Homeless need an income source

Re: Rynor, Ottawa's homeless — let's do better than just shelter, March 20.

What a wonderful commentary by Becky Rynor. The lack of affordable housing has put so many people into poverty, dependent on some form of shelter and the kindness of charities to feed them. More housing is desperately needed for those individuals and families who now live in subsidized motel rooms as well as privately owned but poorly maintained pest- and mould-ridden apartments.

It would be so much better if the federal government would directly fund municipalities to provide those living below the poverty line with a basic income to allow at least most people to sustain themselves with dignity. The provinces and municipalities have a role to play in co-operation with the federal government, to ensure that a guaranteed living basic income would not remove the essential extras which those on disability supports require once that guaranteed basic income is instituted.

Past studies have shown that being lifted from poverty allows more people to gain the education to find work suited to their capacities, whether mental or physical, and to contribute to their communities.

A forum to examine basic income will be held at uottawa from May 23 to 26.

Carolyn Herbert, Nepean

Our social fabric has been eroded

Neither homelessness nor the lack of affordable housing is causing the malaise in our world today. These are merely symptoms of a larger problem resulting from the shift in ideology that has been eroding our social fabric over the past 30 years.

Whereas life was once good and we could afford a collective social conscience, today, because the economic pie is shrinking, it's everyone for themselves. As a society we are increasingly chasing profits and competing, which leads to an environment of “winners” and “losers.” Outrageously high rents and food prices, the stealth privatization of our health-care system, housing focused on the luxury market — these are but a few examples of our brave new world (with my apologies to Aldous Huxley).

JEAN LEVAC FILES A homeless person sleeps in the Byward Market last month. The lack of affordable housing and the high cost of food has driven many people into poverty and ultimately homelessness.