This morning Catherine and I volunteered in the Homeless Count sponsored by the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and organized by SPARC BC.

Along with our practicum student, Patrick, and another volunteer we hit the streets under the Granville Bridge at 6:30 this morning. It felt so intrusive to wake a person sleeping in a doorway or make shift shelter. It was important to keep reminding ourselves how important it is to have accurate information about people who must sleep outside. This information will provide invaluable data for advocates and planners.

Each person we met has a story - often an undramatic story about how they came to homeless. As so many more of us live pay cheque to pay cheque, month to month, this trend to homelessness is fast becoming Canada’s greatest shame.

What will it take to house people? Let’s get our elected folks working on this. Let’s call for a ten-year national plan to end homelessness. The work starts now.

Helesia