Editor: I have watched over the last few years as the homeless population grows exponentially in the Langley area. As much is the same in the GVRD.
Homelessness and drug addiction become so closely associated because even the working homeless have to live the same as the drug addicted homeless. People don’t see the addicted people with a roof over their head.
The problem is two-fold, as I see it.
On one hand, you have a severe lack of affordable housing largely due to the availability of rental units (Airbnb comes to mind).
People are upset with the government’s choices in placement of social and low-income housing. Of course they are.
Grouping the destitute together, even in the finest of places, will have a negative effect on the entire neighbourhood, from property values to public safety.
If the rental rates came down due to the elimination of airbnb, less taxes on homeowners with secondary suites, more apartment buildings and less property taxes to make homes more affordable — this is how we get people off the streets and out of harm’s way.
The second issue is with support for those with drug addiction and mental health concerns.
We are losing the battle with drugs and it is claiming the lives of our citizens in more ways than one. If we don’t rehabilitate the addicted and support the ones with mental health issues, we are sending our most vulnerable citizens to slaughter.
We claim to be a world leader in human rights and save people from all over the world by bringing them here but what is going on in our own backyard?
Should we not care for our citizens like we care for others?
I understand that these issues only cost money to our government but it’s time to look past the bottom line and look inside ourselves to take care of our citizens before they become homeless.
I am not looking forward to retirement, I can tell you that. I see the way we treat those who are not contributing to funding government projects.
Don Shier,
Langley