Maybe I was too hard on Mr. Obama. I guess there has been lots going on in my own mind-arguing back and forth as to whether he will keep his promises and keep homelessness as a priority. Time will tell.
We know homelessness is a global problem and that people traveling, may be housed in one place but end up dedomiciled in another. Here in Canada I was looking at Mr. Harper's promises or at least a few of them. Canadians were promised "$1.9 billion in funding over five years ($387.9 million per year) in support of housing and homelessness programs throughout Canada" (Conservative Government press release, 19 September 2008). Less than a month later we were told that we would be provided with 2 years of funding and current levels would be maintained. What happened?
We are one of the world's wealthiest nations. Yet aboriginal peoples, disabled peoples, women, newcomers of all kinds remain vulnerable to losing their homes. Many who are inadequately housed- the number that has been suggested is upward of 100,000 -live in unlicensed rooming houses where conditions are not monitored. Our economy is worsening and it could be a time when our government will do nothing around homelessness with this as an excuse. Rather than stating at a time like this housing is the most important contribution a government can make to its citizens.... Guess we'll be waiting on that one too!
