Do you consider the issue of homelessness to be a public justice issue requiring a response? Does our society have an obligation to do what it can to adequately house all people?
Consider the story of Julia. Julia is a single mother who is one pay-cheque away from being homeless. She has a low-income job and spends more than 30 percent of her income on rent. She is on the list for social housing. She cannot afford child care for her two children and is often forced to make hard economic choices between basic needs or depending on food banks and other social assistance to make ends meet.1
Julia is a working member of her community yet cannot support herself and her children adequately. She is at risk of homelessness and one of the 4 million Canadians in need of affordable housing.2 She is on the list for affordable housing however, the average wait for social housing to assist low-income families is between 5 and 20 years. 3
Does Julia have a right to adequate housing that enables her and her children to live in dignity? If your answer is yes, you have identified homelessness to be public justice issue requiring a response.
There are various ways to assist people who are homeless and people who are at risk of becoming homeless. Opportunities for short-term responses include:
- Invite a Habitat for Humanity (HH) representative to speak at your church or community group to increase awareness and engage your peers in HH building projects.
- Contact a transition shelter in your community to find out the needs of the residents and organize a drive in your church, school or office to fill those needs (ex. mitten and sock drive, food drive, baby items, personal care items etc.).
- Volunteer at a shelter for people who are experiencing a housing crisis and become a source of support and encouragement for them.
- Donate time and/or money to front-line organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Raising the Roof.
- Explore starting an affordable housing project in your community with Habitat for Humanity.4
Long-term solutions to homelessness involve becoming informed on the political and funding issues of homelessness and looking for opportunities to do advocacy (check the Citizens for Public Justice website which has developed an advocacy toolkit). Develop a relationship with your MP and make him/her aware of your concerns. And, if possible, donate to a charitable organization involved in advocating for those who are homeless.
Footnotes:
1. Ling, Trixie, from “Housing Insecurity: the Face of Poverty.”
2. From the Citizens for Public Justice website www.cpj.ca.
3. From Where’s Home, 2008
4. From the Diaconal Ministries Canada justice initative addressing homelessness.
This post is based on the Justice initiative of Diaconal Ministries Canada addressing homelessness in Canada.