What We Talk About When We Talk About Homelessness

"It’s not a mystery how to address homelessness," said Harro, "but it takes community focus."

At the end of a report on homelessness given to City Council on Monday evening, which highlighted the need for more emergency shelter space and supportive housing, Councilor Michael Payne said he thought that "advancing our ability as a government" to purchase land and housing units, or form partnerships for such projects was a necessary first step in ending chronic homelessness in our area.

"Heh, heh, heh," Mayor Lloyd Snook chuckled. "...beat that drum some more, Michael."

People gathered in chambers laughed, some nervously.

"Every chance I get," Payne responded before the laughter died.

Payne, just 26 when elected to Council in 2019, has pushed for government-funded affordable housing initiatives since being elected, and he was recognizing the need for supportive housing as another opportunity for local government to get directly involved. Earlier, Snook had…