INTRODUCTION TO HOMELESSNESS, OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY

Homelessness has become a very visible and disturbing burden to our culture. Our media, through print and broadcast images, show us on a fairly regular basis the extent of the homeless phenomenon. It seems incongruent that in one of the richest societies in the world we have people among us those that do not have a stable place to lay their head. As a culture, we feel a degree of guilt around this fact, and we generally find the whole thing unacceptable. Add to that, the apparent disturbing trend of a steady increase in the homeless population in the face a growing economy and a very positive employment environment. The questions which need to be answered are: why is the homeless phenomenon happening in the midst of all this affluence? And what can we do to address the homelessness in our communities?

These reports on homelessness will attempt to look at the statistical data gathered during the course of a 6 month project, as well as, the anecdotal history and experience of some of the homeless in one part the lower mainland of British Columbia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following is a list of people and organizations that were instrumental in the overall success of the project on homelessness. The list is random, not in order of importance.

Hope for Freedom Outreach & Advocacy
Laura Binette homeless field worker
Darren Charuk homeless field worker
Brent Miller, HFFS staff and resident computer technician
Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
B.C. Housing SHARE and all of it´s local affiliates
Tri-Cities Affordable Housing Committee
Tri-City News
Coquitlam NOW
Mike Farnworth, MLA
Scott Young, Mayor, City of Port Coquitlam
City of Port Coquitlam, Parks & Rec.
City of Port Coquitlam, By-Laws
Maxine Wilson, Mayor, City of Coquitlam
North Side Church
Coquitlam Alliance Church
Trinity United Church
Tri-Cities Mental Health
New View Society
RCMP, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam Detachment & its Community Police Stations
Port Moody Police Department
Tri-Cities Housing Coalition
Tri-Cities Homelessness Committee
Salvation Army
Alouette Outreach & Advocacy
Mayor Gord Robson, Maple Ridge

E-mail: hffoa@telus.net