A new campaign that calls for a VANOC-like body to end homelessness has the support of mayor Gregor Robertson.
“Love them or hate them,” said Rev. Ric Matthews of the First United Church, “VANOC and the Olympic Games have proved to this city that we are capable of doing amazing things.”
Getting ready for 2010 meant raising huge sums of cash, coordinating three levels of government, and mobilizing public support, he said. Why can’t that same will and energy be put into ending street homelessness, Matthews asked at a press conference Wednesday evening.
The “Share the gold” initiative asks people to wear bright yellow or gold outerwear. Hopefully, Matthew said, a sea of colour during the Games will raise awareness of the thousands of street homeless in Vancouver.
He encouraged the public to donate five percent of their Olympics spending to an action fund, administered by the Streetohome Foundation.
Ultimately, Matthews would like to see a body, perhaps modelled on VANOC, that’s capable of raising funds and marshalling political will.
Mayor Robertson showed up to give his support. He indicated housing would be one of his top priorities after the Olympics, which run Feb. 12-28.
“We definitely can channel that same energy, that same purpose into homelessness in our city,” he said.
Anti-Olympics critic Chris Shaw told the conference massive spending on the Games proves political will, not funding, is the biggest impediment to fixing Vancouver’s social problems.
“It’s never been about money, it’s always about priorities,” he said.
In the lobby of the First United Church, Rian Miles told the Tyee every day is a struggle to keep off crack-cocaine. He planned to sleep at the church, which gives shelter to 300 people every night.
“What I’ve seen down here, you’d be appalled to actually live it,” he said. Miles applauds the new campaign, so long as it produces results.
“I don’t see any solution unless people take real action,” he said.
Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.
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BC Boy
2 years ago
SO is Chris Shaw the new John Furlong in this comedy?
This is pathetic. A mayor who pledged he would reduce the number of homeless people
by a huge amount, and a No 2010 showman who hates everything to do with the Olympics gets together for a show complete with yellow cloth strips.
The better thing is just for Chris Shaw and his band of fools to actually do something about the homeless situation, physically do something about it rather than put on a comedy show for the media.
There's been way too much showmanship on this issue, and not enough action.
The City has the power to enforce bylaws on the hotels in the downtown east side, get them spotlessly clean and open up for homeless persons (if siad homless persons want them). Get Shaw to manage the whole schmeal as a charity.
Then youre' done.