By Doreen Marion Gee

"An Evening of Hope: Building the Plan to End Homelessness" was held at the Ambrosia Event Centre on October 17. The event was sponsored by the Downtown Victoria Business Association and the Victoria Steering Committee on Homelessness. The Guest Speakers were Adam W. Legge, Director of Research and Business Information for Calgary Economic Development and Tim Richter, Project Manager of "Calgary's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness." There were many Victoria business leaders, politicians, and representatives from community organizations there. The event was informative and exceptional.

Getting Victoria's business community on board in dealing with our homeless crisis may be the smartest idea of all. And, after an evening of putting business and activists together, there was a feeling of renewed hope. Compassion can unite people from all walks of life to come together. The financial resources of Victoria’s business community give them the power to put pressure on government to solve this problem. And they can use their resources to fast-forward solutions to Victoria's housing and homeless crises.

This is all about the business sector taking the reins. "Homelessness is everybody's business" states the conference brochures and "some of the most successful and innovative projects around the world have been driven by the private sector." Calgary's 'Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness', backed by local business, is based on the Ten Year American Initiative that has had extraordinary success in ending homelessness in many major U.S. cities.

Legge talked about Calgary's housing crisis, where many people cannot find a place to live. The motivation for dealing with this issue has now become purely practical. Legge said that businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to attract or keep workers due to the lack of affordable housing. Calgary is losing people and businesses. The homeless problem runs the gamut from people living on the street to professionals who cannot find accommodation. Legge is working on solutions such as building new affordable housing, loosening building codes, restricting condo conversions, and supplying rental allowances.

"Action" is the word to Tim Richter: "We have the means to end homelessness. It has all been done somewhere else. We need to get moving." Richter said that the fact that this is an economic crisis could be the key to political will and the catalyst that pushes government to action. Also, Richter told me that the business community can set the example and "shame" the governments into joining their cause. And business is in a position to use their money as leverage to convince government to match their funds.

Particularly encouraging was their "Housing - First" premise. Legge and Richter believe that everybody deserves housing, despite addictions or mental illness. People need a roof over their head first and foremost and then we can tackle their other problems later. I was glad to see their emphasis on actually building affordable housing to house the homeless and those at risk.

Dean Fortin, City Councilor, attended the event, and recommends that in each community land needs to be identified that can be used for affordable housing and just build it. Maureen Duncan, CEO of Victoria's United Way, was saying that getting the business community involved in this issue is the best thing that could happen to Victoria.

Many people came away from the conference with a new sense of hope. And speaking of the homeless, their new best friend could be the business they sleep beside at night. Money is most powerful when used to help the least powerful.