Editor:
On Oct. 3, I attended a meeting sponsored by BC Housing and RainCity. Its purpose was to discuss a proposal for a three-year temporary shelter to be erected for homeless persons at the corner of Ebbtide and Trail Avenue. The meeting was well organized and well facilitated.
A few members of the audience had the courage to acknowledge that they were homeless or expected to be homeless shortly. I didn’t realize that they would need courage to speak up until I heard the appalling nastiness displayed by a few of those present.
Those of us who are not homeless are very lucky. We are not homeless for various reasons: perhaps because we had loving parents who instilled good values in us, or who sacrificed so that we had a chance at a good education or job training, or we married a good man or good woman, and we avoided a major illness or accident, or all of the above. Avoiding homelessness requires a lot of luck. So I hope those who said such ugly things will reconsider their remarks. Canada is supposed to be a welcoming, kind and compassionate nation. Would that it were so.
On the other hand my daughter, on permanent disability, who works tirelessly as a volunteer for the homeless here, encounters numerous instances of kindness and generosity in her efforts to find warm clothing, socks, backpacks, warm bedding, etc.
My own career was in the non-profit field, in major fundraising and program development, so I know something of the costs and planning needed for the proposed shelter. The shelter will be very close to my home. I am an 83-year-old widow and am not afraid of having homeless people right beside me.
Bula Hess, Sechelt
