Dear editor,
It has taken a lot to inspire us to come out of retirement and write to the papers, but the apparent blindness to the glaringly obvious has just been too much to bear.
We've read that the regional district has now received a windfall of $300,000 to "help the homeless and support healthy communities." To our amazement, the regional district seems to be at a loss as to how to spend this money, and was asking for suggestions, when the answer is right before their eyes.
Maple Pool fulfills this mandate perfectly and is in serious need of help, particularly as we have also recently read in the papers that the Lins are still being pursued in court by the City of Courtenay, no doubt at great expense, because their home for the homeless apparently doesn't meet some drummed-up regulations.
Where is the common sense in all this? For goodness sake, councils and districts, wake up and use your brains!
First of all, drop the ridiculous lawsuit and instead use the money you'd spend on it to do whatever work is required to meet the regulations and improve the site. Duh!
And while you're at it, the Lins (who have done all their good work quietly and independently, and asked for nothing from anyone) should be paid social worker's wages for the dedicated and fantastic on-site work that they do, with very little appreciation and thanks from anyone except those living there.
And just think what could be done to Maple Pool with the money that is going to be spent on a very expensive home for a very small number of homeless in the downtown area.
This has caused nothing but dispute and delay, so cancel what is a bad idea all round, use the money for improvements at Maple Pool so more can be accommodated there and regulations met, and problem solved! Duh!
Speaking of all the complaints that have arisen and will no doubt continue to arise about any location chosen in the downtown area, we have never heard of any complaints from the neighbours of Maple Pool, which seems to exist comfortably and peacefully with its surroundings.
It seems a perfect location, an easy walk to town, with a healthy rural setting where there is room for, amongst other things, soccer games and swimming in the river. If the residents of Maple Pool are added to the homeless in Courtenay thanks to a cruel and heartless lawsuit, your fancy, expensive project in the town centre will not be big enough to hold even a fraction of them.
I imagine there could even be volunteer support from the community for doing the actual work at Maple Pool. If people are willing to donate time and materials to building an unnecessary bicycle bridge, surely they will come out to help work on Maple Pool to provide homes for the less fortunate.
With some volunteer labour and materials, added to the "windfall" from the regional district, the money the City is throwing at a home for a few of the homeless downtown, plus the money saved from not pursuing a cruel and vindictive lawsuit, a veritable palace could be built at Maple Pool, where not just a home is provided, but a real, healthy community with compassionate on site support for those who for one reason or another don't fit into a normal living situation.
Regional district and city council — it's such an obvious, easy and very kind solution to an otherwise difficult and unsolvable problem -- wake up and show some common sense!
Summer Joy and Jim Webb,
Merville