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Dear Friends Fighting Poverty and Oppression:
I am undertaking an action regarding one of the cities brand new programs that has been set up in the Union Mission for
Men, 35 Waller St. Ottawa. This program for the homeless has Mayor Larry O'Brien's crack down on the homelessness philosophy
written all over it. Currently my action is just taking the form of a writing campaign.
The new program is called Hostels to Homes and Employment. This program has been set up recently with federal money and
has operational guidelines from the city that are hideous.
I am going to do my best to expose this travesty of justice. I am writing to council, the Federal funders, editorial to
the press, community groups and activist groups, my email list, this website and any other method of exposure I can think
of.
To the right here is a scan of one of Stewart Poulin's art pieces.
Stewart Poulin is a top end artist who happens to be a client of the mission. And among other criteria the mission staff
told him "he must put aside his art until he changes" as one of the criteria for getting help to find accommodations
from their new program.
The reason I am so upset is because I have been fighting for better treatment of the homeless by the city and police for
a number years now and just in the past year I have seen results. The drop-in centres in the past year have been having tremendous
success with client directed programs for the homeless. They were able to do this because they have a supportive client directed
approach and they got funding for support staff, and the housing registry is finally placing street involved homeless persons
in subsidized housing. And the police have stopped beating them up and putting them in jail for begging and sleeping outside.
(although they still ticket them for panhandling)
There is also a CMHA program that has been operating for several years with great success that has this client centred
approach the city could also use as an example of what needs to be done.
Well contrary to what the city finally knows for sure works this new mission program is severally staff directed boot
camp military style. I tried to discuss this with the administration without results. I have dealt with the mission for years
and it is not typical of the mission to run this type of boot camp style programming. I have never had to go beyond the management
when I have had an issue with the mission. I find this change in operation styles very disturbing.
One of my concerns about the mission has always been that they do not provid assistance to their clients to find and maintain
housing. Therefore I was pleased to here that they had just received some funding to do just that. But this draconian criterion
now has me extremely concerned for the psychological safety of their clients.
When Stewart first told me about what was going on I phoned his councilor who I knew previously from one of the drop-in
centres. He had just been hired at the mission for this new Hostels to Homes program. I had a good rapport with him at the
drop-in centre and found him to be one of the more supportive and understanding councilors. I expected to be able to help
Stewart negotiate for the help he needed without the requirement of giving up his art. But I was met by this councilor with
unexpected hostility.
I therefore spoke to Diane Morrison the director. She told me that she agreed that the program needed to be client directed
like those at the drop-ins and negotiation was the most appropriate way to proceed. She said she would speak to the councilor
and ask him to negotiate with Stewart.
A few days later I went in with Stewart to speak to the councilor and the councilor brought in the coordinator of the
program. They both stated that they had not spoken to Diane and it would not have made any difference because the City sets
the criteria and they were following the criteria of the funding model.
They were both aggressive and defensive. He was simpily trying to tell them how disrespected he felt about being told
he must put aside his art, which was an important part of his spirituality. Some of Stewart’s art work and writings
are politically and spiritually based and as he said to the councilor it is like asking him to give up his arm to be part
of the program.
Stewart does not have good job prospects although he has a stolid employment background because he has a serve neck and
back injury. Therefore, production and distribution of his art is the only likely way that he can become self-supportive.
But he needs assistance with getting safe affordable housing, stable income which means assistance in producing and distribution
his art, and medial treatment for his physical condition and his emotional trauma. HE DOES NOT NEED A STICK BEATING HIM OVER
THE HEAD WHILE AN ELUSIVE CARROT DANGLES JUST OUT OF REACH.
I am trying to get Stewart help from elsewhere and we do have a few things going on to help him. But he should not have
had to go through this trauma at a time like this and my concern is also for those other vulnerable individuals who are subject
to this type of treatment.
Please jump in if you have any influence with this process or capacity to expose this inhumanity or have some help for
Stewart.
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