Editor, The News:
Re: B.C. Housing backs down (The News, March 30).
As a senior and, for the past five years, a Maple Ridge resident, I am amazed at the time, effort, and taxpayers money spent by our city and province just trying to resolve our homeless issue.
It seems everyone wants to complain, but do not offer solutions.
In November of last year, an article of mine was printed in this paper with my thoughts and my own personal experience in regards to dealing with the homeless, apparently to deaf ears.
In my opinion, there is too much money and time wasted with committees, town hall meetings and review boards.
The businesses and residents of this beautiful little city have made it perfectly clear: they don’t want a shelter next door or in their backyard.
When I drive around Maple Ridge I notice many vacant warehouses in the industrial areas, away from businesses and residences and schools.
The cost to frame in and create 60 to 80 private little rooms with a community kitchen, bathrooms and common area and a 24/7 staff would not even come close to the $5.5 million this government offered to buy the Quality Inn.
I have personally lived in and seen this type of shelter work.
There are a lot of homeless people who really do not want to be where they are and there are some who enjoy the free ride.
The shelter that I resided in for approximately four months had ways to help. There were two buses that were donated that would be at the front door every morning a 8 a.m. Those who were capable signed up to do community work for the day and returned at 4 p.m. Most of the work was basic community service for private businesses, cleaning office areas, picking up trash in city parks, painting.
A lot of people actually acquired part-time and full-time positions.
Having an avenue to feel that you have some self-worth goes along way when it comes to not being homeless.
Enabling homeless individuals with money every month is a big mistake because most of it goes to alcohol and drugs.
This government has to re-visit this.
When I grew up, any money from social services to help was paid directly to the landlord for supplying shelter.
We were allotted a certain amount in food stamps, which were only good for staple foods and necessities. There never was any cash distributed.
This city needs to select a focus group with policing, health, legal, political business, senior and residential representatives.
R.J. Resek
Maple Ridge
Why not Riverview?
Editor, The News:
I am wondering why Riverview can not be used to house the homeless people of Maple Ridge.
B.C. Housing has taken over the property as of February 2015 and what are the buildings being used for today?
There are 80 of them, five being brick wards.
It would only seem logical that this would be the ideal site rather than purchasing new accommodations.
The money could be spent to make alterations necessary to accommodate these people, or is there some reason that they need to be close to the downtown core? Just curious.
Barry Kazakoff
Maple Ridge
