Homeless At Risk

There are three basic things that all life requires to survive. In order to survive and populate the community, every species of animal (including humans) on the planet earth needs food, shelter and companionship. The first 2 are usually obtained at some expense of time and (in modern times) coin. Companionship can cost but is never stable or long lasting when acquired in that form and the therapeutic value would be questionable.
In 2009, feeding a family of 4 persons in British Columbia with a nutritious food basket of locally grown fruits, vegetables and meats had a price of around cdn$872 per month (Cdn$2,616 annually) in the province of British Columbia. This works out to cdn$218 per month for a B.C. resident who decides that they need the wellness that eating right brings. If that BC Citizen also resides in a house or apartment (shelter) as a renter, rents range from moderate (around $400 minimum) for small single resident dwellings to “how much money have you got any way?” for a larger, multi person dwelling.
If the person or the family unit owns the shelter there are still costs for entertainment, communication, utilities, municipal fees and maintenance that follow the subject in most shelters of any size. The basic monthly cost to remain in the shelter and eat healthy is over Cdn$1,000 at the very minimum. With costs for all services expanding annually, most shelter will eventually exceed the income of the subject who will cut back the expense of healthy nutrition, entertainment and utilities in order to extend the shelter’s liveability.
The BC government has identified persons who pay more then 1/3rd of their income towards shelter as being “Homeless at Risk” or HAR. This is considered one step from being homeless. A sudden illness or disability, perhaps a sudden expense or change in income could result in shelter costs going negligent and the person being forced to leave the residence. New housing can be hard to find. Often this situation wears on the person and stress induced depression often leads homeless or HAR people down a course of undiagnosed mental illness.
It is even harder and more stressful if the Homeless / HAR person (*all ages) exists on a fixed income and has a disability that requires mobility equipment or vision difficulties. Many single persons suffering from disability have limited monthly income of less then CDN$1,000. Very little housing constructed prior to the early 1990’s was constructed with disability in mind, those that are accessible cost way more then the subject can afford. Most “affordable” places have stairs inside and out preventing access from people in mobility devices. Paint for the décor and adequate lighting is never put in so that a low vision person can safely navigate, even in the expensive places. There is hope though.
Programs exist through the government for grants that allow a person to “subsidize” rent for persons considered HAR. Those same grants can be applied towards renovations if HAR is caused by a disability IE your residence needs to be made “visitable” to accept your new altered ability challenge (the ability for everyone in any condition who may visit you or for you to come home if something disabling hits you suddenly). There are grants available for single parents, those that are employed but not at the pay level to make life stable and those people on provincial and federal disabilities if they pay taxes on their income. If you are homeless or HAR and feel you qualify, please contact BC Housing and other housing agencies in your community for more information on these programs. http://www.bchousing.org/