Dear Editor:
Re: Homelessness costs city taxpayers, Burnaby NOW, April 12.
I am surprised that the city has not addressed the problem of our homeless along with the provincial government.
It seems that the provincial government is willing but not the city. The verbal spatting back and forth resolves nothing for those in need.
If I could use a comparison, it's like an alcoholic not admitting to the problem. Homelessness is here to stay so let's deal with it and not turn a blind eye, as it resolves nothing.
There must be a plan set in order to deal with the issue.
I am concerned that sometime down the road, I may hit a homeless person begging on the roadway. Just imagine that cost.
Being a taxpayer, I am always happy when I can see the City of Burnaby saving money.
However I have not seen a return on my investment in the past. I would forgo the return in a monetary sense and would like to see value added to our RCMP, with them addressing other issues rather than dealing with the homeless.
The writer of the column, Bruce Friesen, addresses the dollar cost of $1.54 for every $1 invested in services for homeless people. (Google the Bosman Hotel experiment in Vancouver.) This alone is a very important motivating factor in getting the issue resolved. With this potential dollar savings, the City of Burnaby could invest dollars towards a facility and the provincial government could donate the Willingdon remand centre at the corner of Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way. This would be an excellent, low-cost conversion as it probably has all the amenities to be an easy resolution to our homeless problem.
A note to the readers of my opinion: I do know Mr. Friesen. The article he has written is a very clear concise approach.
Do it now, then it's done, I say. Nick Kvenich, Burnaby
