Sleeping in the snow
Like all vancouverites, I woke this past week to snow-covered roofs and treetops. Delightful!
On my way to work I saw a person scrunched up under a thin blanket in the doorway. I couldn't distinguish if it was a man or woman. People asleep outdoors is common place in my neighbourhood, but given it had been below freezing all night it caught my attention.
These are the times I feel pretty useless.
Do I call an ambulence? Is the person possibly dead? Will I walk by and end up on the news as one of those coldhearted people who don't stop to help others?
I pulled out my snack of cheese and and piece of chocolate and placed it on the step by his, or her, head. With any luck the person lived to see another day and got a tiny bit of protein and carbs since they'd clearly missed breakfast at the dugout (soup kitchen). My feeble attempt to 'change everything'
Bblocks later two more people -this time visibly women - had also spent the night outdoors. They had on their jackets and dirty blankets, and were still asleep at 9am. Their bodies were all contorted and curled over stairs outside a women's shelter. I know I shouldn't distinguish, but seeing women in this situation gets to me more acutely..
I don't believe any human, no matter what they've done or not done, should spend a below-zero night huddled outdoors. How do you 'get a job' when your body is stiff and sore, and you're a degree away from hypothermia?
Sights like this make me wonder if I should be inviting people inside for the night. There are a ton of common sense reasons not to ... but would those reasons stand up if one of those three people died overnight?
Nancy, thank-you for the
Nancy, thank-you for the blog about Gastown. As Yaletown and Falsecreek become built out the developers are drooling over how to stuff as many high priced condos in Gastown. In their rush for profit they forget that there is an already established community living here. Social housing, Housing CO-OPs, shops and yes.... even condos make up the most diverse neigbourhood that I have ever lived in. Gastown is like a small town. I know the name of many of the shop owners and many have become friends. Rarely a day goes by where I do not run into a neighbour on the street and we have a great chat.
Some members of my community are homeless, lack money, or drug addicted, or here as a result of the downsizing of public services, such as RiverSide. But like any community respect must be extended to all. You have raised the central challange - how do retain our diverse community and meet the needs of all?