Dear editor,
Re: Still no winter shelter as record-breaking cold spell hits the Comox Valley (Jan. 17 Record)
To quote Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells, “Normally a faith-based group would step forward… we haven’t had people stepping up in organizations that have the space.”
And Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA: “…we need the community to find the location that will provide the shelter to people…”
I am angry. Why does it fall on “faith-based organizations” to provide for the homeless? Many people do not belong to such groups. But they do pay taxes. Our tax dollars are paid to the municipalities, the province, and the federal government, not to “faith-based organizations” or volunteer groups, who don’t have the budget to respond in an appropriate manner. We expect action from our elected officials, not procrastination.
The problem is not going to go away and the homeless are not going to go away, no matter what various levels of government wish. It will be worse next year. It is the responsibility of our elected officials to find a temporary solution, and then a long-term solution, not pass the buck.
Start working on it now and stop waiting for “faith-based” or other organizations to do it for you.
If governments of all levels had started a program in previous years instead of ordering “studies,” a solution may have been found, instead of searching frantically for a shelter in October of 2023. What we probably need is a purpose-built facility, so why not get it started?
This is a national, if not international problem, and we need thinking outside the box.
J. Gould,
Area C