ALISON ACKER, RAGING GRANNY ON VICTORIA HOMELESS: ‘Why not open up some space where they can set up tents together + be safe?’

SIMPLE CAMP COULD HELP

HOMELESS

 

Opening Our Place at 7 a. m. would indeed help ease the early morning crush on Pandora Avenue (July 15), but chasing the campers around is not the answer.

The homeless won’t disappear.

 They congregate because numbers provide safety and there are many assaults that go unreported because the homeless have no trust in the police.

We need real solutions, but they don’t have to be permanent or cost the Earth.

Why not open up some space where they can set up tents together and be safe?

This would mean providing minimum security, toilets and access to some support services, but it need not be beautiful.

The homeless may prove more resourceful than politicians.  We should give them this chance instead of chasing them around town.

 

Alison Acker

Victoria

 

[CCC reprint: Victoria Times Colonist, Saturday, July 18, A15]