No Cap: Some Homeless Peeps in Medicine Hat Lowkey Don't Even Want Homes 🏠🤔

The Deets

Yo, listen up, fam. Medicine Hat, Alberta, thought they were all that when they "functionally ended" chronic homelessness back in 2015. Like, they had the housing-first approach on lock. But here's the tea: they got mad homes available, and people still choosing to chill on the streets. I'm not even kidding. Apparently, if you're downtown and want a place, they can hook you up in like, 24-48 hours. But a lot of people are like, "Nah, I'm good," because of the rules and stuff. It's a whole vibe, and it's not the good one.

Word on the street is there are like, 30-40 peeps living in the parks in the river valley. It's a whole encampment sitch. The local police even launched a "peace team" to try and help, but some people straight up prefer being outside. It's creating a major headache. Like, they can't really enforce bylaws because the homeless can't pay fines anyway. And there's some sus drug stuff going on, but mostly small-time deals. It's a whole mess, and nobody's got a quick fix.

Some people are even saying that forced treatment might be the only way to help some of these peeps. Meanwhile, over in Ontario, they're getting ready to drop the Safe Municipalities Act, which gives the police more power to crack down on illegal drug use and encampments. Sounds kinda intense, ngl.

But wait, there's more! Shoutout to Collingwood, who's got a mobile soup kitchen, straight bussin'. The Mobile Soup Kitchen started rolling in 2023, serving soup, sammies, and all the necessities to the most vulnerable in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. They do the most, providing food and hygiene items to those experiencing homelessness at trailer parks, public spaces, and emergency shelters. The Kitchen is becoming a non-profit org, securing donations and grants. However, with the recent closure of the local Sobeys grocery store, which provides much of the food given to the masses, the kitchen is looking for more food from local businesses. Regardless, Collingwood's kitchen continues its mission, and has big plans for the future, fam!