Dear Editor,
I say yes to modular housing for homeless citizens going up as soon as possible at 7300 Elmbridge Way in Richmond.
The location is not in an exclusively residential area. There are many commercial buildings with a few apartments and condos in the area. The property is close to grocery stores, transit, hospital, food bank, social services and more. The location that has been chosen is perfect!
It is highly possible that the crime rate would decrease in an area where homeless people are given a supervised and safe place to live. The chance of these poor unfortunate people getting a job and supporting themselves would obviously be much higher if they had an address, a place to eat properly, get enough sleep, attend to their health and be able to bathe regularly.
There is an inordinate number of subsidized rentals in our neighborhood (not exactly the same I know) housing people and families needing help.
The people living in the subsidized housing are easy to spot, their clothes aren’t new, some of them look like they’ve been through a lot in their lives and continue to have problems.
They engage, smile and don’t cause trouble in our neighbourhood. I’m happy to see them here because without them we would be in what you’d call a snooty neighborhood.
An interesting fact is that even when we live in what you’d call a normal neighborhood, without homeless people visibly living near us, we don’t know who lives next door and what kind of issues they may have. Sometimes serious, frightening and dangerous behavioural problems crop up in people who seem to fit our standard idea of what is normal.
We need to help vulnerable people get back on their feet. A warm and dry home is a good start. Not one of us has made it to where we are without a helping hand.
An additional modular site would also be a great idea also.
Christine Durgo
RICHMOND
