Dear Editor,
Richmond’s temporary modular housing (TMH) project would have been an easy sell if not for the following:
1. There is a lack of information coming from BC Housing. Even at the TMH Roundtable, organized by concerned citizens on April 4, their answers failed to provide confidence. For instance, why would the cost of TMH (without land) work out to about $700 per sq. foot, way higher than a similar size wood framed or even concrete building; or why local housing operators were not invited to submit proposals to operate the TMH?
2. Raincity, the selected operator for the TMH, also does not inspire confidence when they indicated they would have to wait till the TMH occupants are selected before deciding on the needed qualification of TMH staff.
3. Understandably, there is a big gap in the understanding of homelessness and its solution among the newer Chinese immigrants.
However, with a lack of sensitivity to that and patience to dialogue from the predominantly white group supporting TMH, the disagreement unfortunately, in optics, became one between two cultures.
4. In a selfish bid to gain more supporters, partisan spin doctors from the right, as well as upcoming election hopefuls have been misinforming and stirring up opposition to TMH. Richmond, with a high new Chinese population, is vulnerable to such manipulation. At a predominantly Chinese group rally opposing TMH outside the April 9 city council meeting, it appeared a good number of them were from Marpole and elsewhere outside of Richmond.
Understanding the above may liberate us from fear and distrust, the “us versus them” mindset that has been festering in Richmond for years now.
I understand some may wish to be singularly focused on TMH.
However, the city we are in is segregated in more than just one way and it did not become what it is because of one wall.
We, who happen to see this housing wall, need to ask for God’s grace in seeing and breaking down other walls.
Bill Chu
RICHMOND
