Attn Ward 2 Residents

Re: 124 Walnut Street South, Hamilton Signage

Communication is essential to establish clarity. I will always seek answers first to understand a situation before reacting. My deep care for our houseless neighbours matches my deep care for creating a unified community.

I have reached out to the property owner, Mordi, and he recognizes that his message became lost in translation. He is deeply apologetic that the poem was taken differently than how it was intended, as it does not align with his philanthropic work. The poem will be taken down. 

He shared that he cares about the houseless neighbours and has advocated to the city for solutions. Language can be a difference, but the way we bridge that is we work to understand how one communicates and the misinformation that may form around that. 

For clarity, my conversations with Mordi were all informative to understand his city dealings concerning the property. I was never personally sent or offered a donation from this property owner. I shared my enthusiasm and optimism for a city that can be progressive and look after all of our residents. 

He asks the public to contact and reach out via their website directly. He is happy to engage in discussion and answer any questions from the community. 

We are all residents of this community, and I will continue to advocate that every resident be treated with dignity and respect. We must share the truth about what experiencing homelessness is like and erase the stigmas surrounding homelessness. 

To truly help adults and youth experiencing homelessness, we must understand the stigmas they face daily and how those stigmas affect them. We are all being called to work together as a community, and only then can we make real systemic change. Changing our approach to neighbours experiencing homelessness begins by changing our collective attitudes about homelessness.

Growing together means we all belong. It also means that we help all people grow, even those with opposing views and differences. Unity, teamwork and change can only be achieved if we can work through negative experiences and replace them with positive solutions. I will work to be a part of the solution to build a thriving community where we can all work together. 

I will continue to listen to all stakeholders to solve our housing crisis. As councillor, I will continue to advocate that housing is a human right and part of a healthy community. 

Let’s continue to lead compassionately and with love. 

Raquel Rakovac,

Small business owner, mom, coach, artist, Hamilton born and raised, Cathedral High School alumni, houseless neighbours advocate, a continual learner, growing and compassionately leading.

For more information, visit my website: www.raquelforward2.com

Love is Louder

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MEDIA CONTACT

Cameron Dyck

info@raquelforward2.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A response from Ward 2 Candidate Raquel Rakovac to Councillor Jason Farr motion to install CCTV cameras in John Rebecca Park in the public works committee meeting

CCTV is not unusual; I do not believe it is a deterrent.

Surveillance cameras do not deter individuals from committing acts of violence. Instead, what is essential is how the cameras operate, how humans watch the monitors, relay information, and get the police to the scene. Therefore, it is not enough to put up cameras; you need human eyes on the subjects at all times. The crucial question is, is the staff who watch this surveillance a part of the projected budget?

It is, however, essential to maintain public safety and property.

We need temporary, short-term solutions while creating long-term solutions to get people in permanent integrated supportive housing throughout the City.

Continuing to criminalize those in poverty will only continue to divide our community. The main concern is poverty, lack of housing and adequate support.

Where are the solutions to establish safe dwellings to prevent the need for unsafe and unsanitary encampments?

Programs and employment for youth are equally necessary. In addition, harm reduction, safe injection facilities and mental health specialists are needed immediately.

The root of the systemic problem is poverty, and we must create housing and provide support solutions immediately. From personal conversations with those experiencing homelessness, people are staying in encampments as a safer option than staying on their own in an unsheltered location or an emergency shelter for fear of experiencing violence and bullying.

We must connect our neighbours experiencing homelessness with short-term and permanent housing opportunities with the right level of services to ensure those housing opportunities are stable and prosperous. As sourced in my platform, we can look at similar models, such as the City of Kitchener, that provided property to create a temporary location for ‘A Better Tent City.’ A small part of the city’s snow storage site lot was used as a short-term solution to house people.

In addition, the city partnered with a not-for-profit organization called the ‘Working Centre,’ where they worked on a ‘Good Neighbour Plan’ to maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive community.

We have a local group working with this exact model and has expertise from the ‘Working Centre’ team. In addition, I have engaged with a local organization, HATS (Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters), to discuss solutions that will serve and be mindful of everyone in our community. HATS understands the safety needs of constituents and the support needed for neighbours experiencing homelessness. HATS can provide an effective short-term transitional housing response as we work on long-term solutions. As well, the shelter can be used effectively to provide immediate safety.

We have opportunities in Hamilton to source the land from the city’s current inventory and partner with groups that have solutions; it is a question of whether our City Council is inviting these conversations and actions to begin effectively.

Our community deserves a City Council that cares for all of its residents. Compassionate leadership is imperative and is a quality I imbue and will continue to advocate for. Leading with compassion imparts hope to our community and exemplifies the purpose of a City Council that represents and takes action for the well-being of all its people.

Please see my platform for further details: https://raquelforward2.com/

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MEDIA CONTACT

Cameron Dyck

info@raquelforward2.com