VICTORIA COUNCILLOR PITCHES FAIR IDEA TO HELP HOMELESS

Such events worked in U.S., Hughes says, so how about here?

Trade fairs showcasing products or available jobs are commonplace, but
now a Victoria city councillor would like to see a homeless fair.

Helen Hughes put out the idea last week at council, saying such fairs
have been a success in larger U.S. cities in helping homeless people
find services they need.

In San Francisco, valet parking for grocery carts is offered to the
attendees looking to upgrade their knowledge on how government and
social agencies can help them with their plight.

Hughes's idea has been sent to a committee called the Downtown Social
Service Providers to see if it has value for Victoria. Represented on
the committee are a range of agencies that provide services on social
issues affecting the downtown.

"There are so many groups doing bits and pieces" on homelessness, said
Hughes. A fair might bring those people together and help people who
don't have homes.

Coun. Dean Fortin said the issue is not that the homeless don't know
where to go for service, but rather there are gaps in what's available.

There are 1,200 affordable housing units on the market and 1,800
people on the waiting list, Fortin said.

Similarly, the city has a shortage of detox beds to assist those who
want help with their addictions.

That was highlighted in a Victoria police report stating that downtown
there are 315 homeless people -- defined as those who don't have a
roof over their heads and excluding those who couch surf, live in
hotels, or who find other night-to-night accommodations beyond
emergency shelters.

The report prepared by Insp. John Ducker and Sgt. Darren Laur noted
163 of the 315 live in doorways and parks and state hunger isn't an
issue given the number of food providers. But Ducker said the city
needs more shelter beds.

The report drew attention to an estimated 45 intensive intravenous
drug users on the street who had formed a "tribe-like" culture and
often hang out in the 800-block of Cormorant Street.

Police included anecdotes from their count including one about
23-year-old "Will" who received a six-figure inheritance controlled by
the public trustee. The report noted that "Will," who is HIV positive,
has lived on the street for two years and does 20 to 30 grams of
cocaine or heroin each day.

The figures prompted Coun. Geoff Young to do some mental math after
asking police for the cost of cocaine.

Ducker said current cocaine prices are around $90 a gram, and 100 per
cent of that would be funded by criminal activity.

There is an unspoken assumption that if the homelessness situation can
be solved, these other problems will be resolved, said Young.

"There is a very major drug-use issue that is creating very serious
problems. It's possible that in providing shelters to some degree it
also creates a problem in making the problem a little less acute for
[the Vancouver Island Health Authority] and the provincial government
who have a responsibility to provide treatment."

Young said police could "solicit" people for treatment by arresting
them, but "the reason we don't arrest them is there is no treatment
. We are allowing the problem to continue on."