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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, M ay 12 ,2 02 2 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Donna Luelo Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira Regional Director of Media Heather Dunbar Advertising Representatives Fran Hendry, Katrina Anderson, Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa Humphreys, Cassandra Dellow, Zaid Shahabuddin, Managing Editor Robyn Wilkinson Online Editor Loraine Centeno News Editor Ned Bekavac Reporter Bill Jackson Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 219 Labrador Dr. Suite 203, Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at waterloochronicle.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA Our regional govern- ment has stepped up to support, in the most basic means possible, the rough- ly three dozen people who call a corner of downtown Kitchener "home." Thanks to a partner- ship with The Working Centre, residents of this "tent city" at Weber and Victoria streets will have round-the-clock access to washrooms. While the provision of this smallest measure of human decency is wel- comed, we're nowhere close to meeting the com- plex needs of this group. A closer look at a series of numbers may help us bet- ter understand the depth of the issue. • 6,700 -- the approxi- mate number of people in Waterloo Region currently on a waiting list for afford- able housing. • 1,085 -- the estimated number of people in Water- loo Region who are experi- encing homelessness. • 412 -- the number of people who are "living rough," either in a tent, on the street, or in their vehi- cle. • 25 -- the estimated number of encampments that currently exist in Wa- terloo Region. • 1 -- the number of those encampments that have been provided wash- room facilities. • $34,000 -- the amount of money, per month, the region will spend to hire security officers to moni- tor the washroom facili- ties, and the staff to clean them. • $970 -- the approxi- mate amount of money, per encampment resident, be- ing spent on securing and cleaning the washrooms. Could that amount of mon- ey instead be used to relo- cate the encampment resi- dents to hotels or other temporary accommoda- tions? • 1998 -- the year the province of Ontario trans- ferred to municipalities a series of funding responsi- bilities, including social housing, under the Local Services Realignment pro- gram. Ontario is the only province in Canada that pays for social services with property taxes. • 9 -- the number of cents from every tax dollar collected that ends up in municipal accounts (the federal government col- lects 47 cents from every dollar, and the province 44). • $11 -- the amount of money, per year, paid by the "average homeowner" in Kitchener for every in- crease of one per cent in the tax rate. • $1.3 million -- the ap- proximate amount of mon- ey the City of Kitchener collects for every one per cent increase in the tax rate. Most homeowners would likely say they're willing to pay another $110 per year to help the city combat homelessness. Would any politician dare put forward the proposal for the 10 per cent tax in- crease that would net that $110 per average home- owner? If that were to happen, the city would collect an additional $13 million in revenue. How much help will $13 million be to the al- most 1,100 people experi- encing homelessness in our region? While the amount may help build some housing, it offers nothing for mental health and addiction supports, both root causes of home- lessness. Municipalities, with the power of property taxa- tion, can't do the job alone. Using a tax that raises home costs, to combat home costs, makes no sense. Upper levels of govern- ment must be involved in funding the necessary so- lutions through progres- sive taxation. In the meantime, as we feel the full weight of the problem in our communi- ty, there's one more critical number to consider. Four. That's the number of months until fall, when the region says those living in the encampment will have to move on. Brace yourself. Columnist Mike Far- well is a broadcaster, MC and advocate. Follow him on Twitter at @far- well_WR, or connect with him via Mike.Far- well@rci.rogers.com. UPPER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT MUST ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS More than 30 people are experiencing homelessness in an encampment at the corner of Victoria and Weber streets in Kitchener. Mathew McCarthy/ Waterloo Region Record MIKE FARWELL Column We have all seen tight- rope artists, nimbly walk- ing across tiny cables over Niagara Falls or between two highrise buildings in some city, always carrying a long pole to achieve a deli- cate balance. For some strange rea- son, such a clip popped up on my screen this week and I found myself fascinated as I watched it. In an in- stant I was transported back to my days of active parenting. For those who have, or are currently going through the process of rais- ing children, you will be able to relate well to the analogy of walking a tight- rope. Too much parental involvement/not enough parental involvement; too many household rules/too few household rules; too little consistency in disci- pline/too rigid an applica- tion of discipline; too many losing battles over things that matter little/too few winning battles over things that matter a lot. Almost every day is full of buffeting winds that can challenge the balance and the long pole provides the only way of reducing risk. In parenting, that long pole is your support net- work. It is all of the family, friends, teachers, coaches and mentors who interact with you and your chil- dren. It is their experienc- es, their suggestions, their consolation and their com- fort that bring balance to the range of emotions you will feel on any given day. They will help to restore perspective and perhaps extend you some well- needed empathy to help you slow down and read- just your view of what is go- ing on. This means, of course, that if you wish to develop better balance as a parent, you have to develop that network. You need to ac- tively participate in getting to know those who are sharing your journey, openly communicate and share with them, and sin- cerely offer your support to them when they need it. One thing is certain, every household has its own tightrope, regardless of how "grounded" they might appear from the out- side. Be a good listener as that is often the most need- ed quality when others feel invisible in their own struggles. And keep in mind that the pole of a support net- work will wobble from time to time. A large network simply means more opin- ions, and perhaps a wider range of such opinions. They are really there to of- fer you a range of options to consider that might fit you and your family; you are under no obligation to fol- low the advice or example of others. Your tightrope is your own unique journey with the personalities and needs in your own unique family. Still, over time, you will come to recognize those whose ideas you can trust the most, those who support you through thick and thin and those whose hearts and minds bring stability to your balancing act. If experience is any judge of when the perfect parenting balance is achieved, allow me to sug- gest that you will need that pole for a lifetime but it will wobble less and less with each year and with each supportive individual that joins in keeping it stable. Graham Hookey is the author of "Parenting Is a Team Sport" and can be reached at ghookey@ya- hoo.com. WALKING THE TIGHTROPE OF PARENTING GRAHAM HOOKEY Column