What have Vancouver’s political leaders been doing over the last few years to keep our homeless safe and secure? I’m not talking about pre-Olympic short-term cosmetic approaches to a serious issue. I’m talking about good solid programs that will continue long after 2010.

How sad when hosting the Olympics is the main catalyst between politicians and street people. Homelessness has plagued Vancouver for years, with the best solutions involving a broom and a carpet.

Every person has the right to a certain standard of living which includes adequate housing that is safe and secure. 

The Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) was launched Dec. 9, 2008. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and this 13-member team have succeeded in producing a perfect band-aid solution to a major problem. But government officials need to realize that adequate housing means more than temporary shelter.

Because many homeless suffer from mental illness, the city needs to provide not only adequate housing but community support for those in need. Long-term housing can be divided into three categories. Supportive housing provides long-term accommodation with a support component to allow people to live as independently as possible.

 Social housing or subsidized housing is provided to very low-income households who are capable of living independently without need for support services. On-going subsidies enable rents to be paid by residents on a rent-to-income basis which is usually 30 per cent of gross household income.

Then there’s affordable housing, which provides permanent accommodation to low-income individuals and families who earn less than the median income and spend more than 30 per cent of their gross household income on housing.

Thank goodness the Olympics has brought out the human compassion element of local politicians, even if motivated by embarrassment.

But I have to ask myself, “What would have happened if Vancouver was not chosen as the Olympic city?”  Perhaps HEAT would never have seen the light of day.

Mayor Robertson needs to take a page out of Mayor Dianne Watts’ book when it comes to dealing with homeless issues.

She was instrumental in setting up the Homelessness and Housing Foundation which put Surrey on the map as the first city to actively tackle homelessness head on.

If Robertson really wants to end homelessness in Vancouver, he needs to focus more on permanent solutions, because the homeless will still be in the streets long after the excitement of the 2010 Olympics is over.

Frank Fourchalk writes bi-weekly on home and business security for Peace Arch News. www.yourhomesecurity.ca