We walk right by them along the busy city streets as we go about our daily business. They sit on the cold, hard sidewalk, unnoticed. They are the homeless. And some of their stories are heartbreaking.
“These personal stories can really hit close to home,” said Abe Oudshoorn, chair of the London Homeless Coalition (LHC). Founded in 2000, the organization’s main mission is to end homelessness through coordinating community responses to the issue.
“We focus on strategic planning, explore shelter specialization, what the needs of the homeless are, what kind of services they need, and getting housing and support for them,” Oudshoorn said.
Oudshoorn, 32, a Nursing professor, advocates for eliminating homelessness in London through the LHC. His passion for helping people on the street began 15 years ago.
“One of my family members was homeless,” he said.
Before he became a professor at Western, the registered nurse worked for London InterCommunity Health Centre, using his nursing skills to help those on the streets. In 2010, his work expanded as the organization he founded, the London Homeless Outreach Network, merged with the LHC.
“It was a good mix because Homeless Network was more action-based, while LHC was more strategic-based,” Oudshoorn said.
With 250 volunteers, several of them students from Western and Fanshawe College, the not-for-profit organization provides services to help the homeless get back on their feet. Oudshoorn added the LHC receives great participation from students.
“Occasionally, students will go from class to class with speeches about homelessness. And the projects they do are great,” he said.
Kopinnath Thiyagalingam is one of those participating students. A third-year Neuroscience student, the 19-year-old finds helping the homeless inspiring.
“It really comes down to that social interaction and how you present yourself by acknowledging they’re human beings,” he said. “When you don’t do that, it really does hurt (them).”
Lately, the organization has been creating medical respite care clinics, and working with First Nations communities. Since it does not have a fixed budget, the organization depends on volunteers, donations and some government funding. However, this has created some frustrations for the coalition.
“We are seeing a decreased assistance in funding at the federal level,” Oudshoorn said. “Social housing costs a person $200-$300, but it doesn’t match up with the cost of normal rent, plus food and other necessities.
“So people are either homeless, or they go hungry.”
Oudshoorn added London’s annual budget for the homeless — which is given to the city’s municipality by the Ministry of Community and Social Services — was reduced from $11 million to $8 million.
“The waitlists to get these services can range from months to years,” he said.
In addition, the homeless are “subject to factors” greater than what the LHC can control. Oudshoorn said many homeless individuals are victims of mental illnesses, drug addictions and “violence toward youth is a serious issue.”
“Everyone has the right to be housed,” said Grant Martin, LHC vice-chair. Martin has also been working on getting better support services for housing and “working with those in our community who are most vulnerable. But getting the system to change is the most frustrating.”
Oudshoorn said the LHC is also working on a system that tracks the rate of homelessness in London, because currently, there are no records or statistics on homelessness.
“We have to be careful with how we place our resources because there is not a lot to go around,” he said.
While there are many obstacles that come with providing all the necessary needs for the homeless, Oudshoorn said, “knowing there will always be a need is what keeps me motivated. It’s inspirational when people become successful.”