To the Editor,
Re: Council seeks solution to shelter youth, Dec. 13.
I must say I was shocked to find out Nanaimo has over 10 youths out there homeless. I cannot imagine any mama knowing her child is sleeping outside on a cold winter night. I have found the whole homeless thing and drug overdoses going out of control for some time. Society has got to change their attitude – in the good ol’ days, kids walked to the corner store for penny candy, not past some corner pot store or safe-injection site; kids were told to swim or play with a buddy for safety – now we are telling drug users to have a buddy.
I am glad our community leaders are working together to help these youths find shelter on these cold nights and I as a community member would be willing to partake in some warm soup and rolls because these youths have somehow fallen through the cracks. Obviously they left home or got kicked out. It is sad that this has happened and as a community we need to try and save our kids. Perhaps some kind of ‘buddy family system’ could be incorporated – I would be willing to help with that.
What I am not willing to do is support safe injection sites, free meals to adults who should have to pick up litter and participate in the good of their community before taking a handout. People are compassionate, but respect is needed and the filth of tent cities – the needles and garbage and rats – and the fentanyl catastrophe is not respect. I cannot support those who do not respect their community, but I can direct all my compassion for life to save a child from ending up on the same path as those.
MaryLou SharpeNanaimo