Analysis: Homeless veterans a concern across Canada
By Simon Kent, QMI Agency
Bad news travels fast. Always has, always will.
On Wednesday, QMI Agency exclusively revealed a single sad but startling fact.
Buried deep within the detail of the city of Toronto’s 2013 interim report on homelessness was the revelation that around 16% of those living rough on the streets of Canada’s biggest city said they had served in the military.
A spokesman for Julian Fantino, the minister of veterans affairs, was quick to tell us the federal government has a national pilot project seeking former service personnel living on the street.
Now Peter Stoffer MP, opposition critic for veterans affairs, has added his voice to the fray. He wants action and he wants it now.
“This is a problem that concerns all of Canada,” Stoffer told QMI Agency, “and to tell you the truth I was shocked when I read that Sun story. We know there are vets in real trouble everywhere from Vancouver to Toronto and on to the Atlantic coastline but a figure of 16% is just startling. It is also shaming.
“I know personally of one instance recently in Nova Scotia where four vets were found living together beneath a bridge.”
“I think that is not good enough for a caring country. Too many veterans seem unaware of the safety net available to them and I call on this government to work with all parties to get our vets to the help they have earned by their service.”
Stoffer points out that for too long homelessness has been seen as a municipal or even provincial problem. In the case of vets it is truly a national concern that should bring in multiple agencies with the skills to find those most in need.
“Even better would be getting to people before they leave and preparing them for their future life as a civilian,” Stoffer said. “I always say that nobody ever left the military homeless - they always have somewhere to go from the first day.
“It’s what happens later that should concern us all.”
Dave Gordon agrees. This vet is executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL)- Ontario Command and he has stories of his own about veteran homelessness that are just heartbreaking.
“In the past we have helped a 90-year-old vet into accommodation and care and at the moment we are working with a female vet living in her car and in desperate need of assistance.
“We now have the Homeless Veterans program ‘Operation Leave the Streets Behind’ being operated by the RCL in partnership with VAC.
“We started it as a pilot project in Toronto, in November, 2010 and have expanded the program across Canada. To date we have housed 65 veterans both male and female in Ontario and have assisted some 140 throughout the province.
With assistance from the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund, Dave Gordon and his colleagues have worked to permanently house veterans with assistance for their first/last month’s rent, furniture and food vouchers.
Rental assistance has also been provided to those facing eviction. Medical help has been given to others such as dental treatments, transportation to stress therapy clinics, eyeglasses and much more.
Veterans’ helping other veterans at the local level is one thing, but Peter Stoffer wants a national coordinated approach developed from the top down.
“It will require work because of the various agencies involved, but it is a start. Ottawa can bring leadership and bureaucratic muscle to this and the sooner we start the better.”
Do you know a homeless vet who needs help?
Contact 1-866-522-2122 (English) or 1-866-522-2022 (French) so that emergency funding and a certified case manager can be assigned.
Analysis: Homeless veterans a concern across Canada - Canada - Canoe.ca
As each year progresses we continue to fail our veterans at an alarming rate. It's shameful.
By Simon Kent, QMI Agency
Bad news travels fast. Always has, always will.
On Wednesday, QMI Agency exclusively revealed a single sad but startling fact.
Buried deep within the detail of the city of Toronto’s 2013 interim report on homelessness was the revelation that around 16% of those living rough on the streets of Canada’s biggest city said they had served in the military.
A spokesman for Julian Fantino, the minister of veterans affairs, was quick to tell us the federal government has a national pilot project seeking former service personnel living on the street.
Now Peter Stoffer MP, opposition critic for veterans affairs, has added his voice to the fray. He wants action and he wants it now.
“This is a problem that concerns all of Canada,” Stoffer told QMI Agency, “and to tell you the truth I was shocked when I read that Sun story. We know there are vets in real trouble everywhere from Vancouver to Toronto and on to the Atlantic coastline but a figure of 16% is just startling. It is also shaming.
“I know personally of one instance recently in Nova Scotia where four vets were found living together beneath a bridge.”
“I think that is not good enough for a caring country. Too many veterans seem unaware of the safety net available to them and I call on this government to work with all parties to get our vets to the help they have earned by their service.”
Stoffer points out that for too long homelessness has been seen as a municipal or even provincial problem. In the case of vets it is truly a national concern that should bring in multiple agencies with the skills to find those most in need.
“Even better would be getting to people before they leave and preparing them for their future life as a civilian,” Stoffer said. “I always say that nobody ever left the military homeless - they always have somewhere to go from the first day.
“It’s what happens later that should concern us all.”
Dave Gordon agrees. This vet is executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL)- Ontario Command and he has stories of his own about veteran homelessness that are just heartbreaking.
“In the past we have helped a 90-year-old vet into accommodation and care and at the moment we are working with a female vet living in her car and in desperate need of assistance.
“We now have the Homeless Veterans program ‘Operation Leave the Streets Behind’ being operated by the RCL in partnership with VAC.
“We started it as a pilot project in Toronto, in November, 2010 and have expanded the program across Canada. To date we have housed 65 veterans both male and female in Ontario and have assisted some 140 throughout the province.
With assistance from the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund, Dave Gordon and his colleagues have worked to permanently house veterans with assistance for their first/last month’s rent, furniture and food vouchers.
Rental assistance has also been provided to those facing eviction. Medical help has been given to others such as dental treatments, transportation to stress therapy clinics, eyeglasses and much more.
Veterans’ helping other veterans at the local level is one thing, but Peter Stoffer wants a national coordinated approach developed from the top down.
“It will require work because of the various agencies involved, but it is a start. Ottawa can bring leadership and bureaucratic muscle to this and the sooner we start the better.”
Do you know a homeless vet who needs help?
Contact 1-866-522-2122 (English) or 1-866-522-2022 (French) so that emergency funding and a certified case manager can be assigned.
Analysis: Homeless veterans a concern across Canada - Canada - Canoe.ca
As each year progresses we continue to fail our veterans at an alarming rate. It's shameful.
