A local resident has started a Facebook group to help tackle the homeless situation in the Northern Capital.
It’s called Together We Stand, which has over 250 members so far with the goal of sharing thoughts and ideas to get some of our most vulnerable residents off the street and reintegrated into society.
Gerry Healy is the founder of the group and knows all too well of the struggles our homeless face on a daily basis.
“I spent seven to ten years intermittently homeless on the streets of Prince George and doing drugs until I came to my senses. My son told me one day and said Dad, you can’t see the kids anymore if you are like this and we both cried and he walked away. That was my turning point.”
However, Healy cautioned residents that everyone’s “rock bottom” is different.
“When my family was going to turn their backs on me, that’s what it took for me but everybody is different. All of the rock bottoms and every time you get to a point where you can’t go any further this way and I have to go ahead and make up my mind and change something. That is all different for everyone.”
“I can relate with these people, I have been on the streets myself. I was a drug addict before in my life and now I can see how my struggles have led me to where I am. They can do the same, they can beat it.”
“It’s a sad situation we have to work on.”
Healy hopes with enough thoughts and ideas, the initiative could spark a trickle-down effect to other communities in BC.
“This idea could spark a movement and other people could form groups like this in every city and town – bring the community together and they can reach out and do a lot to help these people.”
“I would like to see thousands or half of Prince George become part of my group because the more ideas and the more minds, the better the outcome.”
Right now, some group members are dropping off warm clothing and food items as a way to assist those on the streets.
Healy said the endgame is to find more permanent housing arrangements for this with no fixed address.
“We are just bringing them food and clothing but ultimately we want to find a better place for these people to live be it a homemade shelter in a designated area so that they are all in one place with security walking through to keep the peace and maybe some nurse-type staff to keep an eye on their health.”
“Right now, they are scattered all over the place just finding little niches and crannies to hide out for the night and they are getting kicked out of everywhere they stay and they are being told to move and everywhere they move to is the same problem. City bylaw takes all of their stuff and throws it away because they are not protected.”
“We have given up on that section of our society and this group is starting to bring these people back together again.”
Healy went so far as to say the city’s homeless issue is being swept under the rug.
“I think we could all get together, have a place for them to stay, and use a washroom that is supervised where they can live. A palate city is what we were talking where we take these materials and make them shelters.”
“The government red tape is what is standing in the way of helping these people. Everybody says why don’t they go to a shelter or check themselves into detox. Well, they are in a struggle that’s deeper that is far more complex than any one of us can imagine because our lives are normal, and in reality, if you sit down and talk to one of these folks and hear their story there is something bigger that needs to happen and mental health is a big part of it.”
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