Dear Editor,
Re: “Petition circulating against Steveston affordable homes,” Richmond-News.com, June 12.
I wanted to commend Mina Kaur who recently wrote into the Richmond News in strong support of the proposed affordable housing site at Steveston Highway and Railway Avenue.
I am also a neighbour of this proposed site and when we received the information postcards in the mail from the City last month about the project, my young children, partner and I were thrilled.
My kids exclaimed “how wonderful that more people will get housing!”. This is more of the attitude we need in our neighbourhood and our city (and frankly, everywhere), not the NIMBYism that some of my neighbours have adopted.
I have worked in social services and healthcare for almost two decades and have witnessed firsthand the absolute transformation that safe and affordable housing can make to a person’s life, health and wellbeing.
If a person does not have adequate housing, the challenges they face are virtually insurmountable.
I cannot wait to warmly welcome our new neighbours to the community and show them what a great place Steveston is to live!
Ainslie Cook
Richmond
