06/02/2024
You are ignoring the fact that many people who have residing at the Cobourg encampment (at any location) since August, have now been housed with the support and advocacy of the Help Centre and have maintained their housing, (some have even removed themselves from the encampment to set up their tent elsewhere) and many have gone to CCFA for substance use treatments.
Let’s look at the bigger picture then, and then you will find that what I’m doing IS helping me in the long run. We are NOT all the same. I was able to start recieving OW (basic needs is only 343$ when you are homeless let me add), after this I was fortunate to obtain a temporary summer full time job with the town of Cobourg, which I have recently politely declined as I have since been offered (and have already been working) a full time job that will be ongoing rather than just 2 months, I have been attending my bi weekly appointments with Fourcast since March and in recent weeks I completed the application for the county funded 30-day treatment with CCFA for my substance use, I have scheduled my appointment with the Help Centre to complete a SPDAT assessment, complete an RGI application and do my intake with their housing support worker.
It’s completely untrue that everyone here has been offered housing (and housing search assistance), substance use treatments, employment opportunities (or support to find employment), mental health supports, housing subsidies and basic needs benefits. Because I am just ONE proof of this fact. I was not offered any service or program provided by the Northumberland County. It was all me, who reached out to people and services and was able to obtain basic needs income, then employment, addiction support and help to find housing.
I understand that I am just one person, but I’m not the only one who wasn’t offered help. You, and all of the other right winged inexorable individuals who continue to spread MISINFORMATION and HATE when you do not do the research.
I’d love to add that, alcohol, to***co and cannabis (which was once illegal but is now LEGAL) are also drugs, that I’m sure you have tried, know someone who uses the substance or someone who’s tried them.
We know that drugs are not good. People are not saying that they are. WE are not saying they are.
If you know that drugs are bad, then you would also know that using substances will affect your ability to learn, remember things, and make reasonable and rational decisions.
It’s unfortunate that there are many people who are caught so deep into their substance use that it has caused them to lose the ability to use their cognitive skills to their full extent, if at all. It’s sad.
We do not want and are not asking for free housing, we do not want and are not asking for free drugs or the ability to use wherever we want, we do not want and are not asking for you to AGREE WITH US.
WHAT WE WANT IS MORE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS THAT ASSIST WITH HOUSING AS AFTERCARE, BECAUSE NO ONE IS GETTING SOBER AND STAYING SOBER IF THEY ARE INSTANTLY INTRODUCED BACK TO THE SAME SOCIETY.
