Editor: In regard to a solution to the homeless problems in Chatham Kent, I can only see lazy thinking. You cannot make one solution fit the three distinct problems faced by the marginalized, whether living rough on the streets or being taken advantage of by the filthy greed of those in a position to bleed them dry.
Politicians promise, well meaning citizenry twists in angst while the obvious is ignored.
There are three distinct groups being lumped in under the term “homeless.”
This requires three different responses.
First, there are the families and individuals who are financially strapped with no hope of escaping their situation. Some of these are homeless, some live in single rooms for $500 per month or more, but all are hungry.
These people are being supported by food banks and soup kitchens, with limited success. Imagine getting up in the morning with the full-time task of finding something to eat. We used to do that for centuries before civilization.
The second group are those sleeping on the streets. They are distinct from the first group in that there are two types of approaches required to assist them in escaping the freezing nights under the Third Street Bridge.
For this we need to admit the difference between the hard-core drug users and those who are simply homeless. One solution does not serve both these types.
Building truly affordable housing for them will assist the sober homeless and they could even be invited to assume the pride of stewardship.
The most problematic group is the one consisting of hard-core drug use. I expect many of them would welcome a chance to leave that world behind.
Various attempts to integrate these folks inevitably fail. They destroy themselves, their surroundings, destroy each other and have no interest in changing. And they are also prey – in this case to the drug trade, which is flourishing in C-K.
This is a problem without a reasonable solution, but politicians don’t solve serious issues. The Charter of Rights, the woke attitude of society says “hands off.” So save the millions being bandied about unless you are prepared for extraordinary solutions.
Adrian van den Enden
Chatham-Kent
Yes, finally someone that understands!!!