DUMPING ON BEAVERTON IS THAT THE SOLUTION? IS THAT LEADERSHIP?

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” The ‘I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN’ MENTALITY IS RUNNING SHORT. Next year is municipal election 2022. This means that it is time to make it look like municipal elect are doing to combat the very serious and growing problem of homelessness. This past week I received the following release: The Regional Municipality of Durham and the Township of Brock have reached an agreement related to the Beaverton Supportive Housing project. This decision will help to ensure site plan approval and necessary building permits that will allow the project to move forward. The Beaverton Supportive Housing Project will address the urgent need for housing and services in north Durham. In the past year, more than 100 people from north Durham have reached out to Durham’s homelessness support system for support Offering 30 spaces for people on the By-Name list and 17 spaces for those not on the By-Name list but who require the supports provided at this site, this modular housing development will provide accommodation and access to wrap-around services to help promote life stabilization. Priority access will be given to unsheltered residents in north Durham—including individuals from the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge—who require this level of service, after life circumstances have left them without a place to call home. This project will also include a new service hub for north Durham—providing access to support services, including mental health and addictions support; medical care (virtual and/or on-site); financial assistance; rental and tenant support; life skills teaching/counselling; and addictions counselling. On the surface it sounds like a great step forward towards solving the problem of the homeless. Let’s look at this more closely. The problem is not going to go away or get better. If anything it is about to get worst. The state of the economy and the constant influx to the population n umbers. The need will ever increase. Then what is the answer. I think like in any emergency. We need to be prepared and not wait until we are knee high in it to find answers. I think the future should take into consideration. High density apartment dwellings for people in need. Apartment buildings that are highly regulated and kept to standards. Those that violate the standards to face criminal charges. I remember the Ontario Housing project along Finch and Jane for example. When they were allowed to run without standards. It had turned into modern day ghetto. We must learn from that and take the good out of those programs and learn from the bad. I propose high rise units for the homeless with the social services, medical requirements to be attached to these same facilities. We must spend our resources in programs that make sense. Not in putting the burden on other municipalities. This is what in my opinion is happening in Beaverton. It is like putting out a fire by dispersing the ambers apart to make it look as if the fire is out. The homeless fire is ever burning bright. dispersing only create further fires. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JOE INGINO IS AN ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States