Dear Editor,
Re: “Businesses protest shelter,” News, Sept. 20.
I feel that if we are ever to eliminate the stigma surrounding homelessness, it needs to start here and now. When business owners complain about (unproven) negative impacts of being situated next door to a homeless shelter, they’re part of the problem, not any solution.
Homeless people are just that…people. They’re not monsters or boogie men/women. They aren’t criminals and, if/when people do turn to crime, it’s often because they’ve hit rock bottom. But underneath all the pain and suffering, they’re still people, who, with a bit of intervention, can turn things around. They need help, not to be shunned and viewed as ogres. It perpetuates the cycle they’re in to do so, and that benefits no one in the community.
They have fallen on hard times, many due to illness and other factors that are out of their control. As we experience more and more of a divide between the rich and poor, many of us are just one pay cheque away from possibly becoming homeless.
Children’s safety is more threatened when homeless people DON’T have shelter and resources to rely on. Disconnection from the community is more of a threat than having someone receive hope next door.
If we truly want our children safe, we have to find a way to integrate people back into the community, not sweep them out of sight. Homelessness is a very real and ever-increasing issue. We should be applauding the expansion of services for the homeless. We do children a disservice by deflecting them from the problem rather than actually supporting solutions.
We need to rid ourselves of statements that includes “these kinds of people.” We’re in this together, the wealthy and those in need of shelter alike. Let’s allow everyone dignity and a place to call home, shall we?
It’s the first step in helping them to become productive members of our society, which benefits everyone (including the kids next door).
D Wild
Richmond
Try gratitude
Dear Editor,
Re: “Businesses protest shelter,” News, Sept. 20.
Shame on Wayland Sports’ owner, Ying Wang, for implying that those who need the Salvation Army shelter are automatically a danger to childrren.
Mr. Wang is only a small ripple effecting error away from being in similar circumstances. “The homeless,” as a group, include former business owners and others formerly well-to-do.
Keep in mind, Mr. Wang, the saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
Try gratitude instead of arrogance, sir!
Painting homeless with a negative brush is bigotry.
George Pope
Richmond
