Guest Opinion Written by: Jillian Doucet
There was a recent announcement by Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity about a proposed Outreach Center downtown, which was met with as much enthusiasm as I thought it would be.
Unfortunately a loud selection of the population are up in arms and are staunchly opposed to having a facility to help people.
I don’t understand why, in this day and age, you need to tell people that it’s important to care about other people. Everyone wants a solution to the unhoused problem, but it seems like nobody ACTUALLY wants a solution to the unhoused problem other than “Go away”. Other than “I don’t want to look at your suffering every day. You’re making me uncomfortable.” Other than “Go die in a field somewhere else, because I don’t want you in my backyard.”
The “Not in my back yard” statement is the most predominant argument, but I hate to break it to you, literally everywhere is someone’s back yard.
It is really disheartening that kindness and empathy are now seen as a form of rebellion in a community that has lost its humanity and its ability to see people in crisis as actual humans and treat them with basic human decency. They see those who are struggling and want to throw them away like garbage instead of reaching out their hand and lifting them up.
There is a small group of people who want to make a difference and are met with roadblock after roadblock. It is a constant battle against hateful attitudes, misinformation, and just plain arrogance.
I have been a volunteer for a year and a half and have been absolutely inspired by the work these people do to help others. I have sat with vulunerable people, listened to their stories, hopes, dreams and regrets. I have witnessed people overdose from being caught in a vicious cycle of trying to numb their pain, and I have seen volunteers bring them back to life. Let that sink in. These people are literal life savers, and no one gives a shit because the lives they save are seen as having no value to the general population. The people who do this work are continuously pouring from empty cups, but they answer the call because no one else will. They care until it hurts, and then care some more.
Every single one of these people who are on the streets, who are suffering from mental illness, who are suffering from substance abuse, have experienced trauma in some form or another in their lives. Nobody chooses to live this life. What can we do to help them overcome their trauma? What can we do to help them overcome their addiction? The current solution of hoping that they will just go away, is not working. They shine a light on society and the ugly parts of our humanity that make us uncomfortable. They are suffering in plain sight, and you don’t care. They are freezing to death, because there’s nowhere for them to go, and you don’t care. They are dying in the streets from overdose, and you would rather just walk over them because you. don’t. care.
We are all one bad situation away from where they are sitting. If you ever experience the unimaginable of having no home, no job and nothing to your name but the clothes on your back, wouldn’t you want somebody to treat you with kindness and respect and see you as a human, and not just a nuisance or a piece of trash to be tossed away?
If we want any hope of a solution, It is imperative that we support the organizations that are trying to make a positive change, instead of turning a blind eye to the suffering in our own back yard.
Lloydminster needs to do better.
Humanity needs to do better.
We all need to work together to solve this.
Read more: Unhoused support centre proposed for downtown Lloydminster
