[h3]Housing B.C. homeless would save $211M: report[/h3]A study says providing shelter for the homeless with severe addictions and mental illness throughout British Columbia could save taxpayers millions of dollars. "Addiction is the most prevalent mental health problem in both the street homeless and at-risk populations, followed by concurrent disorders and, less frequently, mental illness alone,'' says the Simon Fraser University report. [/p] The paper -- entitled "Housing and Support for Adults With Severe Addictions and/or Mental Illnesses in British Columbia'' -- says providing non-housing services for such people costs the public system more than $55,000 per year per person. [/p] It says providing adequate housing and supports could reduce this cost to $37,000 per year. [/p] The team of researchers -- from SFU, the University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary -- says the overall "cost avoidance'' of such a plan is about $211 million per year. [/p] "The costs of providing supported housing and other health services to this population . . . is lower than the cost incurred through the use of emergency departments, the corrections system and emergency shelters when they are homeless,'' the report says.
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[a href="vny!://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080322/homeless_costs_080322/20080322?hub=Canada"]Link[/a]
In a country and fully developed world which preaches that everyone is equal; that goes to other countries and demand equality in the places don't have equality, we sure like treating our own well. When will we as a society realize we're stronger as a whole if everyone is truly "created equal". Homeless people aren't some pest of society, they're Canadians and people just like the rest of us.
SD Wrote:
The paper -- entitled "Housing and Support for Adults With Severe Addictions and/or Mental Illnesses in British Columbia'' -- says providing non-housing services for such people costs the public system more than $55,000 per year per person.
I think this says it all
why are we spending more than the national average for what a person makes, more than what a BC'er makes..
and then let all the services go to waste as they continue on the streets
Come on Russ, this plan worked well for Cuba!!(//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/10.gif)
Van wrote:
Come on Russ, this plan worked well for Cuba!!(//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/10.gif) [/DIV]
Ha! This IS true.
When will we as a society realize we're stronger as a whole if everyone is truly "created equal". Homeless people aren't some pest of society, they're Canadians and people just like the rest of us.
It's unrealist to say everyone is created equal....the natural and imperfect process of creation dictates otherwise. It's a lovely sentiment....but it just isn't so, nor can or will it EVER be so.
I wanna live in the United Federation of Planets...24th century...
I've been there. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/e058.gif" border=0]
This whole report seems kind of.....[img height=20 src="vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Other/28.gif" width=19 border=0] ....
(//vny!://www.sherylfranklin.com/images/trek/women/tng/guinan1.jpg)
P.C. is....Guinan? No wonder she's not only bartender of the Ebony Lounge, but counsellor to DS.
What report.
Preventative spending can be cost effective if carefully applied.
ie Fire/emergency prevention versus fire fighting/ emergency rescue, free public vaccination versus disease treatment
But..not to be cynical or anything... in general, gov't famous for throwing money at a problem.
P.C. wrote:
What report. [/DIV]
LOL! the SFU report saying BC would save millions by spending millions...????
I know.....(//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/4.gif) ....that's alien humour.
If we all spend more than we earn, and give our great faith the government will take care of us, we can sit back and.......OMG!!!
wait! is there room for one more in the 24th??!! Please let me join you!!
Im just thinking that we should all stop working and let the big guy take care of us all. Seems to work for lots of people... lol
if we decide who gets human rights in this country (taking P.C.'s view), then we should stop preaching to the world about human right violations. The simple fact that you'd let people just die on the streets and not help them have a roof over there head, is criminal. You neglect a baby or child, you're looking at prison, but if its an adult its okay. insane logic here.
if we decide who gets human rights in this country (taking P.C.'s view), then we should stop preaching to the world about human right violations. The simple fact that you'd let people just die on the streets and not help them have a roof over there head, is criminal. You neglect a baby or child, you're looking at prison, but if its an adult its okay. insane logic here.
My comment isn't really a 'view' or an opinion....it's reality. I was referring to how one is born. We are not all born equal.
Issues regarding the homeless are complex...and there isn't a single solution that will work for all. I watched a program once where they spoke with 'street people' and they were offered housing....some were even offered 'A house'.....and many refused.
