The Wisdom of Youth
One of the most telling comments on homelessness that came out of Philip Mangano’s visit to Abbotsford was from someone not even in attendance.
In speaking to a planner I know after hearing Mr. Mangano’s experiences in successfully beginning to end homelessness, she related the wisdom passed on to her by her eight year old daughter. Previous to Mr. Mangano’s visit she, the planner that is, had been involved in the FVRD mayor’s forum on homelessness held about a year ago in Chilliwack. In explaining the trip to Abbotsford her daughter was informed we would be talking about homelessness.
Her daughter was amazed. Almost a year latter and we were still talking about homelessness – having taken no action to end the disgrace of homelessness. Year after year we keep talking and wringing our hands; year after year homelessness keeps growing.
Perhaps it is time we take the young lady’s advice: shut up, commit our will and ourselves to ending homelessness and putting our resources where our rhetoric is.
A young boy with a backpack
A young boy with a backpack walked past me, full of energy, zigzagging back and forth across the road, picking up twigs, poking things and singing to himself 640-553. He started off reticent, but gradually fell into conversation with me 70-431. His name was Jiang and he was 12 years old, but had eyes that were much older. He was walking back home from school for the holidays650-393. He said he did not have enough money to take a minivan.