I know where those people are coming from, but I still have a pang of guilt if I pass them by. a few years ago, on a freezing morning, I saw an elderly lady at the bottom of Gastown - she was so scruffy and not in the least attractive, hair dishebvelled and few teeth. She came up to me and I walked by. The owner of the boot store down there knew her well and said that she was a prostitute and still in the hands of her pimp after a lifetime on the streets. He often beat her up if she didn't manage to get any 'tricks'. I've felt awful about her ever since.

I always believe that there is a "fine line" from having it all to having nothing. My belief is that do good to others and it will be done to you! Before I left the UK I looked after a disabled lady for 15 years (my next door neighbour) she was house bound and had no family. So my sensitive side has continued to follow me to Canada.

Like the UK how do these people find jobs without a home address, bank account or clean clothes. Yes there are shelters here but I havent' been in one so I don't know what it offers? Just a place to lay your head and wash your clothes! OK so many of them are "looked down upon" as druggies and drunkards, but I haven't been in that situation myself so can only imagine how hard it must be to pick yourself up in a society that clearly classes these people as a "waste of space".

To me they are humans and if a cup of coffee and a sandwich or even a few dollars is the least I can do to make them feel human then I will continue to encourage this behaviour!

Everday I wake up and are truly grateful for what I have.

" There but for the grace of god go I"

Hear hear.....Anyone heard about the Odd Squad?

http://www.oddsquad.com/

They are police officers who make videos about the East Side of Vancouver then go around schools educating young people about drug use. The first one I saw was "Tears for April". Horrifying. All recorded with the homeless' consent
They do this on top of their normal duties.

I do think that the police perform more social services than the City departments, particularly in finding housing for them.

Like the UK how do these people find homes without a home address, bank account or clean clothes. Yes there are shelters here but I havent' been in one so I don't know what it offers? Just a place to lay your head and wash your clothes! OK so many of them are "looked down upon" as druggies and drunkards, but I haven't been in that situation myself so can only imagine how hard it must be to pick yourself up in a society that clearly classes these people as a "waste of space".

Apart from the drug and alcohol problems, many such people have a mental illness so multi-problems. It's difficult to comprehend why someone would choose to sleep on a grate in -20c temperature rather than go into a shelter but many do. They have a degree of pride about themselves that we more fortunate should envy. Walk a mile in my shoes.

Having worked in downtown Vancouver for many years, I can tell you that there are many professional panhandlers; quite a few drug addicts among the homeless, and far too many mentally disabled people who were dumped on the streets by our provincial government of the day when they decided to close Riverview to save money.

I never gave cash, but daily gave some kind of food. On my walk to the bank I always gave one regular on the corner of Georgia/Burrard a hot chocolate and a cookie during the winter. Some of the panhandlers will throw food back at you because they just want the cash, but the majority of genuine homeless are happy to take it. The situation is heartbreaking and will only be relieved when they take care of the most vulnerable - the mentally disabled - and then sink some serious money into affordable social housing.

at least rich coleman is wanting to do something about the vancouver homeless situation, albeit by force.......and what about the tragic case last week of 'tracey'; the lady who died after her 'blankets' where set alight by her trying to keep warm from a candle.........terrible, truly terrible.....we should all 'help' in some very small way and not walk on by; a dollar here and there, a coffee, some food, some clothes......might be our 'turn' next! god forbid.......

I worked in a large mental hospital back home many years ago. It was called Cherry Knowle and had around 1000 patients. I remember the first news about mental hospitals being closed. It happened in Italy...I was gobsmacked, but it wasn't long before other European countries followed suit.

Oh yes, I absolutely agree with you.