Homelessness is a big problem in Canada. When I did some research recently, this is the quote I found on the Stat’s Canada’s website.
“In 2021, we asked Canadian households if they had ever experienced some form of homelessness in their lifetime. Over one in ten (11.2%) Canadians or 1,690,000 people reported that they had.
Homelessness is often thought of as living in a shelter, or completely unhoused in an encampment or public space. This kind of homelessness in Canada is referred to as absolute homelessness, an experience shared by 2.2% of households at some point in their lives. There are, however, many more Canadians (10.5%) who have experienced hidden homelessness, like couch surfing, because they had nowhere else to live.”
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5170-homelessness-how-does-it-happen
These are scary stats in my opinion because if this can happen in a prosperous country, we know there are millions and millions of people all over the world experiencing the same kind of crisis. It’s traumatic not to have a home or a place where you feel you belong. What I think we need right now is the old Village mentality, where we all know each other and when one of us is having a hard time, instead of looking the other way, we all pull together and help our fellow villagers.
Recently our oldest daughter moved back home. She is well educated with two degrees. She has a wealth of experience on her resume. She is physically and mentally capable of working. What happened? Something that could happen to any of us at any time; she had a car accident which totalled her vehicle. Thankfully, she was not hurt but not having a car meant she was unable to get to her two jobs. Not being able to get to her jobs meant she could not afford her expensive housing in a big city. And how does one afford another vehicle if one isn’t able to get to work? It’s a catch 22 situation. The current economic situation in Canada, along with a lack of affordable housing and good job prospects means that many of us will find ourselves in a similar situation. Some may be working right now but are barely holding their heads above water. Many find their housing is held together by a thin string, that could snap at any time. About six weeks ago our daughter called home and basically said….
Thankfully we were in a position to move her and her two cats home but this has got me thinking about all the young people in her position who are a similar situation. I think of it as our modern day depression, like the dirty 30’s a hundred years ago. The only answer in dealing with this crisis that I keep coming back to time and time again is for all of us to pull together and bring back that old mentality of caring for others. Or is it too late? Has our society changed so much that we’ve lost a bit of our humanity? So much of our world now seems to be, Us Versus Them. I see it every time I turn on the news.
We are a society who don’t know our neighbours. We look the other way when we see a homeless person or someone with a sign asking for help. These people are falling through the cracks and we look the other way. In the old days our church groups used to help those less fortunate but church pews are empty these days. The younger generation is not finding what it needs any longer in a faith based society which makes me wonder, what kind of culture and mind set are we creating?
What are our values?
Are they only self based?
Last December, our violin teacher had a stack of Christmas cards and a list of seniors that she suggested our kids could write to during the holidays. Each week our girls would take several cards and work on them during their busy week of school, music, and swimming. They would return them and stroke the names of the ones they had completed off their list but looking at the list, it seemed like our kids were the only ones in the music studio doing any cards. I wondered why this was. Weren’t other parents suggesting that this was a small kindness that their children could perform for others? I realize that we are a busy society but surely if we can get our children to practice their instruments every day, we can get them to spend 15 minutes a week doing a small kindness for another person to lift them up and show they are loved.
When I was young, it was rare for shops to be open on Sunday. It was almost unheard of to have any kind of sports or child based activity happening. Rarely did people fly to Hawaii and Mexico and I didn’t know anyone going to Disneyland when I was a child. Now a days, people are shopping seven days a week, flying here and there at the drop of a hat. My kids are always telling me about friends who took a week off school to go away with their families on a week or two holiday. And it isn’t unusual to go away for a whole weekend to play in hockey tournaments, or even in our household, a swim meet, out of town last weekend. We are busy people and we are spending money…but what are we spending it on?
We are getting away from holding the seventh day of the week sacred. We are not stopping to think for even a hour about how we are living our life, or helping others. When I was a child there was always one day a week when I reflected and I had a Village reflecting with me. It was a day to hear a story of how we can live our lives better. while also thinking of how to help others. I don’t know about you, but in my world, we don’t have that any longer. There is no one shining a light on those less fortunate. Now when we see a homeless person on the street we look away because we think, “well what can I do? I’m only one person. I can’t make a difference in that person’s situation.” We’ve all lost that Village mentality, that sense of community.
And many of us have lost that older generation to guide us. That was the generation that lived in a Village and knew the power and hope it held. In those days there was no social safety net of Social Services or Employment Insurance. There were no disability payments or Worker’s Compensation. There was no Old Age Security or Retirement Benefits, and while there were soup kitchens, food banks didn’t exist. Our grandparents had family values and there was always a Village when times were tough. We relied on one another. Below are pictures of my Dad’s parents but I know my mom’s parents, particularly my grandma Herrling, was also kind hearted and there was always room at the table for someone passing through that needed help. Even if it was only one meal.
