Tragic Dumpster Divers, the Homeless May Have a Lesson for Carney and Holt

The other day I was in the fine city of Saint John, N.B. and happened to be waiting outside a South End business. Like others I began watching a disturbing pantomime unfolding across the street.

A young woman climbed into a very large dumpster and began sorting through bags of garbage, throwing down discoveries which had potential to be breakfast for her and her pals, and other bits and pieces possibly beverage containers to be redeemed for cash. Soon, a young man joined her up in the dumpster, also picking and choosing items to throw down.

Another person who was knocking on the door of the business nodded toward the dumpster divers and dismissed them as “crazy” and left, shaking his head.

Then, the young the young people lit cigarettes and headed down the street. The first woman also lit a cigarette and tottered after the others.

It struck me as tragic that these obviously homeless and hungry young people were ingesting substances that would likely shorten their lives. There are no doubt more serious examples of the toll of homelessness and addictions on New Brunswickers, but I believe the dumpster incident is a symbolic example which might galvanize others into action as it did me.

I had previously lived in the South End and loved Queen Square with its many red brick buildings. Even then it had its rough side, including poverty and some crime, but homeless did not seem as prevalent as today. Saint John always had its charm.

The problem of homelessness and the side-issues that go with it, are not isolated to Saint John, in fact Fredericton, the “quiet” government and university town has had considerable problems, as well.

A friend of mine describes Marcel LeBrun as a millionaire who puts his money where his mouth is. LeBrun made his money as a tech entrepreneur who sold his company and has become the main mover and shaker behind the 12 Neighbours “Tiny Homes Project” near Two Nations Crossing in Fredericton North.

The project consists of 99 units as well as one of the capital city’s best cafes and breakfast spots serving not only the residents of the “tiny homes” but also residents of the surrounding community. My first impression was that the integration of residents and wider community members works well.

I have not visited these homes, but I have had a coffee with my friend at the café, and I saw that this facility is a vital part of the solution for citizens who have been disadvantaged for a long time.

Meanwhile, the United Way for Saint John, Kings and Charlotte, with Alexya Heelis as the dynamic Executive Director is undertaking a similar project, but a difference.

The United Way offices in Saint John are in the Waterloo Village area of the city, near the Anglican Cathedral. These offices are in the heart of the homeless population of the Port City.
Heelis points out that the organization she leads is undertaking an affordable housing project like Fredericton’s, but with larger units (350 square feet each) in the East Point area. The development will have extensive wrap-around services such as in mental health and addictions.

The United Way is aware that the homeless must build skills, such as “being a good neighbour”. For their part, other citizens like the person outside the business in the South End, see dumpster divers as “crazy.” Heelis points our that the average person needs to keep his or her compassion for the plight of others. “The homeless are our sons and daughters.”

As Heelis puts it, the housing project in the East Point area aims to achieve permanent, not transitional housing, and activity is building toward a hoped-for December conclusion.

In nearby St. Stephen, there is another example of homelessness which has become very close to a desperate situation.

Peter Fitch, a thoroughly community-minded citizen lives with his wife on St. Croix Street in the town near the homeless shelter.

Along with  other concerned neighbours, Fitch has come to the conclusion that “it is not appropriate for government agencies, like the provincial Social Development department to partner with non-profits to create a business that places group homes or shelters in the midst of residential areas…without any sense of what it does to a neighborhood.

“It’s not right,” Fitch says.

In a document aptly entitled Layers of Harm a group of concerned citizens and neighbours have said: “It is not right to harm one group of people while you are trying to help another.”

Fitch and the neighbours have seen numerous examples of a worsening situation in the neighborhood, a few of them documented in the Layers of Harm report:

“We have seen people from town come to the shelter to buy drugs; they stand outside the fence until someone comes to see them and approaches; they explain what they are looking for and soon another person will come out of the shelter property…alarmingly , we have seen local teenagers hanging around and looking as though this is something they would like too…”
“Many people, especially seniors, no longer feel safe in this town,” according to the report.
Fitch points out there have been three or four threats to women in the recent days.

Regretfully, we don’t have the space in a single blog column to document these issues fully. Suffice to say, homelessness and addictions have become a significant issue in the current municipal election campaign in St. Stephen.

This column has tried to provide a glimpse of a very serious situation in several locations in New Brunswick and no doubt elsewhere in Canada.

These problems are real, particularly for those living in homeless encampments and the neighbours of often-degraded settlements.

Prime Minister Mark Carney makes a great deal out of the need for projects of “National Importance” for the country. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has pursued such projects with great energy.
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We believe that all levels of government need to tap into the fight against homelessness and addictions before we lose any more of our young people to poverty, addiction, malnutrition, suicide or a general waste of their lives.