordable Housing Framework Agreement in Quebec • Federal Government agreed to provide $680 million over 5years, the provinces agreed to match • Quebec is the only province to match federal funds • The BC Government are starting to build second-stage and permanent homes for the homeless but the rate is not high enough to have any real effect

  6. Safe Street Act • Was enforced to protect the citizens and tourist in the British Columbia area • 1st offense results in a small fine, 2nd offense results in a $500 fine and up to 6 months in jail • Makes it illegal to ask for money from someone or threaten them for money while their at a telephone, bank machine, waiting for a bus, or getting into a car, also known as panhandling • Also makes squeeging illegal • Police are becoming very strict about this law in preparation for the winter Olympics in 2010 • There has been questions raised by the Anti-Poverty Committee saying that they are too harsh in the homeless limiting them to improve • The Anti-Poverty Committee continually protests for equal opportunities

  7. Questions • Do you think that the BC government is wrong for imposing laws preventing the homeless from scraping by, by not allowing them to be able to panhandle and sqeeging cars • What would you suggest as a solution to helping the homeless population from growing • Homelessness is a major problem throughout Canada, do you think we have just as big a problem in the U.S. • If you were approached by a homeless person how would you react

  8. Sources • “Between the Cracks: Homeless Youth in Vancouver”, The McCreary Centre Society. 2002 • Research Project on Homelessness in Greater Vancouver, prepared by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/homelessness/pdfs/research_project.pdf#search='homeless%20people%20in%20vancouver‘ • “Homelessness: A National Emergency- The Face of Homelessness in BC”, Creative Assistance, www.shelternetbc.ca • Bula, Frances, “Job Seeking Homeless”, Vancouver Sun 2004http://www.apcampus.ca/Content/LibraryArticles/homeless.asp • Pilchin, Alex, “The Homeless in Vancouver”, Pilchinskys World, Nov. 12, 2004 http://apilchin.blogspot.com/2004/11/homeless-in-vancouver.html

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