In a previous article, I mentioned the Working Group to End Homelessness (WGEH), which currently consists of 31 United Nations Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) who have come together to form the WGEH. The mission of the WGEH is “to influence the UN political proceedings to heighten Member States’ and Civil Society’s concern for and the action against the social injustice of homelessness.” There are several Catholic agencies who are members of the WGEH, including several who are Vincentian family members and, of course, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul…
The WGEH has developed a description for homelessness, which reads as follows: “Homelessness is a condition where a person or household lacks habitable space, which may compromise their ability to enjoy social relations, and includes people living on the streets, in other open spaces or in buildings not intended for human habitation, people living in temporary accommodation or shelters for the homeless, and, in accordance with national legislation, may include, among others, people living in severely inadequate accommodation without security of tenure and access to basic services.” …
Here in Canada…, we must realize the importance of addressing the issue of homelessness and the lack of adequate housing and the effect it has on so many people… The loss of human dignity, physical and emotional health and the loss of any hope for a better future are factors that are… difficult to measure. Our Society does have the ability to measure these factors during our home visits and in the other ways we are able to engage with our neighbours in need. Our personal relationship with so many people can provide us with an opportunity to listen to, advocate for and act on behalf of those in need.
Advocacy has major role regarding housing and homelessness issues and will be a major component of our housing campaign. While advocacy can be done at the national and provincial/regional levels, there is an important role that our members can play at their own municipal level. We encourage your involvement in your hometown…
One way to get started is to familiarize yourself with what services are currently available, what gaps there may be in such services and what are the opportunities to collaborate with other local agencies, organizations or faith traditions… Every council/conference is encouraged to begin talking about the issues, and how you may advocate or act locally on issues related to housing and homelessness in Canada, your province or region and your hometown.
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