Vancouver, Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Let me begin by thanking you, Mayor Sam Sullivan, for inviting me to join you this afternoon, as we discuss an issue that has always been close to my heart: homelessness.

The visit to Western Canada that I am undertaking is really an extension of the efforts that I have been pursuing since the beginning of my mandate as governor general of Canada. I have sought to help shed greater light on a problem that affects all of us.

As you so rightly point out in your report, Sustaining the Momentum, the housing need in Canada is now affecting one in every six Canadian households.

This means that homelessness in Canada now has a new face.

It is reflected in more and more families living on the street.

It is represented in the growing number of working men and women unable to afford permanent shelter.

It is shown in Aboriginal people for whom the dream of a better life off the reserve has been shattered by the harsh realities of poverty and exclusion in the city.

It is experienced by refugees and immigrants who left misery in their country of origin, only to find it here in the land of opportunity.

And it is manifest in the increasing tide of young people who are trading rejection and abuse in the home for the dangers of the streets.

As you correctly affirm, “Housing is a basic and fundamental issue affecting individuals and communities and an important determinant of health and well-being.”

Not only does it touch individuals and families, but it also has serious implications for the well-being of our country. For the health of a democratic society is predicated on its ability to help ensure that all its members can flourish.

And you are right. There is a momentum, or dare I say, a convergence of efforts and visions that is being felt across the country.

Just last week, I was in Calgary where I had the opportunity to participate in an invigorating roundtable discussion at the Mustard Seed Street Ministry.

This organization was founded by Pat Nixon, a former street youth. With the support of thousands of volunteers and a dedicated staff, he is now providing a variety of vital services to people who are homeless in Calgary.

During the discussion, I was moved to see how many ordinary citizens, as well as members of the non-profit, governmental, business, health, and law enforcement sectors are working together to eradicate homelessness.

They told me something that is essential.

Providing a house to a homeless person is really only the first step towards a healthy life.

They called on us to help to provide services and psychosocial supports to the newly housed; to understand the central role case- workers should play in easing the transition from the street to the home; and to bridge the cultural gap that separates what is dubbed the “street community” from the “housed community.”

Let’s face it: homelessness is a complex issue. It requires that we look far beyond mere bricks and mortar and envision new ways of tackling the problem that are more holistic, equitable and, dare we say it, more humane.

For my visit this afternoon to the Downtown Eastside was quite moving and revealing in this regard.

Through discussions at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and the Atira Women’s Resource Society and simply walking through the neighbourhood, I saw how homelessness in Vancouver, as in other cities, is disenfranchising so many people.

Just glimpse into the faces of some of the residents of the neighbourhood. You can see the sadness, the sense of hopelessness, and the feeling of being abandoned by society. This is simply unacceptable.

However, I also witnessed the heroic efforts countless women and men are deploying to assist those who are going through difficult periods in their lives. And their work is bearing fruit.

I saw similar forms of civic engagement in cities like Regina, where Mayor Pat Fiaco and the residents of the North Central inner city decided to “take the bull by the horns” and find an innovative solution to the problem of housing. Aboriginal residents, new immigrants and many others are now working together to build new houses for their neighbours and to revitalize their community. This is just incredible.

I must tell you that I will return to the Downtown Eastside tomorrow evening for a meeting with 150 young residents of the neighbourhood and of other parts of the city. This urban arts forum is part of my national tour to highlight the ways urban artists are combating youth crime and gang violence while empowering youth to improve their neighbourhoods.

This is important because we cannot forget that youth initiatives also are a central part of the solution. Their efforts must be included if we are to put an end to homelessness in Canada.

Let me conclude by saluting the determination of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities. By working to increase access to decent and affordable housing across the country, you have decided to take ownership of the issue.

In Africa, they say it takes a village. Here, as I said in Calgary, it takes a community.

Homelessness is an issue that affects Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, as much as it affects smaller communities. Therefore, it is going to require the commitment of all of us, if we are going to eradicate the problem.

But I am convinced that we can do it.

For we are really all working towards the same goal: building together a better future for all Canadians and fostering a stronger sense of living togetherness, or Vivre ensemble as they say in French.

Please rest assured that I will continue to follow closely the work being pursued across the country on this issue, and I will continue, where I can, to offer my support.

Thank you very much, and now, the floor is open.