A Boom for Some is a Bust for Others
Despite the financial crisis being faced by much of the world, Edmonton is still a boom town. However, while many of us are reaping the rewards of this boom, others are suffering from a financial crisis of their own.
The cost of housing is outrageous in much of the city, forcing many of our fellow citizens to live in slums that they can hardly afford. We have a startling number of working homeless: people who have jobs but still can’t afford a place to live.
I live on 107 Avenue, in a part of the city called the Avenue of Nations. It’s one of the poorest areas of the city. Mostly, it is inhabited by immigrants and other people who have the unfortunately distinction of being on the bottom of our social totem pole.
By virtue of where I live, I see a lot of poverty on a near daily basis. I see people who are poor for all kinds of reasons. Some are struggling with addiction, some with mental illness. Some may be immigrants whose credentials are not recognized in Canada, forcing them to try and support a family of 5 on a taxi driver’s salary rather than on a doctor’s salary.
Whatever the reason, it is the responsibility of a just society to help these people—or at least to help those who wish to be helped.
Unfortunately, I’m not an expert on social issues. I don’t know how to eliminate poverty. I’m not necessarily sure what the root causes of poverty are (though, I think I managed to touch on a few of them). All I know how to do is to draw attention to the problem.
If enough people bring this issue forward, maybe someone with solutions will step forward and make a difference.