Each week new volunteers take on the Wooden Spoon and participate in a week long fast for seven days. The hunger strike will continue past the 2010 Olympics to June 2010.

We are calling for the re-establishment of a National Housing Program based on the One Percent Solution in Canada.

Why is Vancouver Councillor Ellen Woodsworth participating in the 2010 hunger strike relay?

I've finished week 55 of the Hunger Relay Strike to End Homelessness! Today at noon I handed over that imposing wooden spoon...

The week has actually gone quickly and the support quite wonderful, so thanks to all the good folks who dropped by the Carnegie to say hello and show their support for the need for housing. To my friend Sharon - was good to see you on your day off no less, and see how you encouraged people to write messages to Harper and Parliament.

Day 6 was a very busy day! I left the house early and headed Downtown to the Courthouse to hear the decision of the BC Court of Appeal on INSITE and the appeal of the Cons Government to try and shut it down. The Court Room was packed - and the decision all we hoped for came in!

I think I'm losing track of the days - it seems like its still day 4. All I know is its colder and wetter today and many people at Main and Hastings were edgier. Turns out that cheque day is next week - so many folks are at that point of no return - money gone. People look hungry and intense. I got the first negative comment - racist so I won't repeat it. We ended up sharing the tent cover with multiple dealers, (they've kept a small distance ‘til now on the shared sidewalk). It’s interesting watching the small deals go down - fast and efficient. Heard many hard stories - like Peter from the Dene nation - he described to us how Fort McMurray and his people are ruined. He signed his message as Dene Warrior.

Day 4 - going well - and I am delighted to see the commentary/support/tweets/ facebook/discussion back and forth in support of the Hunger Strike Relay to End Homelessness. Keep it all coming!!

I've had many comments about the "wooden spoon" (our relay version of the Olympic torch) and the picture of me holding it and making a comment that I'm tempted to use it to  get Harper and Gordon Campbell's attention! I've been carrying the big wooden spoon every day and its weirdly empowering - Councillor Ellen Woodsworth who dropped by to say hello at Carnegie - gave me a friendly warning about it!!

Yay! The rain held off! I can't believe how much I'm paying attention to the state of the weather. If it doesn't rain I feel so much better. Usually I don't worry about weather -- but being outside for hours at a time makes a difference. It makes me appreciate that I get to go home every night and put my feet up and be warm. Not so for many I talked with today at Main and Hastings. We also talked about the issue of a billion dollars for Olympic security. Imagine what housing could be built with that. I met several people who are laid off because of the Olympics. They work part time in BC Place Stadium, but because of the Olympics, have been laid off. I'm not sure if this applies to all staff there. But one woman said she fell just short of enough weeks to collect EI. Crazy.

Weather is such a critical factor in everthing we humans do. When its cold and wet and you're homeless, it makes daily survival even harder. Add storms/snow and more, and its deadly. Today - day 2 of my hunger strike relay - we spent the first half hour outside the Carnegie Center, trying to avoid the cold and rain, wrestling to put up a small tent cover, and keep the flip chart from blowing away and written comments from leaking down the increasingly wet pages. (Thanks Megan from my office - I know you got sopping wet). Love that Vancouver weather! But its not snowing or freezing so we are fortunate. Still, lots of wet feet, wrong footwear, people underdressed around us - huddled and rushing to get into warm spaces.

Today was the first day of my participation in the 2010 Homelessness Hunger Strike Relay to end Homelessness in Canada. The Relay is in week 55! At noon today I proudly accepted the relay torch (a big wooden spoon) from Emily Walker who did week 54. We did this in front of the Olympics Countdown clock on Georgia Street and I was happy to see a fair number of media show up for the event. A big thank you to Am Johal, the hunger strike Co-ordinator from Impact on Communities Coalition who has organized the Hunger strike.  With the Olympics just about a month away - we need to expose the terrible reality that a billion dollars is being spent on security, (in adittion to all the other costs for the 2010 Olympics) but housing commitments have not been kept.

Today I pass on the wooden spoon which acts as a baton in this Homelessness Hunger Strike Relay.

One week with little food is really nothing compared to having to sleep outside on cold winter nights or use all one's resources just to find a night's shelter. It is a symbolic gesture, but one that focused my attention on the circumstance that approximately 150,000 people in Canada face.

I know it is within our power as Canadians to provide adequate shelter for all our people. We can demand that our government take action - and why would we choose not to do it? Is there something more important than ensuring that the basic needs of people are met? Let's once again build a country we can be proud of, which acts on its principles and reflects the dignity of its people.

January 3, 2010

Open Letter to Prime Minister Harper, Mr. Ignatieff, Mr. Layton, Mr.