Why are some homeless turning to sleeping rough in tents instead of utilizing shelters?
Senior Director of Outreach Services for YMCA Reconnect Moncton Trevor Goodwin says it’s an important question to ask, “I think we really need to reframe our state of mind and ask how we can better help these people, and find out what their concerns and issues are. Sitting down with these individuals and asking them some questions and trying to find out what it is about the shelters that is not meeting their needs or what are their concerns, or why aren’t they staying there.”
He says some of the concerns they have heard are a need for more resources for mental health services or addictions programs.
Some homeless are also suffering form PTSD, or have been abused.
“I don’t think we should be deterring anyone. I think we need to look to understand,” Goodwin says.
He adds we also need to remember shelters are not a permanent fix.
