Contributed by Stephanie Gauthier

香蕉视频直播淚t just makes sense.香蕉视频直播�

That香蕉视频直播檚 how Tim Richter summarizes his call to end homelessness. He is the founder and CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) and a national leader in the effort to end homelessness. For him, the path to solving homelessness lies through the Housing First approach.

香蕉视频直播淗ousing First is truth in advertising,香蕉视频直播� said Richter. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 saying 香蕉视频直播榣et香蕉视频直播檚 move someone directly from the street or a shelter into a home, with no preconditions. This approach is more humane, and it香蕉视频直播檚 also more effective.香蕉视频直播�

Under the Housing First approach, stable housing is the first step in the journey away from homelessness, not the last. Health, substance use, mental health, and other issues are addressed from that solid foundation of housing. Another is the fundamental recognition of humanity that香蕉视频直播檚 built into the approach.

香蕉视频直播淭his is a model that puts people back in the driver香蕉视频直播檚 seat of their own lives,香蕉视频直播� said Richter. 香蕉视频直播淎s long as we香蕉视频直播檙e pathologizing people, looking at what香蕉视频直播檚 wrong with them and what needs to be fixed, we香蕉视频直播檙e never going to solve the problem.香蕉视频直播�

This is where stigma becomes a barrier because it leads us to the opposite view. Stigma encourages us to doubt an individual香蕉视频直播檚 abilities and to limit their freedom and independence, rather than providing opportunities for them to take control of their lives. Solving homelessness takes a leap of faith, a willingness to see the possibility in someone despite their current circumstances.

香蕉视频直播淪tigma is about othering people,香蕉视频直播� added Richter. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about treating people as different or flawed, and looking at homelessness as though it香蕉视频直播檚 that person香蕉视频直播檚 fault and not a systemic issue.香蕉视频直播�

Read More: Stigma remains for those experiencing homelessness in Kelowna

Ending homelessness is a daunting undertaking. Richter has no illusions about that, but he stays positive by focusing on the thousands of little successes that happen every day. Moncton, New Brunswick has reduced chronic homelessness by 10 percent, for example. Other communities have ended veteran homelessness. Richter said that there are two main arguments for ending homelessness.

香蕉视频直播淭he first is the moral argument and it says no one in Canada should die for the lack of a home, that no one should suffer needlessly. The other argument is a practical one. We香蕉视频直播檝e proven time and time again that it香蕉视频直播檚 cheaper to give a person a home than it is to have them bouncing aimlessly through expensive public systems, like jail, hospitals, the police, the courts - and meanwhile, they just keep getting sicker.香蕉视频直播�

The Homeless Hub estimates homelessness costs the Canadian economy $7 billion per year and calls for relatively modest spending increases to address the issue. The 7 Cities Initiative in Alberta, which housed 23,000 people between 2008 and 2018, saved an estimated $2.4 billion in provincial expenditures.

Richter is right. Solving homelessness makes sense. We have an approach that香蕉视频直播檚 been proven effective and we can all contribute by questioning our own views about homelessness and the people who experience it.

Read More: To end chronic homelessness in Kelowna more supportive housing needed

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