City’s street people need our help

As a longtime ByWard Market busker, I have had a longer look at its problematic story than most citizens — and most politicians, for that matter. There are two tales of desperation to tell.

First, rents and taxes in that area are onerous on business, to say the least. Margins, especially for prepared-food providers and restaurants, are slim. Every new customer is a valuable beginning for them. Business frustration with the mass of street people’s behaviours is somewhat understandable.

That does not, however, excuse the recent petition that suggested street people were “cancerous.” The petition itself was a cowardly, desperate act and a greater “cancer” on the market. Businesses need to look past their front doors and patios and foster ideas of their own, They need to demand more for their taxes in terms of programs to help the indigent. Demanding governments “do something ” won’t cut the cheese.

The second tale to tell is that of the street people themselves. No one grows up with addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, loneliness and boredom as mid-life goals. City councillors pledge to help the citizens of Ottawa. Real and helpful change based on comprehensive and intense study of homelessness and addiction has never been fully embraced by city council.

We have a mayor who disagrees with safe injection sites. We have a Rideau-Vanier councillor who accepts injection sites but irrationally opposes a new advanced facility to help the “problem” even within the borders of his own ward, playing Rideau/Byward businesses and residents against Vanier residents. NIMBY rules at city hall.

I have seen enough desperate, lonely and bored street people in four decades of performing in ByWard to suggest that we need to understand better and act compassionately and smarter. We need to direct real and persistent guidance and education toward youth to avoid addiction, mental health issues and boredom as soon as possible. Let’s make the current generation of this “cancer” the last.

Thomas Brawn, busker, Ottawa