I did an informal census of folks sleeping outside today with a few colleagues, here is a thread of where people are sleeping. In our city. In 2020.
1/16

Saw someone (many someones) sleeping in a tent.
2/16

Saw someone sleeping on a park bench.
3/16

Saw someone sleeping under a park bench.
4/16

Saw someone sleeping under a picnic table.
5/16

Saw someone sleeping under a tree.
6/16

Saw someone sleeping under a bridge.
7/16

Saw someone sleeping in a car.
8/16

Saw someone sleeping in a parking garage.
9/16

Saw someone sleeping in an abandoned school.
10/16

Saw someone sleeping on a piece of wood propped up on two old tires.
11/16

Saw someone who didn’t sleep at all because they were walking around the city all night.
12/16

Saw people sleeping on public property, private property and a lot of places where nobody knows who owns it.
13/16

I think we counted at least 30 folks today, and at least twice I was on the verge of quitting and just going to cry in my car. I didn’t, and I will release some findings later, but I am so angry that we let this happen to people.
14/16

I could talk about affordable housing or more shelter beds, which we currently need, but we really need a system based on principles of compassion and empathy rather than bureaucracy. These people should not be sleeping outside now or ever, yet our system allows it.
15/16

I am tired now, but honoured that I was able to talk and bear witness to some of the most resilient people I have ever met. We need to change the system.
16/16