Calgary's Homeless

Last week, I went on a tour of the Calgary Drop In and Rehab Centre with my good friend, Executive Director Dermot Baldwin. While some have called it the "Homeless Hilton", I would challenge anyone who has a home to stay at the Centre for just one night - it is far from luxurious. As we went from floor to floor, my emotions went up and down like a roller coaster - some floors give you so much hope, and on other floors, you can feel the utter despair.

Think of the CDIRC as a place with no other purpose than to deliver compassion. The staff and volunteers are amazing - all good hearted people who are helping to make this world a better place. The Centre accepts anyone - whether they are homeless because of economics, addictions or disabilities. There is a special floor where inebriated and stoned people can sleep at night, so they don't freeze to death sleeping outside. Otherwise, people in "good" condition sleep on a floor where there is more peace and quiet. People who have shown initiative to work themselves out of this situation are given counseling, as well as training and work opportunities - and, the holy grail - a slightly more private place to sleep. There were many areas where the clients of the Centre were actively training - in the computer lab, the kitchen, the second-hand clothing store and the bicycle repair shop, to name a few.

The most disturbing floor is one that was dedicated to allowing the sick to sleep during the day. You are only allowed on this floor if you have a sickness that requires sleep and rest. Otherwise, you must sleep and eat according to the schedule outlined. The smell was rancid, and it feels like you would catch some kind of infectious disease if you stayed on that floor for too long.

Some thoughts and reflections:

• I support organizations like the CDIRC, which are open to helping everyone in need, with no prejudices. My support is both as a benefactor and as a volunteer - and if your support is currently neither, I strongly encourage you to volunteer or visit a homeless shelter. You will quickly understand where your interests and passions for supporting the less fortunate lie.



• People with illnesses - both mental and physical, addictions, and those who are simply less fortunate deserve our compassion. I applaud those who work or volunteer at homeless shelters for making this world a better place. Without you, our world is less compassionate, caring, empathetic, charitable, friendly, and most of all, less understanding.



• Extremist arguments used in any debate, whether it be religion, race, politics or homelessness (ie, "they wouldn't be homeless if they worked harder") are simply uninformed. Thirty minutes in any homeless shelter would tell you that there are more complex issues at play. Educate yourself on key social issues and do your best to inform colleagues, friends and family when you encounter uninformed viewpoints.

Link: A commercial for the Calgary Drop In and Rehab Centre: