This spring and fall, the Creston Valley Public Library is inviting the community to take a closer look at homelessness with a compassionate eye.
The four-part panel series, “When Homelessness Hits Close to Home,” begins Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. at the library. Each session is free to attend and brings together local experts and service providers to unpack different aspects of poverty and the housing crisis to offer a more complete picture of what’s happening in Creston — and why.
After seeing an increase in the number of vulnerable people accessing services at the Creston library — and hearing heated public discourse that followed recent permanent shelter proposals — staff wanted to offer something educational and community-building.
“We’re hoping to do a little course correction to counter some of the nimbyism and harsh attitudes we've seen,” said Lisa Benschop, the library’s programming co-ordinator.
“The community discourse seems to include a lot of misinformation but not evidence-based ideas about how people become homeless, what the conditions are out there, and what should be done about it.”
The first panel, on May 24, explores the local context of the increased visibility of unhoused individuals in Creston, as well as the services and supports available. Speakers include Jared Basil from Ktunaxa Nation, Heather More from the Creston Valley Community Housing Society, Bobbie-Jo Fay from the Gleaners Food Bank, and Nancy DeVuono from the Creston Valley Den Society.
Future panels will broaden the conversation:
- Determinants of Health and Risk Factors for Homelessness
June 14 at 1 p.m.
Explores the root causes of homelessness – including mental health, childhood trauma, and systemic barriers.
- The Canadian Housing Crisis
Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.
Looks at Creston’s housing issues in the national context, and the social and economic conditions outside of a person's own choices that lead to homelessness.
- Seniors and Poverty
Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. - Focuses on poverty within the aging population, highlighting the challenges faced by those living on fixed incomes with insecure housing.
While some panellists are still being confirmed, the organizing team — which includes a number of local service providers — is confident each session will offer meaningful insight and practical information.
The library hopes the series will inspire people to move beyond blame and view the bigger picture with empathy and compassion, to foster a deeper understanding of how social and economic conditions shape lives.
As a community hub, the library welcomes people from all walks of life to come through their doors — many of whom need support services that aren't available.
“Certainly, we’ve seen an increase in the visibility of folks who are in dire straits – either being homeless or dealing with addiction or having difficulties in their lives that they're not getting support for,” said Benschop.
“My hope is that we can dispel some of the myths around people's bad choices leading them into this bad situation. We need to, as a community, think about how to better connect these folks with what they need.”
