To the editor,
Re: Tent city has got to go, Letters, Aug. 9.
According to Discontent City, it is a political organization set up to protest the injustices forced upon people experiencing homelessness, and demand affordable housing not shelters.
I’m with that, 100 per cent. As a resident of Nanaimo, I think the rental costs are beyond outrageous, and the cost of breaking into the mortgage market is laughable.
We are definitely in need of more affordable housing. After paying outrageous rent, it’s almost impossible to budget my car payment, insurance, health care, grocery bill, living experiences, and entertainment.
If housing were more affordable I can only imagine the amount of surplus money I would have to cover my basic needs and wants.
Discontent City residents don’t pay rent. Discontent City residents don’t pay house insurance. Discontent City residents don’t pay for water, sewer, or garbage removal. Discontent City residents don’t pay for anything. Yet, no surplus. Donate money. Donate food. Donate supplies. Donate, donate, donate.
At what point are the citizens of Discontent City going to be financially responsible for any portion of their existence? Tent city has the impudence to display upside-down Canadian flags, while simultaneously asking for handouts and reform from hard-working, tax-paying citizens. I won’t call them losers. I won’t call them junkies. I won’t call them thieves. But their city is a joke.
Hank Bradshaw, Nanaimo
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The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.