Typical noise from mayor and his friends in not having something in place for the predicted homeless situation.
If they have been walking or driving through town they would have seen the new collection of people that are sitting in front of the banks, etc. with their cardboard signs collecting money. They have been here for some time. To quote whoever wrote in your newspaper last week that these are local people, you are wrong, they are not.
Talk to them, you will find out that they have come here because it’s too crowded in other areas of B.C. like Vancouver and Victoria. They are expanding and like vagabonds of the old days, albeit a lot of them have mental health issues, they travel where the money is good.
As citizens of this community, either be prepared by continuing to give them money as I see people do allowing them to camp where ever they like in the upcoming months.
How about a campground, like Rathtrevor? Wouldn’t the provincial government be OK with that? If not, then you better get off your behinds and spend as much of our taxpayers money as you can and quickly build them suitable housing.
Be prepared to hire proper staff because without supervision it will quickly turn into a slum. These people are not just homeless people. Most have mental health issues and additions, they need treatment as well. Perhaps if the provincial government set up places for these people to go for treatment, or just to get back to living in society with a job and a home, all communities wouldn’t have this problem.
We collectively as a society could all be responsible for them. It doesn’t matter where they live if they get treatment or assistance does it? I mean they aren’t living here for the ambiance and pleasure.
They are drifting because we don’t take the problem in hand and insist that this is the way it will be for them. They can’t make those decision themselves, they are lost. If they live on the streets, parks, etc. they are required to go to this facility where they will be housed, assessed and given the proper treatment or assistance. Why let them flounder, get involved in drugs and continue the cycle?
Nancy JonesParksville