Open Email To Mayor Banman, Abbotsford Council and Abbotsford’s Provincial MLA’s
Good afternoon and Merry Christmas,
I am sure you are all aware of the judge’s ruling with respect to the Drug War Survivors camp downtown – a ruling that would be truly heartbreaking at any time of year, but is especially unfortunate this time of year.
I’ve been bringing my children to the homeless camp quite a bit lately. They’ve donated blankets, clothing, hats, gloves and even managed to convince a local business to donate a large bag of high quality dog food, treats and a dog bed. My children created signs and stood with the residents of the camp both times the city was expected to shut the camp down. Some have argued that the DWS camp was the last place a child should be, but I disagree. The residents were moved to tears by the support of my children. You see, children are the purest and most unbiased critics. The only thing they see is the person standing before them, stripped completely of labels. They spoke to the residents and learned their stories, heard about addiction and hardship. They played at the park while concerned residents checked the gravel for broken glass and other items which could potentially harm the children. There weren’t any. The only time my children felt nervous was when a drunken woman, leaving the beer store, decided to stop and argue with my children about why the park residents were bad people. I don’t imagine I need to point out the irony here.
And now my children are worried. They don’t understand why the camp residents need to leave. I’ve explained the legalities, but children aren’t concerned with legalities. They focus on morality – and in this moment the City of Abbotsford’s actions are coming across as immoral. Aside from the Jam in Jubilee, that park is pretty much a ghost town as far as most residents of Abbotsford are concerned. I’ve lived in this town for 20 years and rarely have I ever encountered another family in that park. Realistically, this point is now moot, but it is worth making.
My question to you all is: now what? Are there plans in place to house these people? To donate public land for use as a camp until a long term solution is reached? The land that housed the old hospital was going to be donated to the YMCA, could it not be used to keep these people feeling safe? These people are used to being robbed, abused, insulted, forgotten. For many, the DWS camp is the first time they have felt safe in as long as they can remember. It’s given them a sense of community and family. It’s the support network that they so desperately need, providing a much deserved sense of self esteem which is the most important element in realising self worth and making changes.
Entering a shelter for 5 days per month means that they will lose most of their possessions and for some, their pets – the only sense of unconditional love these people have. We all have families, warm beds, presents awaiting us next week. It’s difficult for us to really understand the struggles these people face every day. My children would like to extend an invitation to you. They would love to accompany you to the camp, where you could speak with the residents and gain an understanding of what help looks like to them. When replying, please let me know if you would be interested. They are really hoping someone will take them up on the offer.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Meghann Coughlan
Now what?
That is the same question I asked after speaking to social service
responders at the site this morning.
Representiative from Min of Social development said, they were there to
provide those without assistance help and the Salvation Army stated,
they would be offered space @ their extreme weather shelter, it’s
time available to be extended.
When I inquired with the Ministry repres. and Salvation Army as to what
would happen, once time ran out and no response.
In answer to your question, “now, what?” Not a whole lot, except a whole lot of tax $$ used to go to court to have homeless removed out of Jubilee Park and policing costs and other organizational costs …
cost..cost and more cost, which could have put into attempts to try
to try new ways to help the homeless.
If the businesses/investors in the ADBA area think the problem has been solved, they are in for a big surprise, because the homeless
from jubilee Park have already zeroed in on another location.
The problem of homeless sites scattered thruout the city and in abandoned squatter houses in our neighborhoods is still there,
but, any money, which could help address the desire to not have
the homeless campsites in the business areas of the city has now
been spent on campsites removals, once again.
Now, what?
We are back to square one!
Incompetence and lack of leadership resonates @ City Hall
The worst part in all this is the treatment of the homeless people is
very sad, indeed! So, many intellectual people and everybody keeps talking about what they need or do not need and the homeless person
has been LOST in the shuffle!
Meghann Coughlan’s letter is one bright spot in an otherwise dark, depressing story.
If every parent was to raise their child with her sense of morality and a readiness to engage and empathise with those less fortunate we would looking at a future without the organised cruelty visible in Abbotsford.