I vow to "end homelessness"

i join your vow j-hock. and i include that everyone has the right to be respected and treated fairly.

together we are stronger.

i join your vows j-hock and Janelle. i include everyone housed that is not home.

I with all three of you. I'm old enough to have grown up in a Canada that didn't have systemic homelessness. Hell, there weren't even food banks when I was a kid. So, I know first hand it can be a whole lot different than it has been the past 10-15 years. But the only way to make it a whole lot different is to elect a political party that that is a whole lot different than the Liberals and Conservatives who have alternated as government since Canada was born. They have both failed, so it is time to try something new. I'm voting for the NDP in the next federal and provincial elections and for Vision in the upcoming Vancouver civic election. They're the best chance we've got.

I've been doing a film about copyright for several years, and one of the characters is a professor named Lawrence Lessig - his big activism was trying to stop copyright from making us criminals. He decided to shift this year and take on corruption in politics.

I mention this because his new campaign is called change congress - http://change-congress.org/ - what they do is make politicians agree to a set of vows that they will not accept money from lobby groups.

I wonder if a similar set of vows could be set up - and politicians would sign on - something like the vows jhock is proposing, or something even more basic like "I vow to end homelessness". Then voters could see who signed on and vote accordingly.....

and year, i vow to do the same!

I am with you there, my friend. It isn't about having the money to end homelessness. It is about having the the political willpower to spend that money where it needs to go, to end homelessness. Always, politicians need more than a little nudge to get them to use that willpower. Everyone, has a role to play in that nudge.
I vow to end homelessness, one nudge at a time.

Thanks everyone for also taking the vow and adding some of your own...In Solidarity we stand.Together we make up the puzzle...Respect..JH

Just a thought...
There are those who choose to be homeless, when i was on the street it was almost always a conscious decision to live my life free of the need to have accessories, knowing i have the ability to travel wherever, whenever, i chose to do so. I understand this is not the case for most but sometimes living life outside is a lot less stressful then clinging to your worldly possessions instead of what you need (not want) to get by.

better to die on your feet then live on your knees

Yes of course your right Fraggle.when i was homeless it was by choice...I mean i had some stellar squats like the beach over at Salt-Spring Island.Million dollar location and we had a great camp,with a kitchen,extra tents for visitors and the ocean..Which eventually took our gear at high tide late in Dec.Anyways my Vow is for the people who are looking to get inside.the Mentally ill who need help and assistence...also its one thing to house people but what about people who are hard to house and people with heavy drug addiction...to be placed in a box with four walls staring at the ceilling is not paradise...I would like to see more co-op where you know your neighbour maybe share kitchen space maybe a entertainment area and also a private space to be with your thoughts..(and that sounds all good but its hard to live with others or find people with the same desire for food or entertainment)so yeah its very complex situation but truely can be handled and sorted out with compassion and the right intentions...thanks for the comment..peace.JH

JHock. You are so awesome. Thanks for being you. Alexandra
p.s. sign me up on your vow.

jhock, I, too, vow to end homelessness. I agree about the need for co-ops, where likeminded people share a building, a piece of land (to grow veggies?) and live in harmony, with minimal needs. And for not too much money! Those co-ops can be found in many places in Europe (I'm from Holland and Italy) and they work well. People leave each other alone, but they know that they're there for each other.
Anyway, I vow to end homelesness, for sure.

Thanks Alexandra for that wonderful commennt and taking the vow..You too Monique.Thanks for sharing your experience with co-op's its amazing what happens when people come together for the common good...Respect..JH

hey jhock, wow a vow....pretty heavy stuff. you might twist my little rubber arm and i be with you man.