Terry Paul
Choyce
September 18, 2005, Brunswick Street United Church
Last night, as the wind swept through Halifax, and the rain fell in
pounding sheets of water, I worried about the homeless people on our
streets. Where were they finding protection and warmth? Winter will soon
be here, and where will they go? At present there is no provision for
another Pendleton Place, like St. Patās hosted last year, and we hosted
the year before. I am appalled that social services has not planned
ahead for the basic shelter of people who are homeless. And I am worried
about the thousands of people who are now barely making ends meet,
because our fuel and electric bills are sure to rise dramatically this
winter, because of the high price of oil. Is anyone in government
planning how to prevent that problem? I sure hope so.
Last Wed. I attended a full day conference put on by Community Action on
Homelessness. On Sept. 23rd the government ministers responsible for
housing from all over Canada are meeting at White Point Lodge, here in
NS. CAH wanted to bring local people together to brainstorm what we need
to present to the politicians to convince them that there is an urgent
need for affordable housing in Nova Scotia, and in most of Canada. There
is enough housing, but it is priced so high people on minimum wage, or
who work part-time, or who are on welfare often cannot afford even
substandard housing. Right now, one in five children in Nova Scotia live
below the poverty level. More people use the food banks than ever
before. Our shelters are full. And there are many homeless people who
refuse to live in the shelters. Unless something is done soon to address
this problem, people will freeze to death this winter.
Bill Carr, the comedian and would-be politician gave a powerful keynote
speech. He said that the people who are left homeless by Hurricane
Katrina are better off than many of the people here. When there is a
disaster, money pours in to solve the problem Governments who say they
have no money, find it. People from all over generously donate money,
supplies, time and energy. The people in New Orleans know they are not
alone. They have hope that help is on the way, and they will be assisted
in rebuilding their lives. Here, people are hit with their private
hurricanes, and often it seems there is no one who understands, or who
can help.
The federal government has given $15 million dollars to Nova Scotia for
housing, but it can only be used if the provincial government matches
it. We could have $30 million dollars to put into creating affordable
housing tomorrow, if our local politicians would see the necessity of
this. And, ideally, we could break this vicious cycle of poverty if
money was put into relevant education and training and better mental
health and addiction services. Legislation is also needed to raise
minimum wage, and to encourage businesses to provide benefits for their
employees. Yes, that will bring up the prices of everything, but in the
long run it will improve the lives of everyone in this province.
There has always been poverty. The Bible talks about beggars and
outcasts. Jesus taught by words and example that all people are to be
treated with dignity and compassion. Todayās New testament lesson of the
Good Samaritan is about the importance of caring for one another, even a
stranger. Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and
Love your neighbour as yourself." To me, this is the most important
message in the Bible. And it is also very difficult to follow.
Last week I mentioned watching a movie called Entertaining Angels, about
the life of Dorothy Day. I did more research on Miss Day this week, and
Iād like to share her story with you. For 48 years she worked endlessly
on creating homes for people who were destitute, and on creating a
newspaper called the Catholic Worker, which published articles on social
justice, peaceful living personally and politically, and the importance
of religion in one's life. Dorothy start the paper in 1933, and it
continues on today, 25 years after her death.
©Terry Paul Choyce. Used with permission from the author.
