SPEAK UP ABOUT HOMELESS AND ADDICTS

Editor, The NEWS:

Our community seems to be looking more like King George Hwy. in Surrey or
the Downtown Eastside. The homeless are growing in numbers and nobody seems
to approve of their presence. So now that we know there is a problem, what
are we going to do about it?

The solution is multidimensional. It will be difficult to implement, but
not impossible. One thing that every citizen of Maple Ridge can do is to
contact the RCMP, the Mayor and our MLAs on a daily basis and let them know
we want solutions implemented. Your calls will force them to put pressure
on our provincial government to enhance the services that we provide in
Maple Ridge. These services are in addictions, mental health, program
development and housing.

The Salvation Army has attempted to provide a safe shelter for those in
need but due to minimal budget and lack of addiction-based programs, it has
instead become a gathering place for drug abuse and crime. Money is needed
to help the Salvation Army provide adequate services for the Caring Place.
If the homeless and addicted have a safe, regulated place to stay it would
be easier for the community to provide the services that we so desperately
need and to develop a tracking system so that these people do not fall
through the cracks.

We are in need of more individuals who are skilled in dealing with people
that are suffering with addictions and with mental illness. These issues
are prevalent in every community (not just our own.) The people who are
already working in these areas have large caseloads and it is obvious that
if the population of homeless continues to grow, they will be unable to
keep up. The professionals in this field have been letting us know for a
while now that this is a major concern and it affects all of us. It isn't
rapidly moving to our suburbs. It is already here.

It is evident that people of Maple Ridge feel that by removing their
resources of food and shelter it will cause them to leave of our community.
Although this is a popular suggestion, it is only a Band-Aid, not a cure.

We can no longer ignore this problem. It must be dealt with in a timely,
manner. We as citizens have a right to live in a safe, clean community. By
making our voices heard loud and clear, we can let the government know how
to proceed in spending our tax dollars.

Robyn Vergara Maple Ridge