Sending out an SOS: Vancouver Rally for a National Housing Program

Downtown Vancouver has been transformed by Olympiamania: everyone dressed gaily in red waving flags up down and sideways, long line-ups everywhere, buzzing excitement in the energy field, and people taking pictures of people who are taking pictures of people taking pictures of everything.

In the heart of this manic experience, a different kind of energy happened at the Vancouver Art Gallery today at noon. The Rally for a National Housing Program occurred and several hundred people showed up. It seemed to be a gathering of mostly activists, homeless people and many journalists with cameras and videos pointing in every direction. The north side of the protest was walled in by a line of several hundred, idly-curious tourists waiting to get into the art gallery. There were several legal observers and Vancouver police surrounding the event. 

The terms of engagement are very clear in Vancouver: we all play our roles out in a way that is respectful of each other and the necessary work of protesting gets done. The Vancouver Police Department has stated that it facilitates 175 protests in the city every year and, with this rally, they acted like typical Vancouver police, courteously hanging out in the background.

The rally began with aboriginal people singing and drumming in the generous way they always share their gifts. Am Johal started this particular community conversation by acknowledging that we were standing on unceded Coast Salish land.

The first speaker stated that the great majority of homeless are First Nations and that it was a shame that the national government won’t do anything about it.

Wendy Pederson, of the CCAP, spoke of the three biggest causes of homelessness: the need for more new social housing, a better welfare income for the poorest in our midst, and a halt to the gentrification of the poorest community in Vancouver, the Downtown Eastside. She pointed out that homelessness and poverty are not caused by addiction and mental illness. She went on to say that 6000 units of new social housing are needed now in “our neighbourhood: the DTES”. It is not good enough to get the crumbs from condo developers. It does not work to rely on charity like getting food from the Food Banks. Instead, what is needed is food security and a good income. Wendy indicated that what is needed is taxing the rich people and corporations in Canada who can afford it. She also stated, “We do not agree with turning Vancouver into a rich resort city. We need housing now!”

(Government research has shown it is cheaper to build housing, at a savings of $18,000 per person, than to have homeless people on the streets. In Vancouver, a single person on welfare currently receives $610. The average monthly rent for a Vancouver studio apartment is $840.)

Wendy read off a long list of the groups supporting this call for a national housing program, saying that facts and experience motivate them. She revealed that they have been getting calls from all across the country on this issue and that everyone involved is doing things relentlessly and joyfully to push and take up space. Wendy closed by saying, “We are keeping our little fight going here and people are doing the same all across the country and the momentum is building.”

Reverend Ric Matthews, of the First United Church, spoke next. “When we make it a priority to overcome the massive obstacles that exist and to catalyze political will, we see great generosity as in the response to Haiti. The challenge is what to do with that here. We all belong to one family and the call is for us to see the family here right in front of our own eyes. We need a comprehensive plan for how we live with one another and share resources. It is not good enough to wait… for a concerted action that is empowered, authorized and accountable to the grassroots and the community. We must remember that just building housing is not enough because it cannot be warehousing. It must be a home. The housing plan must also meet a range of homeless needs because some homeless people are so traumatized that they can’t live in a traditional home. The whole range of needs must be addressed. As well, no plan can be coordinated across silos. Poverty, alienation, displacement, mental illness, and addiction must all be integrated into an understanding of how they all connect with each other.

The Olympics have shown us what we are capable of. We have the resources and we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world. If the Olympics is about discovering that we belong to one family, then if some one of us is in pain and distress, the whole family must respond. Haiti has shown that we have the heart to care and the Olympics has shown that we have the ability. We must put these two together and do it now.”

John Richardson, from PIVOT, spoke of this being a time of great change, a turning point in human history, and a call to action for the human species. He said that what is driving this barrelling to destruction is the fear of a fundamental lack, of not enough. “We carry this driver inside us, living in survival mode, and we need to change that inside ourselves. We need to address this fear before we can plan for the future. The Iroquois Confederacy has always stated that, fundamentally, government must plan for seven generations to come.”

John said that we need to create a world where everyone has a home so we can actualize our potential and plan for the future. A home for everyone is what offers an enormous potential for change “Housing is a fundamental need before anything else, like treatment therapy, can succeed. The underclass of our society must be addressed. The Red Tent campaign aims to bring forth awareness around the lack of housing in the DTES. In France, in 2006, 200 tents were given away and, because homelessness was made so visible, it catalyzed action. The French government committed funding and stated that housing was a human right. We need the Red Tent campaign all across the country as a call for the government to act. It is not a problem to ignore anymore. When we make a choice to take care of everyone, we will find within ourselves an amazing future that will open up for the human race.”

A woman from the DTES “Power of Women” group spoke next, “We look at our people as human beings. We are just as human as white people who can’t see us because they are blinded by their wealth. We want justice now. The young people who broke the windows are not bad. They are angry because the Olympics was brought into our country, our stolen land, when they were not needed here and they bring big-time poverty with them. We will continue to fight until we get some answers.”

Libby Davis was one of the final speakers, “Here we are in the midst of glass towers and the $6 billion dollar Olympics. We are here to speak a truth: Housing is a fundamental right and must be addressed. We want to say to the visitors in our city, “Please notice what is going on. Homelessness has tripled since the Olympics bid was put in. If you are concerned, please send an e-mail to the federal, provincial, and city governments. Be one with us in solidarity saying homelessness shouldn’t exist in a wealthy country like Canada. We demand a national housing program. When we had one, people weren’t destitute on the street. We support the Red Tent and Tent City because it is important for social activism to be visible. We must also work politically and Bill C304, which calls for a national housing program, is in its second reading. We’ll fight tooth and nail to get that bill through.”

Any agent provocateurs were politely in hiding.

Please take action. Speak out now.

Homeless deaths in British Columbia

> Total deaths of homeless people between 2006 and 2008: 96

> Average age of dead homeless people: 45

> Number of males: 77

> Number of females: 19

> Deaths by accidents: 40

> Deaths by natural causes: 26

> Deaths by suicide: 7

> Homeless deaths in Vancouver: 21

> Homeless deaths in Victoria: 18

> Homeless deaths in Surrey: 6

Source: B.C. Coroners Service

WHO TO CONTACT:

PM Harper Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-4211      613-992-4211       Fax: 613-941-6900

Helena Guergis Minister for Status of Women guergh@parl.gc.ca
733 Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-992-4224         613-992-4224         Fax: 613 992-2164

Suzanne L. Clément Deputy Head
suzanne.clement@nlrb.gov

Michael Ignatieff IgnatM@parl.gc.ca

Jack Layton LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca

Libby Davies (NDP MP Vancouver East) daviel@parl.gc.ca

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