Homelessness is not a problem you see a lot of or hear too much about in the Lakeland. But it exists – there really are people living here without a proper place to call home – they just don't brag about it.
They are humble; some are ashamed and most remain out of sight – living in the back alleys, bushes, campgrounds and parking lots that surround the living accommodations so many in the area are lucky enough to call home.
Maybe, before a more noticeable number of folks in the Lakeland find themselves living in poverty or without a home, we could do something about it.
We've seen the cycle happen time after time in the big cities during economic booms, where workers flock to an employment-rich locale, bumping the cost of living up and housing costs through the roof, leaving the most vulnerable of the bunch to fend for themselves, often without even so much as a roof over their head.
Housing costs are absolutely outrageous in Bonnyville, and Cold Lake is even worse, while the rest of the region is not doing much better, teetering precariously towards un-affordable.
In Bonnyville and Cold Lake, it's a mean mixture of high demand for living space, met by a small supply of places to live, mixed with extremely high and extremely low wages, all within an area rich in oil, but poor in basic social services, which produces the poverty and homelessness problems we typically only see in the ‘real' cities, but will see more of here if things do not change.
Let's be proactive, face the problem and fix it.
Interestingly, many big cities across Canada, most notably Edmonton, have tackled homelessness head on and made major steps to bring it to an end.
A recent report showed Edmonton's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness and its Housing First strategy are leading the way among Canadian cities in ending homelessness.
Housing First is the notion that providing those living in poverty with safe, stable housing is the first step towards improving other aspects of their lives, like mental and physical health, nutrition and employment.
Without a place to live, those other needs become secondary and problems become exacerbated, as the need for temporary shelter and to protect one's self throughout the night become priorities.
In Cold Lake and Bonnyville, the booming oil scene is becoming a prime location for homelessness and poverty to grow, but it doesn't have to.
Perhaps a step in the right direction would be an increase in the availability of housing – particularly the affordable type. The vacancy rate in Bonnyville and Cold Lake is nearly zero and home prices are as high as they have ever been.
The small number of low-income or social housing units that actually exist in Bonnyville and Cold Lake, where tenants pay a rent equal to 30 per cent of their wages, are all full and have been for a while.
When individuals arrive during the warms months and are unable to afford or even find a place to live, they often have temporary options – camping, couch surfing, sleeping outside. During the colder months, things become a little more complicated.
An influx of housing is severely needed for both families and individuals to help a situation on the brink of getting much worse.
Emergency drop-in centres will also help during the interim between living on the street and finding a home, especially during cold Alberta winters. Centres provide immediate short-term shelter, a place to get a meal, and access to community information.
Right now, people can access some information at a Family and Community Support Services Centre, or women and children can access emergency shelter at the Margaret Savage Crisis Center in Cold Lake, but that's about it.
Let's not wait for the problem to get really bad before we take action. Let's be proactive and put the appropriate funds into helping some of the more vulnerable folks in our communities.
We all deserve a helping hand and a place to call home.
