Is Duncan a caring society?
Re: “CVRD comes up empty in search for shelter site” (Citizen)
Are we a caring society? Or do we just want to look and sound like one?
Several unhoused people died in our region this winter, one a young woman in her 20s.
The highly contested extreme weather shelter could not protect everyone who needed it. Only 20 mats were available most nights it was open. On the very coldest nights, when more people sought shelter, many were turned away. Those lucky enough to get in waited outside until 9 p.m. for that privilege. Warmland shelter requires people to attend before 5:30 p.m., but is also usually full.
At least one cold night, the emergency shelter didn’t open despite a temperature lower than the 2 C noted as criteria for opening.
That criteria is not based on human health requirements. Studies show more people die when weather is cold – and those studies include people who live and sleep indoors!
Unhoused people do not only begin to suffer when temperatures drop to 2 C, nor only between specific dates. We have also had snow in October, November, and April. It’s no surprise they need fires to stay warm.
The unhoused also need to be protected from intense heat in summer, and from the wildfire smoke that sometimes makes our air quality among the worst in the world.
Given any real choice, very few if any would live on the street. The homeless now include seniors, students, the disabled, working people and even families living in RVs. We could so easily be them.
Grace Golightly
North Cowichan