Archives 4

COVID-19, homelessness create a vicious cycle of suffering -By Graham Swaney

"Daniel Bhend woke up from a short nap as a Kitchener bus arrived at its final destination. The driver told everyone to get out, but Bhend — a homeless man — asked to remain on board. “I’m freezing and I have nowhere else to go,” Bhend recalled telling the driver.
The driver insisted and then called a supervisor. In response, Bhend made a call of his own, reaching out to a local homeless advocate for support."

Read full article at CapitalCurrent.ca

Homeless encampments are here to stay - By Cathy Crowe

"The shelters are full. Homeless people and front-line workers experience the inability to access beds on a daily basis.
The City is using 'health and safety' as an excuse to destroy the encampments but the United Nations and the Center for Disease Control both say it is unsafe to do this. The CDC says:

If individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are.
Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread."

Read full article on rabble.ca

Video above is from my run in 2018 Election for City of Kitchener Council Ward 2 Seat and discusses homelessness.

As requested to City of Kitchener Mayor Vrbanovic
By email on March 25th, 2020
No reply received at time of publication on April 6th, 2020 Tweeted replies followed.

Hi Berry,

Great efforts being made by all. Thank you all for your action and aid to this community.

Yet it remains...

WE need a gap filled immediately.

I am writing to ask this of you myself directly in effort to unite in solidarity to aid these individuals. The Region is doing AMAZING things but with the timeline we have here, this CANNOT WAIT.

Housing, Homelessness & COVID-19

Ok first off, before any thoughts, adhere to those who know, not me. That is not the point of my website, I am OPINION. Please see relative local Government and Public Health sites to properly advise you right now.
Though recently I had chosen to need to forego my standard volunteering of the last few years, having myself come into far too many crisis, and having been unable to acquire proper assistance as I should have been given and repeatedly requested. Such being said, I am not looking at these as normal times, so let's talk folks. On the temporary, the rest of that no longer matters.

We are all in this together right now, so here I write again.

I am blown. It's OK if you are too. We all are....

Homes 4 All -Episode 1: Changing Mindsets

If you have not heard it yet, this series is a must to enjoy! Great Canadian music, honest and poignant conversation. It is part of Social Development Center Waterloo Regions "Turning Up The Volume" efforts. This playset is being created by Angela Goodwin, also hosting the interview.
This first of a series discusses housing and the realities of poverty with Brian Doucet and an unnamed individual living the economic challenge of subsiding on ODSP fixed income.
Check it out at its source below!

Listen to podcast