These are pictures of my dad’s parents, Flossie and Robert Clark. My mom and three older sisters are also in the picture below. I’m the baby.
So what can each of us do?
I guess that is the question for our generation and those of our children. In our family we have chosen to go and collect our daughter and bring her back home. I was mentioning to my older sister recently that our house is a bit like that Loaves and Fishes story from the Bible…there always seems to be enough room and food when we open our hearts.
And so that’s what each of us needs to do. I wrote a blog post recently called, “What would love do?” When that question is constantly on our lips and in our mindset, we know the path to take. We know what we must do. And for now, we squish over a bit, we make room in our home and we put another potato in the oven and then hold Hope in our hearts.
If you don’t know why I called my blog, Hope’s Homestead, it refers to the acronym, H.O.P.E, “Helping Our Planet Earth.” And I believe we need this more than ever. After all if we don’t have any hope, how can we go on? What propels us forward?
For now let that be enough. Move forward with hope, while always asking the question, “what would love do,” and remember that even though our world is big, we can choose to be just one Village. One Friendly Village where there is a place for each of us.
When we invited our daughter to move back home, we started preparing spaces where she could feel comfortable. Below are pictures of our little attic space where she can write and find retreat from our noisy household. There is also a T.V. up in this space if she wants to watch a movie.
This used to be an unused space above our garage that my husband spent one winter turning into a little hideaway retreat for our older children. When you have eight kids, everyone needs a place of their own to feel like they belong.
Above are pictures of what we call the “Harry Potter,” room. The closet is under the stairs so it seems like a fitting name, also, it’s super small. something like 7 feet by 13. (Before our youngest were born, it was our walk in closet but really, who needs this kind of space for clothes!!!) The mirror at the far end makes it seem bigger and also brings the light from the French door into the room. This is a cozy space. Probably the warmest in our house as it’s in the centre and has no outside windows. Perfect for welcoming our daughter back home. We would love to build a cottage in our backyard for a refuge for anyone that needs a home, but for now, this is a lovely space for our daughter and her two cats who love, the little loft space, above the built in day bed. (Below….my husband David and youngest son William, unload Alyssa’s worldly goods)
A few days ago, I posted a YouTube video about the dish set I found at the thrift store called, “A Friendly Village,” by the Johnson Bros from England. This is a traditional dinnerware pattern best known for its charming depictions of idyllic village scenes. First produced in 1953, this heirloom-quality pattern adds a timeless appeal to any table! Bringing it home reminded me of how life was when I was a child. We took care of each other. We were more family and Village centered then. I know it’s an ideal that is old fashion, but is it old fashion to care for one another?
It’s Sunday today. While yes, I’m writing this blog post, I’m going to take the time to go for a walk in nature. I’m going to come home and make a cup of tea and reflect on my life and how I’m walking my path. I’m going to think about how I can help others. And later, I’m going to make a big pot of soup and set my table with one more place setting for pur daughter. And if you want to see the new dish set I was able to find at the thrift store and check out my Minestrone soup recipe, check out the YouTube vlog I made recently.
Thank you for visiting today. Wherever you are, I hope you are caring for your Village too.
.
Hope’s Minestrone Soup (recipe came from the book above that my older sister B gave me….she’s always caring for me and teaching me to reuse…thanks B!)
Ingredients
8 cups of vegetable stock
8 large or 12 medium tomatoes (I use my frozen tomatoes that I roasted with basil last summer…you can use a can of stewed)
3/4 cup kidney beans, soaked and cooked, makes about 21/4 cups. You can use canned as well as I did in my Vlog
3/4 chick peas, soaked and cooked…makes about 21/4 cups…dried beans and legumes is the frugal way to go
1 large onion
3 stalks of celery
1 small zucchini chopped and quartered
2 to 3 carrots chopped finely
3 tbsp tamari soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp sea salt
2 cloves of garlic….more if you are like me
cayenne pepper to taste
Opt: 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2/3 cup pasta…we use rotini
1 tsp parsley, basil, oregano….since this is an Italian Vegetable soup….all are recommended for authentic flavour (I added a bay leaf)
Directions
Saute the onions in oil and garlic in oil. Add the soup stock and vegetables Simmer about 40 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the pre cooked beans, any herbs and remaining ingredients and cook for another 20 minutes. The parmesan cheese and noodles can be added if desired. Serve hot to your Village. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Above my Minestrone soup with my homemade buns (and we stopped at our local Super Store for a roasted chicken and macaroni salad to round out our Sunday night dinner. Enough to feed a Village. (all on my new dish set, “The Friendly Village”….feeling so blessed. I hope when I’m long and gone, one of my kids keeps this dish set and remembers to set an extra place for someone in need)
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Blessings from Hope