What do you think of when you think of someone who's homeless? For many, images of shopping carts, barrel fires and sleeping on the streets come to mind. The Bonnyville Family and Community Support Services are trying to change that image through the Hidden Homeless project.
“I would certainly say I've come across a couple of situations where I've been told that these people (who are homeless) suffer from mental challenges. One of them I know in particular, the mother called me and was worried about her son, where he would live,” recounted Reverend Steven Sparks, a member of the Hidden Homeless committee.
The Hidden Homeless committee was formed in October 2014 and consists of nine members with Diahann Polege-Aulotte, F.C.S.S. Community Programmer, at the helm. Through a grant from the Alberta Rural Development Network that runs from September 2014 to August 2015, the group will be looking specifically at rural homelessness. Polege-Aulotte said they're not looking at “rough sleepers” but the hidden homeless – those who sleep in their car, couch surf or live in RV's during the winter months.
“I've been working with Bonnyville for six years now and it's always been a topic that's been brought up,” said Polege-Aulotte. “When this opportunity for the grant came up, it was very exciting because we've got an issue. We need to do something about it, so this was the opportune time.”
Sparks said he has come into contact with a number of people who were either homeless or on the brink of becoming homeless. He added that homelessness in this area is a lot different then what people view as the typical homeless person.
“I am aware of some workers who came by the church and was going to sleep in their car. That was about a year ago though that situation,” explained Sparks. “In Bonnyville it's quite different, some of it's related to people who were enrolled in the hospital and I've heard this particularly where they were to be sent home but there was no place to send them.”
As part of the committee's research into hidden homelessness in Bonnyville, they sent out surveys to collect data and resident's opinions. Five different surveys were distributed: a community survey, a housing-related problems questionnaire and surveys for industry members, businesses and service providers.
The surveys were anonymous and included questions such as how much of a problem is homelessness in Bonnyville and area, have you ever been homeless or at risk of being homeless and who should play a role in addressing homelessness in this area. Any residents within the Town of Bonnyville or parts of the M.D. of Bonnyville who were still within the local F.C.S.S. borders could participate.
“From the surveys I just want an affirmation of if there's hidden homelessness or not, and people's perspectives on hidden homelessness,” said Polege-Aulotte.
Last week, the group also held a community conversation on hidden homelessness at the Parent-Child Centre in Bonnyville. While the turnout was low, with only around 10 people coming out, those in attendance learned more about the issue of hidden homelessness in the Bonnyville area.
The conversation also included a presentation, which highlighted the costs of living in the Town of Bonnyville. Despite the low economic times we're currently in, an increase in the available housing hasn't dropped prices. In October 2014, the average home in Bonnyville cost $385,332 while the most expensive home came in at $567,500. In March 2015, the average home rose to $400,731 and the most expensive home sold for just under $1.15 million.
Those in attendance at the community conversation shared their thoughts on why people become homeless. Reasons that were brought up include unforeseen circumstances such as injuries or illness, job losses or pay cuts, a lack of affordable housing, the non-existence of emergency housing and people who live on fixed incomes such as seniors.
Sparks expressed that to reverse homelessness something needs to be done by the province, as there is no incentive for developers to build affordable housing.
“Back in the 1950's and 60's, the province built a lot of subsidized housing. That no longer is the case. Current developers that come to a boomtown, they're more interested in making a great deal of money, they tend not to look at senior's housing or subsidized housing.”
Participants at the conversation were also asked to give their ideas on what social action is needed to try and stop the cycle of homelessness.
“We used to have CHAP homes. Each house had a maximum square footage and a maximum value. It was completely detached, you had a low-cost mortgage that you could pay back with sweat equity, you did whatever you had the capacity to do,” said one attendee.
Another participant said, “The problem is rental and housing properties were bought at top dollar, so the mortgages are high so the owners won't drop the rates.”
A point that was also repeatedly brought up is the need for public education about homelessness in the Bonnyville area. Polege-Aulotte noted that hopefully through the Hidden Homeless Project more people, and the governments, would become aware that it is an issue.
The deadline for the surveys was March 23. Once all of the surveys are gathered together, the committee will be working with Dr. Solina Richter, a researcher with the University of Alberta faculty of nursing, and Christine Vandenberghe, a research scientist with the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. Together, they will compile the numbers and determine the results of the surveys.
“(I hope) to be able to role into a two year plan of how we're going to deal with this and find a grass root solution to this problem that many boomtown communities have,” said Polege-Aulotte. “A huge issue is making (the solution) sustainable. Like one gentleman was saying, not grant reliant so that it keeps going regardless of whether the dollars are there or not.”
After the results from the surveys are compiled, Polege-Aulotte said she is hoping to hold another community conversation around May to discuss the results.
