HOUSING COMPLEX DESERVES A CHANCE

The debate over the location of the transition housing complex in the
downtown core has spun wildly off the rails in recent weeks.

Helping to confuse this process has been the efforts of the St. Paul
Street property owners group. They oppose this project, fearful that
this complex, intended to provide housing for recovering addicts and
mentally ill homeless people under the controversial harm reduction
treatment initiative, will turn St. Paul into the same kind of
homeless hangout that Leon Avenue has evolved into.

Largely based on the St. Paul group's initial concerns, city council
struck a task force of various downtown business and health
representatives to determine if the St. Paul location was best, or
other city-owned property locations might be a better fit.

But judging by the attitudes expressed at a public forum Tuesday
sponsored by the St. Paul group, it's not just about location anymore
as the whole concept was being trashed.

The suggestions of institutionalizing those who are mentally ill and
suggesting Christian-based abstinence and addiction rehabilitation
programs are a better solution for curing homeless drug addicts is
equivalent to stepping back in time 15 years. One small step forward,
and three giant steps back. Hardly what one would call progress.

Many in this city have been clamouring for years now to address the
growing homeless and drug addiction problem.

Harm reduction-style addiction recovery programs are controversial and
as a result, often misunderstood.

Perhaps they won't be the answer, but how will we know if it isn't
tried and properly evaluated? We have the resources here to do both,
with the help now of UBC Okanagan and government funding, so let's get
on with it.