Screw The Homeless

This has been cross-posted to the Western Standard Blog; The Shotgun

...which is what the City of Winnipeg is trying to do.

Charlie Warman owns (or so he thought) a home in the St. Boniface area of Winnipeg, on which sits 2 sheds that he rents out to two homeless people for $100 a month each.

One of the tenants, Debbie Peachy said;

if it were not for Warman, she would be forced to live in a tent under a bridge.

She said the shed is warm and comfortable. She said she has access to running water and a bathroom.

"I don't want pity. I don't want none of that," Peachy said about her situation. She said social assistance payments are not enough to cover rent in a regular apartment.

She has been living in the shed for two years and prefers it to a homeless shelter, which she said she has experienced in the past.

  

The City of Winnipeg government certainly didn't like this. They ordered Mr. Warman several months ago to stop the practice, due to health and safety concerns.

Today Mr. Warman was fined $247 by inspectors who came to the property and told him that the insulated sheds were too small.

"It's Buckingham Palace compared to what I used to have. I have serenity here," said Louis Kryminski, 56, who has been living in the other shed for about a month.

"I have a radio I listen to music. You know, I got my space where I can lay down and feel better about my life."

Kryminski said he worked for 40 years but was recently diagnosed with a mental illness. Coupled with a physical disability, his ailments have left him down and out.

On the streets, where he has been before, Kryminski has been robbed and beaten.

This was a consensual transaction between all parties; the tenants got what they wanted and Mr. Warman was able to help some people out, and then the City comes and steps in between them and says "No! You can't let those people stay on your property! We said so! If you still do it you will pay!" And what if Mr. Warman refuses to pay? He will go to jail... for giving the homeless a place to stay.

Lessons learned from this story;

1. The Government doesn't give a damn about helping people, just about forcing people to follow their rules
2. Don't let Government people onto your property
3. Don't pay the fines, refuse to co-operate