Apparently, a young fellow by the name of Steve Wood spent a week living on the streets of Philadelphia, to get a greater understanding of street life for an upcoming article he is writing for his school paper. After spending a week, Steve said he became disappointed with the homeless, because they have a "sense of entitlement," and they have expectations for the City to take care of them.

I suppose it is good that he is trying to understand. It is good that anybody is trying to get a grasp of the reality of street life. I suppose I can overlook his ignorance when he says he "lost patience" with the street folks, who in his opinion "make their own bed."

Of course Mr Wood feels that they make their own reality. He certainly makes his own reality, choosing to dip in and out of homelessness on a whim. Unfortunately, he is not factoring in the sheer amount of abuse that homeless people experience, most of them from a very early age.

Steve, let me tell you what happens when you get physically, mentally, or sexually abused from a young age. Because you are so small when it first happens, you learn to cope with abuse from a powerless position. You come to understand on an instinctual level that when people hurt you, you can't do anything about it. By the time you reach adulthood, you're left with a screwed up sense of what "choice" means, and a bitter view on the topic of justice. Because you've been lied to over and over again, you cannot trust others, and thus you cannot trust yourself. You fear becoming an abuser, so you begin a slow form of suicide to prevent yourself from harming others.

That's just one tiny piece of the puzzle. Now let me add another piece. Imagine yourself lying at the bottom of a cliff after having fallen. You are in such excruciating pain that you dare not move. A fellow comes along and says "I'm a first responder, I'm going to get you some help!" The guy takes off running. Several hours later, you are still waiting, unable to move. Another person comes along, gives you a drink of water, and says "Help is coming soon!" That person leaves. Several hours pass. It is getting dark. Tell me you wouldn't have some anticipation of help at this point. What on earth could be taking them so long? Don't they understand how much pain you're in?

Steve, people get dissapointed when Cities, Governments, Churches, or other "helpers" don't live up to their expectations-- it's human nature. Apparently, even the homeless don't live up to some people's expectations. I suppose you wanted them all to be weeping in gratitude over the bowl of soup they received at the soup kitchen, but reality has betrayed you. A lot of homeless have been in crisis for years and years, and they are sick of governments declaring new programs and strategies for assistance only to be left out in the cold.

Yet, I will forgive your resentment. I know from experience that street life makes you cranky. You were resentful towards people who were enjoying their coffees... that's pretty irrational. Those coffee drinkers did nothing to you, why would you be resentful, unless you were simply suffering, and needed a place to project that frustration? You may have also dumped some of your frustration on homeless. Hopefully, once you have a nice warm shower and sit down at the computer, you will be in a clear enough head to see that these people have been through enough, and probably don't need another negative opinion.

Victoria Homeless Needs Survey Counts 1,115

Victoria Cool Aid Society - News Release - March 2, 2007 - The Homeless Needs Survey, which was held from February 5-9, has identified 1,115 persons in the Capital Region who were homeless or unstably housed.
An enumeration was conducted though a count in facilities which provide shelter to people who are homeless on Monday, February 5. The survey was conducted throughout the Capital Region from February 6-9, 2007, with questionnaires about housing needs completed by persons who were homeless or living in unstable housing. The questionnaire was conducted by over 200 volunteers indoors at over 40 social service provider locations and outdoors using the Salvation Army’s Beacon Bus.
“The Homeless Needs Survey will provide detailed and helpful information to over 60 participating service providers in the Capital Region,” said Kathy Stinson, the Executive Director of Cool Aid. “As well, the full research results will be shared with all levels of government and other community partners to help us better meet the needs of individuals and families who are inadequately housed in Greater Victoria.”
“The purpose of the survey was to gain a deeper understanding of what people who are homeless or unstably housed feel they need to find and maintain housing,” said Researcher Jane Worton of the Community Council. “We are grateful to the 815 people who completed questionnaires. They have shared personal information with us in order to help us provide better supports for the thousands of inadequately housed people in our community. We now have a wealth of good data to build action upon.”
“According to 2001 census data, 22,205 households in the Victoria Census Metropolitan Area were inadequately housed,” said Jane Worton. “We were able to interview 372 individuals in this situation – and this will provide the most detailed data ever about this large group in our communities.”
Making up just 2.8% of the local population, Aboriginal people, including First Nations, Metis, Inuit and Native, comprised 25% of those interviewed.
Only 11% of those interviewed were from outside BC, with the vast majority being from the Capital Regional District (73%) and elsewhere in BC (16%), often as close as Duncan and Vancouver.
The Homeless Needs Survey found people were homeless or unstably housed in all parts of the Capital Region. Although just a sample of the total number of people who are inadequately housed, the geographic distribution of interviewed individuals follows:
73% in the four core municipalities including –
• 496 people from Victoria (61%)• 48 people from Saanich (6%)• 24 people from Esquimalt (3%)• 6 people from Oak Bay (1%)• 22 people from an unspecified core municipality (3%)
4% in the Western Communities (33 people)
3% on the Saanich Peninsula (22 people)
4% on Salt Spring Island (32 people)
16% did not provide their municipality (132 people)
Rural and outlying communities were particularly under-represented due to the few number of survey locations and because social service providers in more sparsely populated regions often do not see their clients as frequently as those in the more urban areas.
Homeless counts frequently note underreporting of families who are homeless. The information from the Homeless Needs Survey will be complemented by the rich information gathered through the Burnside Gorge Community Association’s recent Homeless Families Outreach Project, using interviews with 432 families who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
A more detailed demographics report is enclosed. The full research report for the Homeless Needs Survey will be released in late March or April after a full analysis can be completed.