Police and community discuss homelessness

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Keith Duggan says that in his three decades of policing in Edmonton he has watched Aboriginal people deal with the problems in their communities, and more effectively create positive change than any other ethnic group in the city.

Superintendent Duggan of the Edmonton Police Service participated in a one-day Aboriginal Homelessness Gathering held Feb. 19. It was sponsored by the Edmonton Aboriginal Committee on Homelessness and Native Counselling Services of Alberta. Human Resources Development Canada funded it. Of 65 groups invited to attend, 40 agencies were represented.

They were there to discuss homelessness problems - emergency, transitional and supportive housing - and solutions for these issues.

The Aboriginal population is growing faster than any other in Canada.

Duggan says there is a huge wave of young Aboriginals expected to move to Edmonton within 10 years. With the lack of growth of other ethnic groups in Canada, "we need these young people," he said.

"But we need to receive them in a way that helps them become stable and productive."

Duggan suggested a highly visible and easy-to-find centre to assist newcomers when they arrive.

Planning needs to start now, the police officer said, "to ensure they don't come in conflict with society."

He suggested planning to provide training for newly arriving Aboriginals from rural areas. For example, they could be taught the basics of city life and how the urban transportation system works, as well as how to be a home owner - how to change a furnace filter, mow the grass, and other details that differ from rural areas and reserves.

He said that police services can act as a catalyst to use community members to resolve problems at the first hint of trouble, before people become locked into the criminal justice system.

Information sharing and co-operation was considered a very important solution. The group determined that resources already exist to help the homeless, but there needs to be better co-operation between the agencies that are there to serve them, and more needs to be done to make homeless people aware of where to turn for help.

Another solution suggested was to create a position for a homeless persons' advocate who would act as a liaison with social services staff, agencies and homeless people.

Most of the group members agreed that there are degrees of homelessness and a multidimensional definition of "homeless" is needed.

Another solution suggested was to have a political lobbyist to initiate change in the existing system.

The requirement for a database was mentioned.

Another suggested solution was the need for Aboriginal role models.

Duggan said, "The people are out there. Their stories need to be publicized to increase the Aboriginals' pride in their culture and rightfully have a positive view of themselves."