Dear Editor,
Re: “A community divided?” News, March 8.
I have been hearing about the people who object to the proposed supportive housing for homeless and disabled. It seems to me that land was bought for this purpose and is in a perfect area: near transit, near the hospital, near many of the community facilities, and near food stores. It is also near a liquor store and a pub. Someone objected to this in the News, as if a person who has been homeless should not ever have a beer or glass of wine.
I worked with drug and alcohol addictions, as a nurse, in a Shaughnessy detox home. There was never any trouble with the neighbours — ever. It is still there. Property values have not been affected. What we are planning for Richmond is not even a detox centre! Pathways Clubhouse has been in this location in Richmond, there is a food bank nearby, and neither have had a problem. No one realizes that there is a homeless problem in this neighbourhood — there is a problem.
People are homeless for so many reasons and it is not always addiction. Some people are homeless due to disability. Some disabilities include autism, diabetes, or smokers who have lost their leg to vascular disease. Some people are worried that there will be needles on the property. If this happens, I will personally go every morning and check the area and clean them up. I am sure that it will not happen.
I hope and pray that council maintains their compassion and integrity (and that of previous councils who had enough forethought to purchase the land) and do not succumb to a few loud people who do not want us to look after the homeless and disabled.
Some of the councillors have received letters and emails from hundreds of people who do not support this project. They need to hear from those of us who do support it. The email address is: MayorAndCouncillors@Richmond.ca”
Toni Loo
Richmond
To the Editor,
Re: “A community divided?” News, March 8.
I was absolutely moritfied and appauled when I read the feature article on March 8 about the proposed modular housing. The building would be run by RainCity Housing, a well-established non-profit housing society that operates many projects throughout Metro Vancouver. The lack of compassion and open-mindedness displayed by my fellow Richmondites is actually baffling.
It was also amusing that many of those surveyed opposed to the project claimed to approve of it, but feel it’s just the “wrong location”. Not a single person interviewed suggested where the “right location” might be.
Some of my favourite quotes from the article:
-”To us residents, dogs are not just pets but significant family members, especially to seniors who are accompanied by their dogs most of the time.”
-”We believe the initiative is a worthy cause...however, no one wants this type of housing or the proposed residents as our neighbours or in our neighbourhood”
-”Richmond is filled with luxury cars. Our strata is no different...our members certainly do not feel safe with their vehicles overnight should this housing go forward.”
Here’s the message I took away from these opponents: your dogs, cars and property values are way more important than your fellow neighbours, many of whom probably already live precariously close to your beloved condos! It’s great to know I live amongst some of the least compassionate people around. Shame on you. I hope you never find yourselves down on your luck and needing any form of assistance or help.
Here’s a piece of insider info, though: if this project goes ahead, the people housed in the units will no longer be homeless! Imagine that. And imagine the possibilities that might exist for some folks who have been struggling to get back on their feet, who need extra support, and who need somewhere to belong. That’s the kind of community I want to be a part of. I hope there are more who share my view.
Ainslie Cook
Richmond
Toni Loo
Richmond
Toni Loo
Richmond
