The body of a middle-aged homeless woman was found burning Friday in downtown Vancouver after she apparently tried to keep herself warm by burning candles in a temporary shelter she had built over a shopping cart.
Real sad when the only possession you have is a shopping cart with a few items and your willing to die to stay with it.
Graves, who has been an advocate for the homeless for over two decades, speculated the woman might have chosen to remain on the streets during the cold snap because many shelters do not allow street people to bring their shopping carts inside for the night.
One has to remember, people cannot be forced into shelters. There are teams out every night in Vancouver helping the homeless find shelter, if they want it, and will even provide transportation for those who do want it. But for whatever reason, there will always be those that will not accept the offers.
"Hyack" said One has to remember, people cannot be forced into shelters. There are teams out every night in Vancouver helping the homeless find shelter, if they want it, and will even provide transportation for those who do want it. But for whatever reason, there will always be those that will not accept the offers.
For some that shopping cart is their only possession,I can see why if life got so bad that you had to live out of a cart that it would be hard to leave it outside. That's all they own though.
This is so damn heartbreaking...makes me sick. The Mayor has ordered my organization, as others, to open up emergency 30 beds by 8pm tonight with shopping cart capabilities. He is also considering ordering the police to force the homeless into shelters tonight, regardless of the human rights implications. At least, there will be mental health staff on at ours, to address the issues of paranoia, social anxiety, and fear folks have around shelters.
Lets just say its been a mad scramble but we will get it up and running...im on the search for extra blankets right now and a short break in the day to eat something.
One has to remember, people cannot be forced into shelters. There are teams out every night in Vancouver helping the homeless find shelter, if they want it, and will even provide transportation for those who do want it. But for whatever reason, there will always be those that will not accept the offers.
For some that shopping cart is their only possession,I can see why if life got so bad that you had to live out of a cart that it would be hard to leave it outside.
That's all they own though.
Lets just say its been a mad scramble but we will get it up and running...im on the search for extra blankets right now and a short break in the day to eat something.
And we already house approximately 250 - 300 in various programs.