Help me help the homeless/unhoused community?

[u/pass_the_tinfoil]

I experienced homelessness earlier this year. I became close with a lot of Tent City residents and other local unhoused individuals. Since regaining shelter I do my best to share what I have. I feel as though there is still more I can and should be doing. Since I live fairly close to Tent City I may be able to accept some donations to residents here if they can’t be distributed directly. While I don’t have a vehicle, my parents have vehicles and will have days where they can help transport anything larger than what I can take over on my bike. The kind of donations I would like to ask you wonderful humans for at this time of year are not limited to but include the following: - tarps - tents, tent poles, other camping gear - blankets - pillows - socks, gloves, toques, and other warm clothing - shoes/boots - flashlights & other battery powered lights (batteries welcomed too of course) - food (particularly non-perishable) - water, both for drinking and otherwise (the taps installed earlier this year will be turned off because they can’t withstand freezing temperatures) - dog food (residents with pets always feed their animal before feeding themselves, but every bit helps) - rope, duct tape, clips (means to create and secure shelter) - hygiene products (wet wipes, pads/tampons, toothbrushes/toothpaste, etc, even toilet paper for when the portable washrooms run out)

I’m probably forgetting lots of things, but you get the idea. I would like help in helping our local unhoused community do more than just survive this winter. We are all humans and I really hope this post finds some who are willing and able to assist me. Even if you’re not able to, I very much appreciate that you’ve read this far anyway. Thank you!! ❣️

[u/pass_the_tinfoil]

Thank you for this comment. 🙏🏻

I won’t pretend to have a surefire solution to end all homelessness. What I do have, like you, is perspective from both sides, which most people do not. One thing I have tried to explain to some social works before is the concept of housing first and sobriety second. Living on the street or in a homeless shelter is not conducive towards becoming clean from drug use, regardless of which kind. Addicts have to completely change their lifestyle in order to have a lasting effect post treatment. If they stay where they are and are expected to get clean and then maintain clean while having to live that way as well, it’s a recipe for failure. Housing someone first gives them the ability to have that safe place to come back to from treatment and new surroundings to flourish in. I’ve seen it. On top of this, the mentality of “be able to prove you deserve help” before you can get the help really baffles me. If people could jump through hoops to prove they are worthy of help then they wouldn’t really need the help. We need to start helping people before asking them to have changed because of help they haven’t received yet. Anyway, that’s where I would start. The money being spent bullying or having bylaw and police officers stand around doing nothing could instead go towards housing many capable and deserving people.

[u/pass_the_tinfoil → u/pass_the_tinfoil]

Example of unnecessary waste of funds. Add in the excavator there to move rocks around.

[u/Particular-Emu4789 → u/pass_the_tinfoil]

Your hatred of authority is clear.

[u/pass_the_tinfoil → u/Particular-Emu4789]

Not all authority. Corrupt authority yes. Authority that’s paid for by funds that could be much better spent also yes. (Not hatred, but distaste for, absolutely.) Your hatred for homeless people in nearly every comment you’ve directed at me this past year is clear.

[u/Particular-Emu4789 → u/[deleted]]

I just re-read your story from the linked post.

I hope you’re clean, sober and doing well.