15. Worldview
‘ Judgment prevents us from
seeing the good that lies
beyond appearances’
Wayne Dyer
Notes de l'éditeur
In every city there is homelessness. Unfortunately, it exists in Kamloops. There are many judgments about this population and because of that there are two very different approaches. So I am presenting the two approaches with the hopes that by comparing them, we can see that there really is a better, pro-active way. And to also see each person as an individual with personal struggles and with the same desire as the rest of us to be happy. To be able to look beyond the stereotypes and beyond physical appearances, we can see a soul not a label. I present two maps with two very different solutions.
My first map is a deficit focus discourse. The problem with a needs-focused model is that it focuses on what’s wrong with people and veers away from addressing root causes. Let’s take a look at this approach.
‘Needs-oriented’ neighborhoods allow slum houses where those in poverty live because they cannot find employment or a place to live. Many Kamloop’s women resort to prostitution to make ends meet or to facilitate their addiction. Homeless people are drawn to houses that are abandoned to find a place to live and in turn they view themselves as deserving of this kind of life.
Without programs, crime and addiction perpetuate and the stereotype (fuelled by media) is kept in place. The population sees homelessness as a problem. Crime continues to rise. Police arrest a homeless person then release them back into society without resources. They drink or use again and continue to live on the streets.
Media is a major influence in our lives. When we are accosted with negative images and articles about homelessness, it can seem like reality and become a point of reference. In turn, homeless people become ‘them’ and there becomes a united front of distaste and avoidance. It is so much easier to avoid a concern and just address it as a problem, than to seek real answers and look these very people in the eyes as the humans that they are.
If you read this article by the Kamloops Daily News, the image below on the left is what you may think is the truth. One man was reduced to nothing and every organization that was interviewed made him out to be a burden. No one who knew him as a person was quoted. This was someone’s child, someone’s friend. What I saw, was that someone just needed a hand.
The greatest challenge is government cutbacks. All local programs have been affected to the point that it becomes a competition to acquire grants.
Social Service Agencies originate outside the community and are controlled by the government. Services cover basic necessities and there are allowances for those who have disabilities or barriers. The challenge to this option is that many homeless people do not have a social insurance number, have no permanent residence, proof of their identity or they may have warrants.
But there is another way. To refuse to see issues at face value. To seek the truth and be a part of the solution. And it takes a community. A capacity-focused alternative is a way to look at the capacities, skills and assets of homeless people and seek possibilities. We can be the chrysalis for great transformation.
A capacity-focused alternative focuses on the strength of the individual and associations within the community. It begins by giving people who are deemed ‘untouchable’ a sense of worth. In Kamloops, we have dedicated professionals who give their services for free. Local dentists, nurses, doctors and hair dressers devote many hours to ensuring homeless people have a chance to look and feel good. In turn this builds their confidence and raises their self-esteem. This is a great beginning.
Kamloops also provides services that work with individual who suffer from mental health issues and addiction. Here are some local resources. Most of these organizations are non-profit. This means they receive a small portion of their funds from the government while most of their funds come from local donations of individuals and businesses. These organizations provide a variety of resources to work with homeless people from where they are at so they can receive recovery counseling, housing, food, spiritual support, training, education and job experience. Reaching people at all levels of their being ensures they have the best possible opportunity to heal and develop the self-confidence for self-determination. Kamloops has a vast array of culturally safe practices that work with the Aboriginal population of all ages.
Services in the community provide opportunities for well-being in individuals. It is important to look beyond what we see to help a person from the inside out. Our local services work to enhance the quality of life and utilize the capacities and strengths of individuals. As one practitioner of a local housing project says ‘We will love you until you love yourself.’
It really does take a community to work together to help others. In Kamloops, local schools and churches of various denominations have food drives for students and church members to donate non-perishable food items. Everyone needs food to function and to have the gift of health. But it isn’t just about the food. When a community comes together, we teach our children the value and worth of every human being. And when people come together it creates a sense of camaraderie and good will.
Small and big businesses also assist with homelessness by donating time, labor, goods and services. When places like the New Life Mission have a fundraiser, many local businesses will donate items for auction. If a housing project is run down, they may donate labor and parts to repair items such as fences or steps. Small local businesses like Cobb’s bread donate baked items and even donate hot dog buns for a hot dog fundraiser. They even have their employees come out to help raise funds toward homelessness projects.
How we see others affects how we treat them and on a larger scale affects how they see themselves. If we look at people based on what we see, we are limiting our worldview to visual perception. But if we look at people and see what they CAN be, we see potential and possibility. And those are the characteristics that incite real change.
