OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is from a former Orillia resident who went public with his story about being homeless and battling mental health issues.
Regarding accommodating modern homelessness in the coming years, I’d like to suggest some healthy solutions that I saw in my travels over the years.
It’s obvious since the explosion of homelessness since 2015 that increased social services spending is necessary to maintain the sense of public safety and preserve property values.
Thinking of Orillia, I’d like to suggest the installation of a highly equipped drop-in centre to assist the street-level and shelter homeless so that those who wander daily might have a place to reconnect with the humanity that gets lost through the various factors that cause and contribute to homelessness.
Vancouver was always steps ahead in this area due to their infamous homeless problem through the years. The Carnegie Center on Main and Hastings was a place with various recreational as well as educational activities where the residents could stay during Vancouver’s many rainy days rather than fall prey to the dangers lurking outside.
There was a small library, computer terminals, a $2 meal cafeteria, a weight room, pool table room, musical instrument loans and even a performing stage for bands that was a cinema twice a week and a newsletter where members could voice issues in the downtown east-side.
There was also a community garden that was integral in helping many addicted get sober.
Something to consider…
Tyler Dunlop
York Region
