Being an advocate of lived experience is something I do with passion and fire, but sometimes it's really hard to keep pushing and fighting a system that continues to fail our Community more daily.

They see the issues, they know the problem, they hear our voice but still nothing is done. We as a community can only say so much, so many times. When changes that are needed and are well overdue continue to be ignored and our need for affordable housing is not met... it becomes repetitive and deterring. If nothing in this broken system that continues to fail, changes, then nothing in our Community will change. It's an ongoing hamster wheel that seems never-ending. When we know we are being heard but still nothing changes, it's really hard to keep being that voice.

When transitional housing and shelter programs don't lead anywhere because there is a 10 to 14 year wait for affordable housing but a limit of 3 weeks, 3 months, 1,2,3,4 years maximum for "help" and then you're back on the struggle, that just doesn't seem logical. If shelters and housing programs waitlists are ten and fourteen years long that says more than enough for the state of our economy. Transitional housing should never Transition back to the shelter system (which most have waitlists of over 100 people to get in) or the street. How is that Transitional?

Government needs to do better for Canadians. Our housing crisis is in state of emergency not just in Canada, but globally, and goes far beyong Municipal or Provincial ability. The Federal Government needs a better plan.

We are human beings, with rights that are being ignored, violated and overlooked.

Food for thought for today.

It's time we unite and be about meeting people where they're at, helping humanity, for a long term stable and healthy Canada. 

Join the voice of Canadian Alliance to END homelessness and help us fight!

#homesnothandcuffs

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Living with PTSD in unstable, temporary housing with no long term solution.

Why is housing so expensive? This housing HUMANITARIAN crisis is out of hand and only getting worse as days pass. Where do "transitional" housing placements and programs actually transition to when they're limited to 1, 2, 3 or 4 years, and RGI (which is what any low income human needs) is over a ten year wait IF you're lucky (over 8000 people on the need for affordable/ low imcome housing wait list in Durham Region). Something needs to change in this broken failing system of a never ending marigoround that leads nowhere but back to the streets, or a shelter.

In a transitional housing program, the revolving door of constant change, lac of consistancy or proper routine, housing instability and living with strangers that you don't trust doesn't do anyone any good. How is anyone suppose to make any progress with such a circumstance. In alot of situations like this you can't even have food in a common fridge because people help themselves. For people with disabilities like mine where any type of change or inconsistencies is a huge setback, it's literally impossible to move forward with the constant inconsistencies of the revolving door of new people in and out. It's like being in a private shelter really, and as greatful as I am that these places and programs exist, the struggle is beyond frustrating. It takes me months to adapt to anyone new and then as soon as you start to adjust and work on something BOOM a barrier of change in roomate happens again. The system wonders why people are stuck and do not make much progress, well, it's almost impossible when you have disabilities that don't work well with change.... alot of us have that issue and it's a barrier many will never understand. We don't ask to have these struggles but they are part of us. Better programs need to be created that focus on the wellbeing and individual needs of the people involved.

A lot of these temporary housing programs are ran by different religious organizations. When there is a housing crisis going on and absolutely no affordable housing for someone of low income available, And waitlists exceed your housing time limit... Where are people supposed to go, other than back to the streets. A transitional housing program should not lead back to a shelter, or outside. How is being homeless again part of the "transitional" plan. The plan should focus on keeping people situated and progressing with people they trust, until something long term and affordable opens so repeat homelessness does not occur. This is why people rather just stay homeless, a "housing program" is just a temporary pause button on the inevitable, thus lengthening your wait times on the wait lists because as soon as you enter a temporary housing program, you are considered housed and then at the end of that term you become homeless again and have to start at the bottom of every list. This old system needs updating, it is so broken and continues to fail us in current times. These transitional housing regulations would have been great in the 1990's when affordable housing& cost of living was not a crisis. They need to be updated and based on individual needs instead of a one size fits all criteria (especially when that system does not fit anyone of low income in current time).

Let me ask you one question, What would Jesus do. When somebody is finally housed, stable and doing well, would he just kick them back out into the streets with nowhere to go because their time was up. Not likely. What if the person was an elder, A war vet, disabled. Would he just turn his back and throw them to the wolves like that (this actually happens, I've been attacked by coyotees while sleeping in a plaza with my dog). Would Jesus do this knowing he could have prevented further trauma? Not likely. I applaud the broken failing system, that's not very Christian of them, or humane in any way, if you ask me. 

What would Jesus do?

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As a person of lived experience, I have developed a passion for Outreach, Advocacy and Peer Support. Through our experiences and voice of experience, is how we will make the changes necessary for ONE community and change the stigma. It takes a village, be part of the change for Humanity. TOGETHER we CAN prevent and END Homelessness in Durham Region(The Gap Comittee). Check out The Gap Comittee on facebook to see all the great changes happening for OUR community. Every humam has the right to a roof over their head, and with the right support for each, we can rehabilitate and reintigrate our loved ones who have been stuck in the broken system. The waitlists and services are over capacity and continue to grow. We need to stand together to make the change needed for longterm solutions.

Stay Lifted Lovelies. Bless xo

Durham Region Ontario Canada Homeless Support Page by CDCD below.

https://homelessnessindurham.ca/

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What is a Homeless person I was recently asked by an elder community member who was genuinely curious and concerned over the increasing numbers of Humans without proper support and living accomodation.

A Homeless person can be absaloutely anyone, any race, gender, age, of any social status, going through hard times, Often but not always of lower income, struggling with unmanaged/ not properly supported Mental Health. However, this is not the only Human that is in such a position. Homeless Humans can have jobs, families, pets and be Mentally well aside from not financially being able to keep up with the cost of life. Some individuals may develop addiction, usually from trauma of some kind or another, but this is not true for all which experience such a crisis. It can be you, or anyone you know, at any time.

Homelessness can be caused by any circumstance or life event, One car accident, illness, loss of job, falling short of just one paycheck is all it can take.

No two people experiencing Homelessness have the same goals, idea of home, or needs to attain their desire. When people say "oh they choose to be Homeless"... though it may be true for some, many just do not know how to get out of the life altering situation or how to live the expected ways of societial standard. The amount and type of support differs for each Human, and the availabilty of such support is often not able to meet the amount of people in need, in the way THEY need. It is not a one size fits all situation, which is often a barrier we find in traditional and clinical support systems. Our services have been at (and are over) capacity for a very long time. With the cost of life rapidly rising, the amount of people struggling continues to increase at an alarming and concerning speed. 

Please do not judge, take some time, get out and know your community. We are all Human. Some have gone through more than they know how to handle. Have compassion and understanding of hard times. This is the first step to helping Humanity rehabilitate. The world is lost, genuine love and compassion can heal the world. Step out of your comfort zone and go have a coffee and a conversation with the community members you see struggling. In the homeless community I have found much more compassion and acceptance than from those who judge something they do not understand.

Every single Human can be guided back to healthy living with the right support, the right people, the right places, the right approach, at the right time.

Bless