HARSH REALITIES

As President of Street Health's Board of Directors, I object to the
depiction of our organization and its clients as depicted by Sue-Ann Levy
and the subject of her article, Kathleen Kelly ("Another crackpot scheme
your taxes pay for," Jan. 13). Ms. Kelly is a concerned citizen, who
disagrees with what she sees as a misuse of taxpayers' money, when in fact,
no tax dollars are spent on this particular Street Health program.

Street Health has worked tirelessly since 1986 to address the basic health
care needs of Toronto's homeless and other marginalized residents. Such
care includes preventative efforts such as the harm reduction strategies
unjustly criticized in Levy's column.

The arguments presented in this article are not only false, they are also
overly simplified and potentially undermining to Street Health's deservedly
excellent reputation. Our work to help prevent increased public health
risks among this group of homeless people is interpreted as the promotion
of illegal activities.

The Ontario Ministry of Health, the City of Toronto, and Health Canada, not
to mention scores of caring individuals who annually express their support
for our work through private donations, provide funds to us because of
Street Health's ability to provide for, and long-standing commitment to the
needs of homeless people in Toronto.

We supply clean needles, pipes and alcohol swabs because they help limit
the spread of HIV and AIDS. This in no way enables drug use; it merely
reduces the risks associated with such activity. Our eyes are open to the
realities of life in Toronto, which includes homelessness, drug use and
prostitution.

Private donors have generously and exclusively supported the production of
safe crack kits. They have told us where they want their money to go and
have thus contributed to a humane response to a serious public health
issue. The author and Ms. Kelly can rest assured that their tax dollars are
not being used in this aspect of Street Health's work, nor are they
contributing to reducing homelessness. The homeless crisis as it exists
today has resulted from fiscal tightening which has virtually eliminated
any new supply of affordable housing.

We invite Ms. Levy, Ms. Kelly and the Toronto Sun to learn more about the
harsh realities which exist in the Toronto of today. The public deserves a
fact-based, enlightened and current view of our city.

Ross A. Smith

President

Street Health Board of Directors

(Levy's column stated Street Health and its partners had received grants
totalling $100,000, but your request for extra money to buy items for the
kits was turned down. We didn't mean to imply that tax dollars paid
directly for the kits)