About 50 community leaders went back to the basics on Tuesday (Feb. 26) asking each other what could be done to improve social housing options in town. "Some of these systems need to be completely deconstructed and reconstructed," said Coun. Patricia Heintzman as people shared what they had learned from the day.The meeting was a lead up to the town hall on homelessness and social housing proposed by Coun. Corinne Lonsdale for a yet-to-be-determined date later in the year. She said Tuesday's meeting was meant to be a brainstorming session to provide framework a strategic plan that could take further shape at the town hall.A number of groups were in attendance, including members from Sea to Sky Community Services Society, RCMP, Fire Department, Social Planning Council, District of Squamish, and Helping Hands Society.The daylong session was refreshingly unorthodox. Taking a cue from the community forum held downtown in December, the district hired Catherine Rockandel as the facilitator.The meeting was held at Quest University, where participants gathered at tables in groups of about six. To engage "hands-on" people, the tables were decked out with play-foam and Lego pieces to keep people stimulated as they worked.Rockandel had participants grouped at tables of about six people, writing down ideas on coloured pieces of papers that were later mounted on the wall. Each time the topic changed, people switched tables, ensuring new contacts were continually being made. The group focused on four areas related to housing: their ideas and perceptions about social housing, the outstanding questions they have about it, the current initiatives already in place, and what can be done in the future.Above all, participants were encouraged to take action rather than waiting for someone else to create a plan."What if this is my issue, me as a person, not me as an organization, me as a person?" asked Julie Clark of BC Healthy Communities.She said she enjoyed looking at the perceptions and assumptions that tend to act as roadblocks on the path to creating better processes for communities.The solutions that came up at the end of the meeting were varied.Some people suggested creating a shelter where homeless people could cook their own food, while others demanded higher paying jobs in town.Heintzman said the Howe Sound Women's Centre might be able to look into a program to help single women find housing.The comments collected at the meeting will be turned into a report for the district.Coun. Corinne Lonsdale encouraged the public to pressure council to turn the ideas into action."Don't let council abandon ship here," she said. "Make sure we hold the course."
