Ending homeless crisis takes a village

A big thanks to Postmedia for its Feb. 23 story “Tent city nation” carried by every Postmedia newspaper.

As the article observes, it will take all three levels of government — federal, provincial, and municipal — to solve Canada's homelessness crisis. What must each do? That is the question.

The federal government in 1973 instituted a national affordable housing program which created 20,000 affordable housing units annually. However, in the 1980s, the government began making cuts to that program.

In the 1990s, it cancelled it altogether, shifting responsibility for social housing to the provinces, resulting in today's rise of homelessness.

The solution is obvious:

The federal government must re-establish its affordable housing program — this time, creating 40,000 units per year to make up for lost years and the population increase.

The solution at the provincial level here in Saskatchewan is obvious. In the midst of a homelessness crisis, there are 3,200 vacant Sask. Housing units owned by the province — 700 of them in Regina. The municipal level is a bit trickier because municipalities have limited revenue sources.

As the article makes clear, municipalities across the country have reacted in different ways to the tent encampments within their boundaries.

Some have provided support and others — including Regina — demolished them, leaving residents in an even more vulnerable situation.

What can municipalities do? They can commit to including some funding for social housing in every annual budget — just as every budget includes funding to fix roadways. Cities in each province could also jointly pressure their province and the federal government to act to end homelessness. In the meantime, municipalities must support any encampments in their midst as a temporary solution.

Canada is a rich country. People are suffering and dying on our streets. What kind of people are we?

Florence Stratton, Regina