Homelessness in the 50's - evidence the social programs work

[Karlin]

There wasn't much of a problem with homelessness once the people like you and I demanded that it be solved. Those were vets returning from WW2 who got the government to build many affordable housing units every year until 1984, Mulroney.

Then the CMA was, you guessed it, PRIVATISED. From there, things went downhill. Conservative agendas are at work, and people are suffering. It didn't "trickle down" and stimulate the economy to where everyone can afford to buy their own home, it just made more homeless people.

In this phase of government budget surpluses we can afford social programs.

The news today said personal income taxes are going to add billions extra dollars to federal govt coffers this year. Every govt seems to be swimming in cash, not just Alberta.And the . BC will have billions "extra" this year from oil and gas, like Ab, and Sask.too. Feds too - they say there is a lot hidden in various contingency accounts and budget fudgetting, just trying not to raise expectations for spending on actual people programs.


So there is lots of government funding if they would spend it.

Homelessness - build affordable housing, our health will improve.That will save money overall, a good idea for civilised nations.
Affordable food too - basic groceries maybe? Why should people be without healthy food in Canada? [food bank food is not survivable on - the option to not eat from cans should be a human right for those who utterly shudder at the thought. I will go hungry rather than eat from a can more than once a week]
- note - we throw out 10% or more of fresh foods: check your big grocer's dumpsters.[to keep supply tight for prices pressure or something - these are going out of date, not yet expired most of the time].

From Straight Goods, where I got the scoop on WW2 vet housing and trends since:

Link - "Homelessness is a national disaster"
"Canada is practically the only industrial nation without a national housing program."
Dateline: Tuesday, April 04, 2006
by Cathy Crowe
http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature6.cfm?REF=215

 

[Karlin]

Re: Homelessness in the 50's - evidence the social programs

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature6.cfm?REF=212
Making Harris look good

McGuinty government's stingy welfare policies widening the gap.

K - meant to include this link to article in previous post

Its about social programs helping people but its not going that way much lately. We should change, maybe electing the NDP would help.

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Homelessness in the 5

Uncle Sam won't let us elect the NDP.

 

[I think not]

Re: RE: Homelessness in the 5

Uncle Sam won't let us elect the NDP.

Go build a nice dam in my backyard, so I can make a pool and I will let you vote anything your heart desires.

 

[damngrumpy]

Re: Homelessness in the 50's - evidence the social programs

In recent year many governments have done their damnest to ensure many programs don't work so they can put less money into them. It isn't money that's the problem however, its how the money is spent and the utter waste.
People who are struggling do need help, and they need to be a part of the process that will improve their lives.
Putting people in low cost housing at the taxpayers expense is not the answer. What should happen, is lower income people should have access to low cost financing, with government assistance, to purchase homes. In the long run society would benefit, the community would benefit and lower income people would have a stake in property ownership. The old saying is true, people sometimes need a hand up, not a handout.