We're grateful for support of @TheSpec Editorial Board "So what is the solution here? Removing encampments is dealing with a symptom, not the problem. What is more it doesn’t work, as we have already seen when previous encampments have been removed only to crop up elsewhere..."1/

People who choose to sleep outdoors in urban Hamilton don’t do it because it’s the ideal solution. They feel they have no choice.Instead of continuing to fail at treating the symptom, what if we spent more time on the real solution — adequate, safe, supportive housing?..."2/

"...In the meantime, what the doctors, street workers and lawyers propose isn’t a bad alternative. It’s certainly better than what we do now to deal with those inconvenient truths." 3/ https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/07/18/a-better-way-to-deal-with-homeless-camps.html

Now is the time. If you are a group, organization, neighbour, community member, resident in #HamOnt please let #yhmcc know you support us treating our neighbours with dignity. Don't clear encampments. 4/

Handing out tents is not illegal, & it is not the problem. People who are homeless are not the problem. HAMSMaRT and @keepingsix are not the problem. We are just trying to care for each other in the ways available to us in the face of the actual problem - 5/

So let's focus on the real problem - A lack of stable, accessible, affordable, appropriate housing. Racism, sexism, colonization, homophobia, and transphobia (see this collection of publications via @SPRCHamOnt for details http://www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca/2012/06/housing-homelessness/) 6/

Thanks for listening, and supporting. Add your voice. And stay tuned to our work with @keepingsix by joining our newsletter email list (to join, email [email protected]) or become a volunteer by signing up here https://keepingsix.org/volunteer/  7/7