AS you walk the streets of Georgetown, you’ll notice the rapid transformation of grand buildings and wider roads. We are starting to see the rise of wealth through a glamorised lens, but do you know what you’d also see a whole lot of in the Green City? Homelessness. From the beginning of this transformation, I’ve always maintained my stance on the importance of simultaneously advancing social justice, social welfare and economic equality for all our citizens. To have wealth might be good for Guyana, but it is paramount that we ensure that these resources available are equally shared and accessible to all. It saddens me to see the realities that still exist within poverty-stricken communities.

We need to ensure that the gaps within our economy are filled to make underprivileged citizens play “catch up” like students who can’t learn fast enough for an impatient teacher in class. We have to do better, which starts by acknowledging the divide between those who have and those who aspire to have. As I’ve researched, I’ve found that there are systems in place for homelessness, but there are limitations. There are shelters available, but compared to the homeless population size in our country, these shelters can only fit a small number of destitute or homeless individuals.

Other welfare benefits such as money or food also exist in governmental and nongovernmental organisations, but there is no interconnected, coordinated approach. You collect the food items—and then what? You receive the money—and then what? These are “quick fixes” to a deeper, traumatic and sometimes painful problem. There’s no easy way to approach the factors of homelessness because they can be very complex. Drug/substance abuse, financial difficulties, and mental illnesses are all factors relating to homelessness. It’s a broad category, and as such, it involves a host of different types of agencies and professionals to help address the holistic issue.

The most obvious solution to homelessness is housing. Subsidised housing and more shelters should be available for people who are homeless or are about to be. We must come to the reality that not every citizen can afford to buy or rent. We also need a faster crisis response approach within social services to address homelessness at its beginning stages or even prevent it from happening altogether.

With education and sensitisation to eradicating homelessness, I hope we can find better ways of helping those in need. I’ve always wondered how betrayed some of the destitute feel. They have no place to call home and they are often treated as invisible beings on the sides of the streets. Aside from writing this week’s column piece to help raise awareness of homelessness in Guyana, I’d also like to add substance by assisting or collaborating in community projects addressing homelessness at its core factors. If you’re reading this and you’re interested, simply email me at marissavictoriafoster@gmail.com to collaborate.

Together, our small steps can help make a difference to the greater good of our country. It makes no sense we have a land filled with resources and wealth but yet still people are still calling the cold streets their home. We need to do better.