Homelessness is an epidemic in Canada.
Governments who prioritize big business and the wealthy have decimated the middle class and the poor. The percentage of families living paycheck to paycheck continues to grow. One lost job. One unexpected expense. And the family is at risk. As things become more desperate, there is less food, and people go hungry. It is hard to focus at school or work when you are hungry.
In reality, predatory businesses that are box stores, food service, and retailers want their employees living paycheck to paycheck. They can control them. The employee cannot file legitimate complaints for fear of being terminated.
The NovaConservative economics plans contain provisions for all workers to receive a living wage.
How Canada manages its homeless is not working. It has never worked.
If we look to how European countries treat homelessness, it is working. It is working for the homeless, for the communities, and for the countries.
A NovaConservative government would identify best practices in countries that have effective strategies for addressing homelessness, and implement them in Canada.
We have done a preliminary study, and the following are tentative foundations of the NovaConservative homelessness initiative.
- categories of homelessness identified (addictions, mental health, lost income, families, etc.)
- treatment, support, and/or training programs established for each category
- a series of levels to reintegrate people back as productive members of society
- level 4: reintegrated, with check-ups
- level 3: subsidized employment programs
- level 2: support and training to empower and motivate
- level 1: off the street and into treatment programs
Current programs require the person to be clean before being housed, but homelessness and addiction are strongly correlated, causing Canada’s current homelessness programs to fail. Many European countries houses addicted persons, then treats them for their addiction at the same time as providing support and training.
Studies have shown that this type of program actually costs less than the medical and societal costs of homelessness.