Numbers of homeless people are down but food bank use is up dramatically. What should politicians and policy makers do with this information?
Past experience has found that nothing will change unless people make a big stink. No one did anything about reducing homelessness in the Tri-Cities until numbers climbed above 200 and people were camping in the bush, cars and empty buildings.
Now, fewer people are homeless but people are using the food banks more - and it's not just people on welfare. More unemployed, disabled and even people with jobs are lining up for a bag of groceries to get through the month.
If you think this is an untenable situation for a relatively affluent suburb like the Tri-Cities, perhaps you should make a stink and ask what your civic candidates would do to make housing more affordable in the Tri-Cities.
Where do you stand?Do you regularly contribute to Share Family and Community Services' Tri-City food bank? Vote in our online poll.
