Too many times over the last weeks, I've heard or read the opinion that those who are tenting in and around Victoria park are choosing to reject offers for spaces and beds that are available. The math seems simple to some. Take homeless people. Fill all the beds and housing options and like magic the housing crisis will be quelled.

But there are things that need to be factored into the equation in order to get the right solutions. Any housing or shelter that is not safe, clean, dignifying and affordable is housing that simply does not meet the needs of those we all want to see housed. Though there may be AVAILABLE spots within the current shelter system, violence, drug addiction, sexual abuse, mental illness, oppression, trauma, and overcrowding make these spaces INACCESSIBLE to many who want housing but cannot bear another round in shelters, rooming houses, emergency beds or mould- and bug-filled apartments because doing so puts them in a space where they cannot recover, ground and heal and where they risk being harmed, harming others or harming themselves.

I met three different people this week who told me explicitly that they would rather die than go back into these types of housing situations.

The insidious idea that "beggars can't be choosers" is deeply held and endorsed in our society and it is very problematic and harmful. Concepts of the "deserving" and "undeserving poor" pervade despite being extremely oppressive, divisive and prejudicial.

Low-income members of our community deserve clean, healthy and stable living environments, choice, autonomy, respect, dignity, and equal rights. Peterborough, it's time to acknowledge, unlearn and work to dismantle classism, poor-bashing and systemic class oppression. It's time to support Peterborough's poor in their struggle for survival and in their struggle for housing and shelter justice.