I think the problem is rooted far deeper than the end result. I'm sure if there were a more rigorous 'qualification' to have children...many would never end up on the streets. I agree that throwing money at a problem is not always an effective solution.
I certainly find comparing child neglect with adults a little off.....and I also don't believe that people think it's 'ok to let people die on the streets'.
well it seems to be okay, I always here the dead guy on the corner in Vancouver story and nobody stopping to help or even notice.
Sportsdude wrote:
. The simple fact that you'd let people just die on the streets and not help them have a roof over there head, is criminal. You neglect a baby or child, you're looking at prison, but if its an adult its okay. insane logic here.
A lot of Vancouverites are trying to make ends meet, you think throwing money at the issue is going to help anything? Yes, there are some sad cases, but a TON of those homeless are there for many different reasons. There are a lot of programs too, but you know what? A lot of people on the street, people have tried to help, and they just don't want it.
You are pretty ignorant comparing a father or mother neglecting their baby to the homeless problem. .
All I know is, throwing money at the problem in the way that cheeseball SFU report suggests, is pathetic.
well it seems to be okay, I always here the dead guy on the corner in Vancouver story and nobody stopping to help or even notice.
I think you might be envisioning something different than what takes place. When it happens (and it's not as common as you are making it sound)....it's often in areas where they are amongst 'their own'....not in front of the Westin Bayshore. It's not like they're lying at the bottom of somebody's driveway in their beautiful home in the suburbs where Joe business guy is stepping over him on the way to his car. The chances of your average guy, walking down the alley ignoring these people, in DTES is highly unlikely....because it's not an area where your average guy would likely BE...which is where this type of thing would occur.
this was a skytrain platform.
Sportsdude wrote:
this was a skytrain platform.
Yes Sh*t happens! Humans are not the greatest of species, including Canadians. But there is a lot of good people helping other people around the Lower Mainland without asking for handouts from the government.
This is not a new concept for Canadians. Money gets blown, mismanaged, farted away. The problem never changes. Except we become poorer as a population who are sick of being overtaxed as it is.
Oh....you didn't mention a specific incident. You said I always hear about............
So I assumed we were talking in general.
You make it sound as if you are the only person who cares. I think a greater percentage of people care than don't care....but like many things....we don't have answers to some of these problems......nor is it something the majority of us run across in our daily lives.
(//vny!://991.com/newgallery/Aretha-Franklin-Here-We-Go-Again-119290.jpg).
P.C. wrote:
Oh....you didn't mention a specific incident. You said I always hear about............
So I assumed we were talking in general.
You make it sound as if you are the only person who cares. I think a greater percentage of people care than don't care....but like many things....we don't have answers to some of these problems......nor is it something the majority of us run across in our daily lives.
if people care I sure don't see it. I dunno I saw a guy who was bleeding/sleep on a skytrain platform. Nobody noticed. It just reminds of everyone after 9/11. Unphased by anything and everything. Either everyone is cynical about everything or they simply just don't give a damn anymore.
You don't see homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes everyday? I seem to, they're not that hard to see.
[FONT size=5]Woo HOOOOO.... [/FONT]Vinyl !!!!
[img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/musik/f015.gif" border=0]
if people care I sure don't see it. I dunno I saw a guy who was bleeding/sleep on a skytrain platform. Nobody noticed. It just reminds of everyone after 9/11. Unphased by anything and everything. Either everyone is cynical about everything or they simply just don't give a damn anymore.
You don't see homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes everyday? I seem to, they're not that hard to see.
So what did YOU do for the guy that was bleeding. You're making really obnoxious assumptions about people. I happen to know.....and YOU happen to know, that sometimes people don't reach out for fear. (you must have a short memory)
No....I don't see drug addicts and prostitutes everyday. I can't even say I see them more than once or twice a year.
Sportsdude wrote:
........... I saw a guy who was bleeding/sleep on a skytrain platform. Nobody noticed. It just reminds of everyone after 9/11. Unphased by anything and everything. Either everyone is cynical about everything or they simply just don't give a damn anymore.
