In 2007 I was suddenly thrust into the rising issue of homelessness and our (TSA) work with shelters, supporting housing, and wrap-around services. The next two years were a variety of conversations but both Calgary and Alberta had announced their housing first models and the money seemed to be flowing.

The discussions with the funders particularly the DM and ADM of that day revolved around their insistence that this was the answer to our problems. I was not convinced and stories of clients being put into apartments only to be evicted due to significant property damage were not uncommon. I was convinced that it could work if wrap-around services were significant, but I had a sense that many of these folks particularly the man driving Calgary’s 10-year plan to end homelessness were more interested in their political futures than the welfare of the people they claimed to be helping. History has proven me right, I believe, in that observation.

People are homeless for a variety of issues but chief among them is the inability to manage personal matters and when living on the edge of poverty numerous challenges can push these folks into being homeless in a single day. I’ve seen too much of that. Of course, mental health, addiction, family of origin issues, a lack of education, and spiraling housing costs are part of the framework that puts people out on the street.

I have never run a shelter but I’ve been in lots and studied the funding models around them and seen the pay scales that make it hard to hire great staff to bring full service to those who are experiencing homelessness.

The other evening Wendy and I watched a very interesting documentary. I’ve never heard of “Invisible People” before but this is a compelling video. You’ll see that there is much footage of Salvation Army employees, centres, clients, and leaders. The film is not out to highlight The Salvation Army, it sets out to look at the solution that Finland has used to address the problems.

It is just under 27 minutes in length and you may want to throw this up on a big screen rather than a phone or tablet, but it is worth watching.

Oh, and let me know what you think? Can we do it here? Do we have the political will? And how do you think immigration levels impact the availability of housing in Canada?