Organizers of a concerted action plan to end homelessness in Kamloops tried but could not help but return to the same point Monday night: Income assistance shelter rates are far too low.

Representatives of Changing the Face of Poverty unveiled their homelessness action plan to a public forum attended by about 120 people at Kamloops United Church.

While the plan comes from a cross-section of the community, the action has to come from the community as a whole, they said. Change will take action on all fronts and the solution is not solely in the provision of homes, said Tony Ryan.

“We are talking about ending homelessness and the distinction is absolutely essential. We need to bring in those thoughtful and caring individuals. Identify those things you can do to affect change.”

James Hughes is no longer homeless, but the former electrician lived with poverty, homelessness and desperation for more than 30 years after he suffered a brain aneurysm at age 21.

“This is worse than the tragedy in Haiti,” he said. “Homelessness in Canada is worse than the tsunami that killed all those people. Homelessness is really hidden — in the bushes, up in the hills, in the building where you live.”

Others at the forum shared their hardships, hardships the action plan is aimed at addressing with six goals:

1. Establish a local housing board to assess the problem, enhance the stock of acceptable housing and respond to market changes.

2. Provide greater housing stability and reduce evictions through housing support agreements and a homeless resident program.

3. Connect people with the help they need (improve outreach and adopt a network approach to support services).

4. Build basic skills needed to maintain housing and financial independence (improve access to life skills coaching).

5. Improve fairness, accessibility and responsiveness (create changes to laws, procedures, regulations and protocols).

6. Help people find and maintain employment.

The forum heard from a succession of subcommittees formed around housing, support services, bridging and independence.

Representing the Kelson Group, one of the largest providers of rental housing in Kamloops, Jason Fawcett said even with the low vacancy rate there is still ample rental stock available.

Ending homelessness is achievable, he said, but “the income assistance — the $375 a month people get — isn’t enough,” Fawcett said.

The inadequacy of income assistance proved to be a recurring theme throughout the forum. While there were no MLAs at the forum, their assistants were there to listen and organizers tried to keep the discussion above partisan politics. Still, the discussion kept coming back to the same point.

“Obviously, $375 is just not going to cut it,” said Bob Hughes, executive director of the ASK Wellness Centre. The centre already manages 106 units on the basis of housing support agreements, a pilot project that bypasses the Residential Tenancy Act and provides built-in assurances for landlords and neighbours.

“I think it’s worth the gamble. The results have already been shown to be beneficial.”

Nathan Lane, executive director of TRUSU, addressed the need for financial independence.

“At the end of the day there are also some justice issues that need to be addressed,” Lane said. “I know, from a student perspective, it’s just impossible to make ends meet in Kamloops.”

Pat Wilson said the most difficult part of surviving on income assistance is the so-called five-week month, where four weeks of meager support have to be stretched out.

“It’s so difficult to get through five-week months when you can barely get through four,” she said.

James Hughes wondered about the hidden toll: “I haven’t heard about the children affected by this — the collateral damage.”

Eighty per cent of homelessness is comprised of the hidden homeless, people who dwell on the margins, stay with relatives, surf couches and so on. B.C.’s child poverty rate is 29.1 per cent, said John Paul Baker.

“That’s not only significant, in many ways that’s shocking,” he said.

Doug Brown, a former NDP candidate, wondered what more specifically about action.

“As a citizen, I’m frustrated and embarrassed by the severity of this problem,” he said.

Brenda Aynsley, executive director of United Way and involved with the action plan’s formation, believes the group does have the ear of government.

“It’s pretty clear that we have to gain some momentum and traction,” she said. “We know the inventory is coming forward, but that is not enough.”

The United Way has agreed to fund the second year for a homelessness co-ordinator and Changing the Face of Poverty has applied for first-year funding from the Canada Homeless Partnering Strategy program.