Editor:
Imagine having a normal life, with kids, a job, a home. Then imagine an accident or a diagnosis of a debilitating mental health issue. First the job is gone, as you are no longer able to cope. Your wife or husband does not understand and does not have the knowledge or patience to support you. The mortgage payments are not made. Your spouse leaves you. The bank takes your home. You look for comfort by taking drugs or drinking. You are embarrassed. Your friends don’t recognize the old you. You are now homeless. This happens, folks. This happens in our community we call paradise.
I have worked at the Community Resource Centre, the Sechelt Visitor Centre and now the Sechelt Library. All these places are frequented by the homeless in our community. I have never felt threatened or afraid. Yes, there are issues from time to time, but it is rare. I was so sad and disheartened to see the signs, “Feeling safe knowing your kids are at the Bike Park? What if there was a 40 bed homeless shelter next door?” What? Really? If there was a real safety issue, I would think the RCMP would advise not to have the shelter built at the proposed site.
Maybe the solution is getting to know who lives in the homeless shelter. Volunteer at the homeless shelter. Provide meals to the homeless shelter. Provide sleeping bags, clothing, and toiletries to the homeless shelter. If you did that, I am quite certain, your fear would fade. Let’s continue to make our community an inclusive, welcoming community that supports everyone, regardless of colour, gender, age, income, those with homes and those without homes. I believe positivity and knowledge triumph over negativity and fear. What about you?
Sherryl Latimer, Sechelt
