I’ve planned a blanket drive for my student association and one for the Calgary NDP Holiday Open House. Basically we have a box out that accepts donations of blankets, packaged socks, jackets, gloves, toques, etc… and then we donate everything we collect to a local homeless shelter.

We are doing it at the Alberta NDP open house tommorrow, and I will let you all know how well it goes. The one at my college, SAIT, will be taking place next week during exams. I will let you all know how that one goes as well.

If you are having a holiday party, or any sort of get together, I urge that you try this out. It’s quite simple, you leave out a box at the party/event and in the invitations you ask guests to bring items if they have them. It’s a little help for the homeless this holiday season. It’s no roof over their heads, and certainly not a solution, but it is something we can do to help while we urge the government to start building affordable housing.

It is sad when you have to have MPs from Ontario speaking on behalf of you and no Alberta MPs when you are in Alberta. But the vast majority of Calgary politicians (Councilors, MLAs, and MPs) are not taking the current homeless and affordability problem seriously. We have a lack of housing. Yet our premiere-designate wants to solve the labour shortage before solving the housing crisis. I think his priorities are mixed around. What are we suppose to do, send in more workers and not have homes for them?

Back on topic: The NDP has called for an national state of emergency on the homeless crisis. Calgary currently has the largest homeless population in all of Canada, not anything to be proud of in the richest province. If a national state of emergency is declared, emergency funding and shelters can be accomplished in just days instead of years. This includes the creation of affordable housing.