Dear editor,
With all the discussion by our candidates around the lack of affordable housing and helping the homeless and less fortunate in this provincial election, I couldn’t help but reflect on our Valley’s own track record so far.
The Valley has been granted in excess of $1 million dollars from provincial and health organizations to assist us in fighting our homeless problem. Some of those funds actually provided tangible results through a donation to the Dawn to Dawn Society and the purchase of the Braidwood subsidized housing property. Much of the remaining funding was administered through the Comox Valley Housing Task Force which was established in 2011 to “end homelessness in the Comox Valley.”
That task force was chaired by Ronna Rae Leonard.
Sadly, driven by misguided priorities and bad decisions, much of the grant funding was spent on commissioning studies, reports, consultants, forums, logos and so on. The CVTHF didn’t provide one pair of mittens, bowl of soup, pair of socks or shelter for one needy or homeless person.
When the funding ran out, Leonard’s Task Force was back asking our local governments for more funding. This time for a jaw dropping $300,000 a year for 10 years. Their proposal to spend the $3 million included hiring a “housing planner” for $94,000 per year or almost $1 million dollars and another $360,000 for “administration, office, and supplies” and “legal fees.” Only a small portion of the grant would be earmarked for a “housing fund.”
Thankfully her plan was never approved.
Let’s hope that our Valley’s homeless and less fortunate will finally receive the tangible support and assistance they need from leadership that will deliver results, not just hollow promises.
Irene Murray
Courtenay