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Thursday, February 19, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 35311 Armstrong Ave., Georgetown 905-877-8685 Since 1979 Georgetown's Most Progressive Shop JONATHAN BANKS GENERAL MANAGER • 20 years experience • Licenced Technician • II Car Platinum Certificate • Service for all makes & models • We accept all insurance claims • Lifetime warranty on all workmanship • I-Car Gold Class professionals Since 1979 SheridanNurseries 12302 Tenth Line | Tel: 905-873-7547 Contact our Georgetown Garden Centre to register: georgetown@sheridannurseries.com | 905-873-7547 :retsiego re ttrnen Cedran Gwotrgeeor Gut ocatnoC FREE LANDSCAPE DESIGN SEMINAR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 10:00AM SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER TODAY! exclusive Landscape Design Elements Seminar Now is the perfect time to start planning and thinking about your garden! This free learning session is a great opportunity for you, as our expert landscape designer talks about the principles of design and how to measure up your yard for your design dreams. We're looking forward to seeing you at this informative learning session! , YTURDASA Dr. Denis Beauchesne Dr. michael hutter Dr. anna primus Family and Cosmetic Dentistry In Your Community Since 1980 ✔ Convenient Evening Appointments ✔ New patients Always Welcome ✔ Dental Emergencies Seen Promptly 905-877-0107 Giving you something to smile about COMMENT Homelessness is an 'invisible' reality A few weeks ago I was in Toronto with my children, and as we walked up the street I could see a home- less man ahead. He was dressed in worn-out, thread-bare clothing that's far too thin for the cold, with a pair of equally weathered slippers on his feet. He held out his toque towards everyone who passed by and asked if they could spare some change. My kids were in awe of this man, and the thought that somewhere in this world not too far from home, there are people who don't have roofs over their heads, or even money to buy food. And that got me thinking, where are the homeless people in Halton Hills? I knew there must be some here, but in our predominately affluent municipality, you just don't come across people begging on street corners. So I started looking into the issue, and let me tell you, some of the realities about homelessness in our little community will surprise you. Yes, there are most certainly homeless youths and adults in Halton Hills, but it's an invisible, or hidden, prob- lem. They're teens who are "couch surfing," staying over at friends' houses until they're no longer wel- come. There are people who are sleeping in cars or living in motels. They're moms who would be on the streets with their young children if they weren't lucky enough to secure one of the few transitional housing units in Halton Hills. I had the privilege of meeting a couple of these people and they were gracious enough to share their stories with me. Although they both faced very different circumstances, they each delivered the same message: more needs to be done to help those in need. They were certainly very grateful for the help they've received so far through various local organizations, but even those who help the homeless will tell you that there just aren't enough resources available locally. So what can we do? Well, for starters we can talk openly and frequently about the issue. Let's keep it at the forefront of the agenda for the powers that be and create an awareness that can't be ignored. Next, let's remember that we can help. We can reach out if we know someone who's in need, in- stead of minding our own business. We can volun- teer with organizations that help the homeless in our very own community, like Bridging the Gap. We can advocate for more affordable housing to ensure a roof over everyone's heads. We can hope to see the day that homelessness in Halton Hills is invisible because it doesn't exist. By Melanie Hennessey mel_hennessey@hotmail.com The View From Here