Editor: As a resident of Langley for 23 years now, I am sad to see how much the homeless community has grown.
I would like to say thank you to those who were involved in organizing the recent homeless forum I attended.
I appreciated this forum for many reasons, but mostly for the chance for citizens to speak up and be heard. I understand the confusion and anger residents have, but I feel they may have a better understanding after listening to some of the incredibly brave speakers from that evening.
This hit very close to home for me as my family struggled with homelessness during my childhood.
My mother and my uncle (who has now passed away), both spent many years on the streets in Langley and Vancouver.
There are many reasons that the homeless struggle to get a job and find their place in society.
It takes a certain person to understand all of them and sympathize. I feel many people stereotype the homeless but I feel it is from lack of education on the subject.
If, as a community, we can keep the positive thoughts and ideas flowing, I feel confident that we could make a difference.
Not only in Langley but all over the province. I feel this is the only way we will start to see a change.
Keep the minds open, and the ideas coming, folks.
Kelsie Lewis, Langley
