Category Archives: The Basics
The Stories we tell Ourselves about Youth Homelessness
The other morning at the end of a swim practice I was chatting with some fellow swimmers about a new grant we had received to explore policy and poverty. An older gentleman I hadn’t talked with before was sitting nearby … Continue reading
Don’t Criminalize Homelessness; Do Criminalize Low Standards
The criminalization of homelessness is a scourge of societies across the globe. The general thought behind it goes something like this: People and/or their behaviours are anti-social and/or bad for our neighbourhood(s), therefore we will make criminal certain acts that … Continue reading
Housing First Series
In my previous post I started to unpack some of the intricacies of housing first. What I hope this highlighted was that although housing first is an overall effective model, there is still some work to do in terms of … Continue reading
7 Tough Questions for Housing First
Housing First has now been lauded far and wide as the most effective solution to homelessness in developed nations. This model focuses on rapidly moving people into independent and permanent housing regardless of where they are in their own personal … Continue reading
The Charitable Impulse: Conclusion
Ending homelessness in London, Ontario serves as the best example I am aware of to illustrate the difference between charity that is reactionary and charity that is thoughtful and effective over the long-term. In Part 5, I spoke to how … Continue reading
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The Charitable Impulse: Part 7
Let’s look again more locally. I recently had the privilege of joining the Board of United Way. This has been an interesting journey, as I started as a front-line worker in a United Way funded agency, frustrated by the administrative … Continue reading
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The Charitable Impulse: Part 5
Homelessness is a relatively new problem in Canada. Pre-1970, homelessness as we know it did not exist. There was some transience, people who rode the rails and drank, but if you were poor and situated in a community for any … Continue reading
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The Charitable Impulse: Part 4
It’s a beautiful gesture, warm soup in the cold, lonely days between Christmas and New Year’s. This article in the London Free Press details the kind, charitable outreach of Craig Abel and Sandy Faugh, serving soup to those experiencing homelessness, … Continue reading
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The Charitable Impulse: Part 3
Seven years ago and Melissa and I are buying our house. It’s a fixer-upper, and, following in the footsteps of my father-in-law, we have dreams of renovating, flipping, and starting to build a rental portfolio. I imagine becoming a landlord … Continue reading
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The Charitable Impulse: Part 2
Due to my line of work, people will often approach me informally or in social settings to talk about experiences of poverty. They will ask questions or share anecdotes that they find meaningful. Over the recent holiday season an acquaintance … Continue reading
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