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Blogs by Patrick Joesph Schnerch
Breaking the Silence 3/21/2009 10:37:25 PM
You thought that 'City of Gardens: The Other Side of the Fence' was rough on mainstream society. Just wait! It only gets worse. This time I have my friends on the street joining me. 'City of Gardens: The Invisible Society' will spotlight Victoria's most vulnerable by giving them a platform to be heard and seen. Their stories and opinions of what has happened on the streets for the past year will serve as the basis of this book. I want to replace stats, figures and and surveys with real names.
A great percentage of the book will focus on our "Invisible Society". You already know the facts and truths about these conditions and current situation we are in, it is time now to put some meat on the bones.
The silence will be broken March 1st, 2010 when the book comes out next year. Segregatition, stigma and discrimination will take a severe blow to the head when the silence will finally be broken. The best way to monitor our social situation is to go to the source. They live, breathe and bleed red like the rest of us, now this book will give them the opprotunity to be heard. No longer will you hear cries and whispers, but it will words with your blood on them.
They are tired of clawing their way out of the cracks of society, but don't have the resources to be successful. Efforts by the government, service providers and the public fall short of making any progress dealing with mental illness, addiction and homelessness.
After one year, you will receive your report card. It looks like you will have to repeat another year. The failing grade was inevitable for the target was against our most vulnerable not for them. Increased police interactions on the street, bylaws and violated constitutional rights were the main focus on the streets.
Shelters provide very little in comfort to a homeless person. Filthy conditions, personal safety and insecurity of their belongings make sleeping in a doorway of a business much more desirable. Shelters are only a quick fix. Millions of dollars on a new shelter on Ellice Street could easily be used to house and support dozens of homeless people in permanent housing.
We don't take into account of those with dogs, couples or children. What are they supposed to do? We have people sleeping in cars, under bridges and in the bushes hidden away in our parks. Under these conditions, it is not rocket science that they would resort to drugs or alcohol for temporary relief just to get them through the night.
This is why 'The City of the Gardens Collection' is so harsh on mainstream society. My friends on the street and I are going to kick your royal butt right up to the top of your head in this new book. You will break wind every time you blink. I have very little concern for feelings of a society that allows homeless people to die on the streets. I feel that my friends and I are justified in speaking out.
The one thing that a homeless person does have is the freedom of speach. 'City of Gardens: The Invisible Society' will provide them the platform to exercise their rights. It will be their words formed by blood, sweat and tears. I fight for what I believe in and nothing will change that. I believe in our street people, do you?
