Dear editor,
We congratulate Mayor Greg Phelps and Courtenay council on working with the Comox Valley Regional District to purchase the land on Cliffe Avenue to provide facilities for persons of no fixed address.
Homeless persons usually have mental health and or substance abuse issues which hinder their ability to maintain a lifestyle, which the rest of us often take for granted.
Our family has two members who have been hospitalized with severe episodes of bipolar disorder. Fortunately our family circumstances and individual personalities have enabled these two loved ones to maintain balance in their lives and contribute in various ways to the communities in which they live.
We are acutely aware that many fellow citizens do not have support of families, a regular income, education and personal skills to deal with the their life experience. We can see that, “There but for the grace of God go we.”
Please do not waver in your commitment in placing this facility close to health and addiction services in the downtown area.
To skeptics, we would like to give the marvelous example of the Eureka Club, also in downtown, which is run by persons with persistent mental health issues who receive supporting services. Our friends there demonstrate how with love and support, persons do not have to live their lives at the very cold and wet margins of society.
Council's example of civic farsightedness needs to be supported by the community. We need to see the “other” as a needy person rather than an enemy to be feared and ostracized.
Joy and Art Johnston,
Comox