Wow, did she ever resemble my mother. Her short white hair and petite frame reminded me of my mom. She was perhaps 65 years old, or maybe just 55, but life as a homeless person had taken a toll on her body.
She considers the Peninsula her home, but for over the last year she’s been unhoused. Most recently she’s been living at a shelter in Richmond. She came to see me because she didn’t want to go back. She didn’t feel safe in the shelter.
She was hungry so I gave her a bun and cheese to eat, the only leftovers I could scavenge from the fridge. We had fed 127 hungry people the night before at our church’s community dinner before we ran out of food. She devoured the bread like she hadn’t eaten in a week. She thrust the bottle of water to her lips, gasping “I haven’t drank anything all day.” I looked at the clock on the wall behind her, it was 4:45 pm.
Where could I send her here on the Peninsula for a safe night’s sleep? What would you do if she showed up unexpectedly at your door?
We estimate there are 80 to 100 unhoused persons on the Peninsula. How do we assist the vulnerable like homeless ‘Helen”? According to one survey, over 90 per cent of BC residents say affordable housing is the number one issue in this upcoming provincial election.
As a Peninsula Homeless to Housing Task Force (PH2H), we are hosting an important all-candidates forum on Friday, Oct. 4. It will take place at 10 a.m. at Semiahmoo Library on 152 Street in South Surrey. The focus will be on affordable housing.
Candidates running for all major parties in South Surrey and White Rock have been invited to this forum. We have some pointed questions for the candidates to address our local housing crisis, and we intend to hold them accountable to the answers they give that day at the library.
Perhaps you have some questions you’d like asked that relate to affordable housing. You can submit your question in advance by emailing ph2htaskforce@gmail.com or by submitting it on that Friday morning at the meeting.
Together we can create a better life for all residents on the Peninsula. It begins this fall with electing the right candidates who will provide strong leadership to see human flourishing for all persons here in South Surrey and White Rock.
Rick Bayer is the lead pastor of Gracepoint Community Church and the chair of the Peninsula Homeless to Housing Task Force.
