To the Editor,
Re: Social housing supporters step up, Nov. 15.
I disagree with the Green Light Project’s assumptions on the furor caused about housing the homeless.
I don’t think any group is against helping the homeless. City council caused this uproar with its secrecy and in-camera decisions.
Council and city staff are pushing to house the hard-to-house drug addicts and chronic alcoholics in low-barrier ‘wet houses’. Once there, they can continue their addictive ways and not try to overcome their addictions to become productive citizens.
People have tried to make the city officials understand that there are a lot of other homeless or at-risk of homelessness people in Nanaimo – working poor, single parents, elderly, and others who are struggling to survive.
We all want to help those who need help and would continue to be productive Nanaimo citizens. Most people would welcome them to their neighbourhoods.
The present council and staff are too bull-headed to be concerned about the research done by ordinary citizens of Nanaimo.
They do not want community consultation even though it was stipulated in the memorandum of understanding.
E. Nielsen
Nanaimo
