To the editor,
Homelessness is not a new problem.
The news reported one mayor saying he expected the provincial government to cover the costs of policing for those who had moved to a provincial park in his community. It is not solely the fault of the current provincial government. We had another government in office for 16 years, which was kept in office by the voters of this province. During that time, little was done to assist the homeless or those living on the economic margins of our society. Now suddenly the new government is supposed to ‘cure’ it all? Homelessness isn’t just the responsibility of Ottawa and Victoria. All politicians are elected to lead for the entire community, not just those who live in houses and apartments.
When people go to vote in their municipal elections they might want to ask themselves: who will help deal with the housing crisis in this province? As the news reported, the average rent for a one bedroom in Victoria is $1,200 per month. This problem isn’t going away. Do something about it, because you might find yourself being homeless in the future. We already know one in five Canadians will have to avail themselves of the services of the food bank.
E.A. Foster, Nanaimo
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Homelessness a symptom of society’s ills
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