Here's the real story about city's homeless
Vancouver Island News Group / Campbell River Mirror
June 9, 2006
Opinion -- Sian Thomson, executive director, North Island Advocacy Coalition Society, Campbell River

Re: Homelessness forum excludes frontline fighters against poverty (Mirror, June 7).

... There are homeless people in Campbell River. Their group consists of men, women, children, youth, families, those who are mentally ill, addicted, elderly, and have either a minimum wage job, a limited fixed income or no income at all. Statistically, youth and First Nations represent two of the most vulnerable homeless subpopulations.

Living outside is not fun, or safe, and no one makes an informed choice to do so. Homelessness is often hidden in Campbell River because the homeless are not on the streets or in doorways in our community, but in campsites, on the beaches or riverfronts, in cars and vans, in motels, the hospital, abandoned buildings, in caves, or moving from couch to couch in friend's or acqaintance's homes while they try to find affordable housing or obtain income assistance. Some homeless people are women who have accepted housing from men and are living in dangerous situations to avoid living on the streets.

Average rents are not affordable to the working poor, those on income assistance or a fixed income, if they intend to also have electricity, good nutrition, transportation, child care and adequate clothing....