No Let Up in Fight for Social Justice

Gatineau Demonstration During Summit on Homelessness

On April 17, during the Summit on Homelessness in Gatineau at the Maison du Citoyen, people experiencing homelessness held a rally. The event was organized by the Outaouais Regional Collective Against Homelessness, and a spokesperson for the Collective pointed out that those who are directly involved, working on the streets and who know what's going on should be heard.

Organizers gave a number of people who are living or have lived through homelessness the opportunity to speak of their own experience, and each explained how anyone can find themselves on the street because of a fire, rents going through the roof or a lack of affordable housing. One woman explained that she had been homeless and that a women's shelter had taken her in, showing the importance of such community organizations in people's lives and how they should be properly financed.

Another woman who lives in the camp next to the former Robert Guertin Arena, a camp that is under threat of being dismantled, said: "They want to get rid of us and separate us, hoping that we will keep our mouths shut. We can no longer close our eyes to things that concern us all. We are not consulted and we are informed at the last minute. We don't know what will happen to our camper-trailers. We have to start all over again. When will we, as vulnerable citizens, be listened to properly? We are citizens, living men and women, and all we want is to participate in the solutions to problems that concern us."

Such was the message expressed by all who intervened -- to be treated with dignity, as human beings and full-fledged members of society. After having shared their stories, everyone shouted: "End homelessness! We want solutions!"

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This article was published in

Volume 54 Number 3 - April 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/M540037.HTM

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