HOMELESS ADDICTS NOT GOING AWAY, MUST HELP THEM

The Editor,

I am writing to express my strong concern for our homeless addicts.

This epidemic in our city has to stop now! There has been a growing
concern for the alcoholic addicts in our community who are homeless
and committing crimes just so they can eat and pay for more drugs.

The facts are there just not enough treatment facilities, especially
for women, not enough funding or professional counsellors. If this
epidemic isn't addressed soon, statistics show the number of homeless
individuals will rise and so will the crime rate, as the evidence has
already significantly been revealed to us right in front of our eyes.
This has been an issue in White Rock as well as many other cities
over the years and we need something done about it promptly.

Some of the reasons these people can't get the help they need are
there are so many roadblocks: long waiting lists for treatment, for
example. Furthermore, treatment after detox is not always available
right away, nor is there a safe place for them to stay long enough -
or at all - while waiting for counselling, for their wait list is also long.

I can see homeless individuals and a lot of crime happening down my
back alley everyday. Some of these people I attended high school
with, and they are now homeless, hungry and addicted. I have spoken
to them and I'm trying to help one lady right now. They told me that
they have no hope: they've tried but nobody wants anything to do with
them; they sleep in dumpsters, abandoned houses, bus benches and drug
houses because those are the only people who can relate to them -
very sad indeed. Too many doors get shut on them, which leaves them
feeling more hopeless and unwanted.

The cold, hard facts are here. What are we going to do about it? We
need more recovery houses with a strong relapse prevention program,
more approved government funding (donations alone don't seem to be
paying all the bills) and long-term treatment afterward. All of this
is needed so we can help these homeless individuals get back the life
they once had, as well as their dignity. This will help them become
positive members of our society.

Lillian Hallberg

Surrey