Open letter to Mayor Brodie and councillors,
I write to offer my support to the proposed modular supportive housing project at 7300 Elmbridge being considered tonight (Thursday).
As some of you know, I was a City of Vancouver councillor from 1990 to 1993. During my term of office, I dealt with similar projects and heard similar oppositions. People who opposed these projects were sincere, genuine and otherwise caring and generous. The fears they had were real. The concern about their own physical, financial and social well-being was genuine. Their rationale was based on an alternate set of facts or a different perspective on the same facts. I urge you not to discount or dismiss their true feelings or to wrongly judge their motives.
What is also real, however, is that of all the previous projects that have heard similar concerns expressed, none of the feared consequences materialized. Crime rates did not increase; property values did not drop; noise level remained about the same; streets around the project remained clean. The sad part of the story is that the people who had opposed the project rarely come forward afterwards to acknowledge that their opposition had been misguided; that had they known what they know after the project’s completion, they would not have voiced opposition.
Richmond is in need of supportive housing for the homeless people who are already living in the city. This project will not cost the city a penny, as the provincial government will fund it. By providing a roof over the heads of the homeless, Richmond residents will benefit from the removal of many of the negative consequences associated with having people living on our streets. But the ultimate benefit to us all, is having fellow Richmondites living in better environments with a chance to lead more productive lives. The homeless are, after all, living amongst us and are one of us.
As a Richmond resident for 40 years and as an advocate for a more harmonious community, I applaud the city’s effort in making sure Chinese-speaking Richmondites who have yet to gain fluency in English, are able to participate fully in the consultation process. Your efforts have provided a channel for them to gain accurate information and to express their concerns. I encourage you, once you have voted in favour of the project, to fully explain to them your rationale. In addition, I recommend that six months after the opening of the project, the city and RainCity Housing host a highly-visible open house and demonstrate how none of the concerns expressed have materialized. Such a follow-up action will help pave the way for future projects.
I wholeheartedly support the project because I know that, but for the grace of God, I could be one of those homeless individuals living on our streets.
Tung Chan
RICHMOND
