GuelphToday received the following Letter to the Editor from reader Sierra Rogers, in regards to the local homelessness:
Homelessness is the current hot topic in Guelph, but much of the conversation is clouded by misplaced anger, division and polarizing arguments. These distractions pull us away from what should be our shared goal: getting people housed.
Homelessness is binary. You are either housed, or you are not. Every effort we make as a community should bring us closer to that outcome. Anything else is a distraction.
Encampments are not the solution. Fighting for the right for people to live unsheltered in substandard conditions is not advocacy. Advocacy should include fighting for permanent, deeply affordable housing, as well as the necessary supports for people to maintain it – all without resorting to personal attacks against anyone on either side of the issue. It saddens me to hear, see, and read the things we are saying and doing to each other, all under the pretense of advocacy.
As someone who has worked in this field for over eight years – long before it became a hot topic – I’ve witnessed how real advocacy can make change happen. Years ago, some of the individuals I supported might have been the focus of campaigns for temporary solutions like encampments. Today, some of these individuals now have roofs over their heads, supportive communities they belong to, and workers dedicated to helping them grow.
They might not have believed this stability was possible. Some may have even insisted they wanted to stay outdoors. Yet, through unwavering commitment, steadfast action, and hope during the darkest times, we’ve proven that change is possible. Housing is possible.
Guelph has made remarkable progress in addressing chronic homelessness, but distractions continue to overshadow this. By uniting across sectors and focusing on housing solutions, we can build on our success and advocate for the resources we still desperately need. We have already lost a number of people waiting for these solutions, we will only continue to lose more as we remain distracted and divided. I do not want to attend one more memorial service or have one more face staring back at me from my office on an 'in memory of' card.
We must show our neighbors experiencing homelessness that they are worth more than a flimsy tent. We cannot give up. We must remember what we are fighting for. This fight for housing is not just about providing shelter—it’s about dignity, safety, belonging, and hope. It’s about taking action.
Now more than ever, Guelph must come together. Solving something as complex as homelessness requires innovation, collaboration, and compassion. Divisiveness will not get us there. If we truly are fighting for the rights for people to be housed and well in our community, we need to move forward with kindness and humility, and stop tearing each other apart.
Let’s keep our focus where it belongs: on housing solutions that give people a chance to thrive.
Sierra Rogers
Social Worker and resident of Guelph