What did you do for the bleeding/sleeping guy?
bandaids and coffee
I looked for a secruity person to say somebody needs help, couldn't find anyone. I doubt if I started saying "hey guys this guy looks dead!" vancouverites wouldn't respond too well or at all. lol
OMG Lil Me......have you ever thought about doing a stint at Yuk Yuks ?
I looked for a secruity person to say somebody needs help, couldn't find anyone. I doubt if I started saying "hey guys this guy looks dead!" [FONT color=#0000bf]vancouverites wouldn't respond too well or at all[/FONT]. lol
THAT did it. I withdraw from this conversation.
You have a good heart, SD.
what? I was with 3 Vancouverites said "hey you know there's a guy who is bleeding on the station back there" they all shrugged. First thing they told me here was "sd it'll be a shock for you to see homeless and people lighting up but after a while you'll just get used to it and not even notice they're there." Then it was the december incident when I was walking home through Harewood with a friend and seeing a prostitute get beaten up. 5 cars past nobody said "hey stop that", two cabbies drove by, nothing. The guy only stopped once we stopped and just said to cool it and he pretty much ran off after a while.
(//vny!://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module2/74156/bunny_sad_qjpreviewth.jpg).
Sportsdude wrote:
what? I was with 3 Vancouverites said "hey you know there's a guy who is bleeding on the station back there" they all shrugged. First thing they told me here was "sd it'll be a shock for you to see homeless and people lighting up but after a while you'll just get used to it and not even notice they're there." Then it was the december incident when I was walking home through Harewood with a friend and seeing a prostitute get beaten up. 5 cars past nobody said "hey stop that", two cabbies drove by, nothing. The guy only stopped once we stopped and just said to cool it and he pretty much ran off after a while.
Yeah, you are a real hero SD!
Funny how Vancouver is no longer this utopia you used to paint it as before you moved to the Island. I could dig up pages and pages from DV of how "amazing" Vancouver is. Now Vancouverites are a heartless bunch that don't give a crap about humanity.
You are a petty boy, with a small mind. Good luck with your life! I respect any opinion even if I disagree. It is the generalization you never give up that makes me want to vomit. From Quebecers, Islanders, Vancouverites, Albertans, Seattle University students...the list really doesn't end, you know everything about everyone, based on isolated incidents, a few individuals, and BS propaganda.
From, a Heartless Vancouverite.
if people care I sure don't see it. I dunno I saw a guy who was bleeding/sleep on a skytrain platform. Nobody noticed. It just reminds of everyone after 9/11. Unphased by anything and everything. Either everyone is cynical about everything or they simply just don't give a damn anymore.
How long were you observing at the platform to conclude that nobody gives a f*ck? If your answer is less than an hour, then you can't say that "everyone is cynical about everything." ADD: I'm not saying that if you were there for more than an hour that you could just say that everyone is cynical. I'm merely making a point about how quickly you may have possibly passed that judgement.
Yes, humans are not the greatest. We lead our own lives and can often miss the sight of a homeless person lying on the street but it doesn't mean that we don't care. I for one walk around the skytrain, in and out and could be totally oblivious to my surroundings. I'm too zoned into my own thoughts most of the time. That's my weakness. I know that it's something that I have to work on but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't care if I saw a child abandoned, or a kid crying alone or a homeless person who is bleeding on the street corner.
I've read and learned something about people. Some people are happy just the way they are at. If you come in to try to change something, they're not going to give the thanks you think you deserve. Many people just learn to accept their lives and live it the way they are comfortable with. You're right, some people don't give a damn but many do. And the many who do care, is what we need to give thanks to so that they can "pay it forward" more so to speak and set that example.
I just really dislike how you just go ahead and label "everyone" and come to conclusions about Vancouver when you haven't lived in Vancouver, SD. You have step foot in Vancouver for a while. I'm not saying that you can't give your opinions about Vancouver, now that you have touched it, but to generalize and conclude without keeping an open-mind, isn't too healthy.
*insert cartoon hitting the brick wall and repeat times infinity*
..........and attending to his injury and dragging his ass to a shelter is violating his civil rights