During this period of our lives, where homelessness runs rampant globally, to force people out of their homes and then destroy these same homes is not a positive use of power. When powerful people choose to create a state of homelessness for any individual, this power lacks collaboration and mostly compassion.
The decision to take a person’s home, willfully destroy it and for the people to accept that action as correct — we as a community exhibit a lack of compassion. In a world where compassion is needed more and more every day, communities need to demonstrate compassion for the environment and the people. I am sorry but compassion that suits only your needs is not true compassion. It may not be easy for people who are comfortable in their homes to relate to someone whose home may be torn from under their very feet. But give it a try, will you. Imagine for even just a moment please!
In this community there is a consensus that we have a housing shortage. I challenge that perception! Until something is done with the empty provincial government trailers and housing, an honest consensus cannot be made. How many years has the provincial government subsidized trailers and houses sat unoccupied? Tell me people where is the collaboration here?
When the local and provincial governments actually collaborate on this issue, I am sure they would find several trailers and at least one house that could be put up for public auction, or rented. In turn the economy would prosper as people could settle and would be put to work. Where is the collaboration? So easy to look at what we perceive isn’t there… available housing. However, on the back and front streets of the Village of Queen Charlotte any person can determine where there is an empty trailer, an empty house and realize the provincial government actually has control of these homes.
If it suits the power, housing is made available. Apparently the local and provincial government appear to be blinded, and together through collaboration could change this static state of perception — the housing crisis!
During a time of a critical homeless crisis in the world, the decision to create a few more homeless people may not be the wisest choice. If the need to tear down buildings is something of importance, try the derelict buildings and perhaps those unacceptable for human habitation due to asbestos! Free up the empty homes, people want places to live, and please do not destroy perfectly good homes. They all belong!
Thank you for reading.
Deb Erickson
Queen Charlotte