Cutbacks leave homeless in the cold
Published Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 9:36PM
Globe and Mail
With reports saying that Vancouver will have one of its coldest winters in 20 years, the B.C. government has stopped supporting homeless shelters in the city temporarily. The decision not to provide for the four shelters that have room for 160 beds, led people in the city to say that lives may be at risk during the winter months. The mayor of the city, Gregor Robertson said that if the homeless people do not have shelters, they will try and survive outside in the winter. He also said that they have had people die on the streets, so it is very important that they have enough beds. Minister for Housing Rich Coleman said that the extra spaces will not be needed, because of 300 new permanent social housing units that have opened. B.C will then fund only three heated shelters this winter, cutting off money to four other shelters with 160 beds each for the homeless.
I think the decision the government made to not provide shelters for the homeless this winter is a big mistake. It is important that the less fortunate are able to have a warm shelter to survive the cold winter. Even the mayor of the city thinks that something should be done to help protect the needs of the less fortunate. There has to be a system implemented that makes sure the people who can't afford a house are not just put on the streets. They should not be put out on the streets and not have some support, especially when Vancouver is suppose to have one of its coldest winters. I think that the government should realize that they need to have more shelters, not take them away. The people of power need to step in and fix this issue before the cold hits and it is too late.
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