Homelessness on the Rise? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Looch City · 02-16-2016, 10:44 PM

I've started noticing more homeless people around the city recently. Now these aren't the "regular" homeless, they seem like 20-30 year olds with nothing on their backs except a dirty jacket and card board sign.

I see one every day at the ctrain stations outside of downtown and I just saw one in the Chinook theatre parking lot.

What's going on, are these people seriously asking for help or are they trying to take advantage of the situation?

blueski · 02-17-2016, 04:58 AM

I was going to get all sarcastic and post a graph of WTI over the last couple of years. But you probably have a point. I imagine it's all of the above - some seriously needing help and some taking advantage of the situation.

For what it's worth, I haven't noticed many people following my lead and start taking up stealth van living. But then again, I could be wrong, it's pretty hard to tell.

OMG!WTF! · 02-17-2016, 05:28 AM

Taking advantage of the situation? By being homeless? I don't get it. Or like are they pretending to be homeless to cash in on the riches of cardboard sign holding? I still don't get it.

Tinordi · 02-17-2016, 05:28 AM

We've gone Finnish

CliffFletcher · 02-17-2016, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Taking advantage of the situation? By being homeless? I don't get it. Or like are they pretending to be homeless to cash in on the riches of cardboard sign holding? I still don't get it.

You've never seen panhandling hippies? There have always been middle-class kids who like to slum it by living rough for a while. When I see a white kid with dreads sitting on a blanket outside a Mac's with a puppy, I know some accountant in Burnaby has a spare room going to waste.

taco.vidal · 02-17-2016, 06:42 AM

Homelessness is on the rise, especially among families with kids. Shelters and facilities that can accommodate families are bursting at the seams. There is no money to house these Canadians yet Syrian refugees are getting housed promptly on arrival in Canada.

PsYcNeT · 02-17-2016, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Homelessness is on the rise, especially among families with kids. Shelters and facilities that can accommodate families are bursting at the seams. There is no money to house these Canadians yet Syrian refugees are getting housed promptly on arrival in Canada.

Man I wish people got this indignant about Native homelessness.

malcolmk14 · 02-17-2016, 07:04 AM

Came to see how many posts it would take for blueski to mention living in a van, left satisfied.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 02-17-2016, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Man I wish people got this indignant about Native homelessness.

Where did he mention race? I understand that homelessness and poverty is a major issue in the native population, but I don't see how saying that homelessness in general is a major issue with increasing prevalence within the general population degrades that.

Also if you are truly wanting to explore native homelessness look at addiction rates, fasd, poor education, birth rates, and crime.

MoneyGuy · 02-17-2016, 07:05 AM

Half of the homeless in Canada are natives. I attended a session last night on the homeless issue. It's a big problem. One in five in my community know someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming so.

PsYcNeT · 02-17-2016, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Where did he mention race? I understand that homelessness and poverty is a major issue in the native population, but I don't see how saying that homelessness in general is a major issue with increasing prevalence within the general population degrades that.

Also if you are truly wanting to explore native homelessness look at addiction rates, fasd, poor education, birth rates, and crime.

I just think it's funny that people who previously didn't give two ####s about homeless persons, native or otherwise, are now talking about it because of the "refugees gettin' stuff!" talking points that are being circulated.

And by funny, I mean pathetic.

Tinordi · 02-17-2016, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Half of the homeless in Canada are natives. I attended a session last night on the homeless issue. It's a big problem. One in five in my community know someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming so.

If only they had a better culture like the Asian immigrants.

ranchlandsselling · 02-17-2016, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I just think it's funny that people who previously didn't give two ####s about homeless persons, native or otherwise, are now talking about it because of the "refugees gettin' stuff!" talking points that are being circulated.

And by funny, I mean pathetic.

I find it pretty funny, and by funny I mean pathetic, that you're taking on the role of choosing who is caring about homeless people the right way and the wrong way.

Good for you. Always stepping up.

PsYcNeT · 02-17-2016, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I find it pretty funny, and by funny I mean pathetic, that you're taking on the role of choosing who is caring about homeless people the right way and the wrong way.

Good for you. Always stepping up.

I guess you have a point, if you mean "caring" as "using people's legitimate problems as an excuse to bitch about refugees/refugee policy/foreign aid policy".

ranchlandsselling · 02-17-2016, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I guess you have a point, if you mean "caring" as "using people's legitimate problems as an excuse to bitch about refugees/refugee policy/foreign aid policy".

Maybe Taco.Vidal has always cared about homelessness and has dealt directly with it. Or generally finds it upsetting for personal reasons. It's a fair complaint from someone who is generally dealing with something on a day to day basis to not be able to care about the bigger picture. Doesn't mean they should be insulted for expressing their views. Or wait, you're always judging people and acting as the moral compass, so I shouldn't need to tell you that.

Bill Bumface · 02-17-2016, 11:29 AM

I wonder how short term this is. Homelessness usually drops off in times of recession:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...ed-to-decrease

jayswin · 02-17-2016, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueski

For what it's worth, I haven't noticed many people following my lead and start taking up stealth van living. But then again, I could be wrong, it's pretty hard to tell.

People with no money, living on the streets are supposed to follow your lead of spending money on a van?

calumniate · 02-17-2016, 11:40 AM

Could it be weather related? A lot of Calgary homeless ship off to Vancouver over the winters for practical reasons.

heep223 · 02-17-2016, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Came to see how many posts it would take for blueski to mention living in a van, left satisfied.

New CP drinking game

Hack&Lube · 02-17-2016, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinordi

If only they had a better culture like the Asian immigrants.

Irony in that they are the original Asian immigrants?

I can't point to any real increasing trend but on a personal basis I notice that I am getting accosted on a more frequent basis for handouts at McDonalds ("buy me some fries/burger?"), at Dollarma after I've paid at the register ("can you give me your change or two bucks?"), and at almost every busy intersection there's a guy staked out there to ask for hand-outs at every red light. It's not only annoying, but frightening as well to other friends and family members that don't know how to deal with it or feel threatened if they say no.