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By Tiffany Goodwein

Medicine Hat Housing Society urges compassion for city’s vulnerable

May 9, 2021 | 6:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– In an impassioned letter penned Friday, the Medicine Hat Housing Society implored citizens to exude greater empathy and compassion for the city’s vulnerable.

Written by Jaime Rogers, Manager of Homeless and Housing Development, the letter highlighted harmful perceptions of the vulnerable community, and how those need to change.

“We have arrived at a point where some are of the opinion that those who do not have a home to call their own do not have the right to walk down the street together, congregate outside a building, share a smoke, connect with friends through conversation all because of what….because they do not fit what our community deems acceptable,” Rogers said in her letter.

In a phone interview with CHAT NEWS, Rogers said the issue surrounding the downtown daytime shelter, has brought some of the harmful perceptions to light. The shelter was put place as an emergency response to COVID-19 but it has faced an onslaught of opposition from some members of the business community.

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“If this was a flood, no one would bat an eye, if there was a catastrophic fire, and people needed help I think the response would be very different in our community.” Rogers said,

While some negative perceptions have been brought forward in recent months, Rogers said those views have likely been in the city for some time.

“I would say overwhelmingly there is a perception, and perspective in community that every one that is experiencing homelessness is a criminal, have severe mental health issues, is a drug addict, that refuses to get a job, all those negative myths are reemerging in community,” she said

Those perceptions she said, have brought with it an element of shame, which in many ways has prevented the vulnerable from accessing services, and finding their voice.

“When I talk with our individuals that are experiencing homelessness they don’t want to be associated with that. That is not who they are. Them getting categorized into one group would be like us saying all the businesses in community are bad,” Rogers said.

The negative perceptions, according to Rogers, don’t stop at the people considered vulnerable but the social service agencies that support them. She said it is important to note agencies such as the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society are there for everyone in need, adding the public would be surprised to learn just who comes through their doors on a regular basis.

“We have had businesses bring in their own staff members because their income is so low they can’t afford their rent.” Rogers said.

Recently, the location of the downtown daytime shelter has brought forward questions as to how to balance the social service sector, while still satisfying the business community.

But Rogers said there are solutions. One of them is a 24-hour hostel model, something the Medicine Hat Housing Society has been working to implement for some time. Unlike models that are already in place, Rogers said the hostel model creates accountability on the person accessing services.

“ We have a number of folks that are utilizing the shelter system as a home, and many of them do have a source of income, whether that’s employment or social assistance of some sort. We don’t want people to use the shelter system as a home,” she said.

Under the proposed hostel model, only 10 emergency shelter beds will be available. The intent is to move individuals into a hostel, once their emergency stay is over where they are then required to pay rent, and in turn, receive services to access more permanent housing.

The proposed model is still a working progress, according to Rogers. Going forward the Medicine Hat Housing Society will be working towards educating the public on destigmatizing perceptions of the vulnerable.

In the meantime, Rogers said there are some simple strategies to eliminate bias perceptions. These include talking to an individual who may be experiencing homelessness and asking questions in a friendly manner. She also recommends looking at the real-time data, available on their website to better inform yourself on the situation in Medicine Hat.