When the mayors of towns decide to run for mayor, they’re choosing to represent ALL people in their municipalities whether they like it or not. That includes (especially!) the homeless and addicted. Busing people out of town may satisfy those citizens who are bothered by the “nuisance”, but in my opinion, it is not a workable solution. Whether it’s 5 homeless people or 100, every person deserves to have the option of a warm/cool place to stay in our increasingly uncomfortable climate. Look at what has worked in other cities and countries, listen to the advocates and professionals, and make it happen here. Can we help everyone? No, of course not, but we have to do better. A lot better.
The chaos in this region’s response to people’s need for shelter is astounding. Born and raised in Cobourg, and as a long-time street nurse in Toronto, I have followed the growing need in this region. People clearly need a proper 24/7 shelter not just the opening of a site based on temperature. The NIMBY ‘not in my backyard’ philosophy of your local politicians is not good public policy.
I generally like the job Bob Crate is doing, but statements equivalent to "just stop being addicted and get control of your life" are deeply, shockingly, ignorant. Someone should hand him a dictionary, make him look up "addiction" and quiz him until he has a clear understanding of the meaning of the word. Once that's done we can move onto defining "mental health."
I invite him to show us just one person who has said "I really enjoy committing criminal acts to survive and support my addiction!" This might come as news to Mr. Crate, but I'm confident in predicting that most of those homeless people already have a strong desire to become functioning, if not contributing members of society. With the right support, some could. Without it, there is little hope.
There are many memoirs written by people who have recovered from their addictions and mental health issues. I invite Bob to sit down and read a handful of them. Maybe then he'll gain a better understanding of what we're facing and approach the problem with at least a sliver of compassion.
But no, our collective "wisdom" is that we're going to solve a mental health problem by bussing people to some place where they're out of sight? That's absolutely [redacted] brilliant! I suppose we just repeat that until they perish, right? Here's an idea [facetious]: let them sleep on the bus! We can just drive it around from community to community each day so they're only visible once every week or two! Great optics.
Healthcare is a provincial responsibility and our provincial government (and several predecessors) have gutted evidence-based facilities to help deal with the issue, so if we're going to bus them anywhere, how about to Doug Ford's house?
I appreciate your comment - I thought what Crate said sounded like a shocking lack of knowledge and empathy about the causes of homelessness and addiction, but then so did shutting down the warming site, and so does the bussing idea, so you'd think there wasn't any good information or compassionate policy ideas available at all. How about all of these politicians open their ears to the experts and people with lived experience, rather than just the intolerant neighbours who don't realize how close they themselves are to health crisis or homelessness.
It is great to see Mayor Crate speak up about the homeless people. Trent Hills don,t need to take the homeless people from Cobourg. Recently heard about people tenting up the old railway right away past the torn down lumber store. Today on Quinte news there is a story and pictures of a break in on Centre St. Some one must know them.
What are you saying? You think all homeless people in your region are responsible for a single break in?
The homeless don't just drop in from the sky there are real humans who are in need, which describes an increasing number of people so it is no surprise the need should also be increasing.
Perhaps Google the term NIMBY used in an above comment, it's a pretty polite way of describing your reaction and the correlations you make.
No I don,t but is it just the start of these people migrating away from the big centres. Our neighbour had her man at the Campbellford Hospital recently where there was a man coursing laying on a stretcher. Two police officers in attendance .Two ambulances from Peterborough and the waiting room full. No room for a local that had apparent seizure. Perhaps some of these individuals that are hooked on drugs should be treated at a mental hospital, the govt. that legalized these drugs should make places available for them. Remember Whitby hospital. Does Campbellford hospital have Doctors to treat them. Perhaps you have the solution. Just saying.
When the mayors of towns decide to run for mayor, they’re choosing to represent ALL people in their municipalities whether they like it or not. That includes (especially!) the homeless and addicted. Busing people out of town may satisfy those citizens who are bothered by the “nuisance”, but in my opinion, it is not a workable solution. Whether it’s 5 homeless people or 100, every person deserves to have the option of a warm/cool place to stay in our increasingly uncomfortable climate. Look at what has worked in other cities and countries, listen to the advocates and professionals, and make it happen here. Can we help everyone? No, of course not, but we have to do better. A lot better.
The chaos in this region’s response to people’s need for shelter is astounding. Born and raised in Cobourg, and as a long-time street nurse in Toronto, I have followed the growing need in this region. People clearly need a proper 24/7 shelter not just the opening of a site based on temperature. The NIMBY ‘not in my backyard’ philosophy of your local politicians is not good public policy.
Couldn't agree more. Now, the warden is saying the county may not operate a warming hub and leave it to . . . well who knows.
I generally like the job Bob Crate is doing, but statements equivalent to "just stop being addicted and get control of your life" are deeply, shockingly, ignorant. Someone should hand him a dictionary, make him look up "addiction" and quiz him until he has a clear understanding of the meaning of the word. Once that's done we can move onto defining "mental health."
I invite him to show us just one person who has said "I really enjoy committing criminal acts to survive and support my addiction!" This might come as news to Mr. Crate, but I'm confident in predicting that most of those homeless people already have a strong desire to become functioning, if not contributing members of society. With the right support, some could. Without it, there is little hope.
There are many memoirs written by people who have recovered from their addictions and mental health issues. I invite Bob to sit down and read a handful of them. Maybe then he'll gain a better understanding of what we're facing and approach the problem with at least a sliver of compassion.
But no, our collective "wisdom" is that we're going to solve a mental health problem by bussing people to some place where they're out of sight? That's absolutely [redacted] brilliant! I suppose we just repeat that until they perish, right? Here's an idea [facetious]: let them sleep on the bus! We can just drive it around from community to community each day so they're only visible once every week or two! Great optics.
Healthcare is a provincial responsibility and our provincial government (and several predecessors) have gutted evidence-based facilities to help deal with the issue, so if we're going to bus them anywhere, how about to Doug Ford's house?
I was surprised by the tone of his comments, which is why I included them at some length.
I appreciate your comment - I thought what Crate said sounded like a shocking lack of knowledge and empathy about the causes of homelessness and addiction, but then so did shutting down the warming site, and so does the bussing idea, so you'd think there wasn't any good information or compassionate policy ideas available at all. How about all of these politicians open their ears to the experts and people with lived experience, rather than just the intolerant neighbours who don't realize how close they themselves are to health crisis or homelessness.
Well said, Alan. It's like Nancy Reagan's solution to others' addictions. "Just say 'no'."
It is great to see Mayor Crate speak up about the homeless people. Trent Hills don,t need to take the homeless people from Cobourg. Recently heard about people tenting up the old railway right away past the torn down lumber store. Today on Quinte news there is a story and pictures of a break in on Centre St. Some one must know them.
What are you saying? You think all homeless people in your region are responsible for a single break in?
The homeless don't just drop in from the sky there are real humans who are in need, which describes an increasing number of people so it is no surprise the need should also be increasing.
Perhaps Google the term NIMBY used in an above comment, it's a pretty polite way of describing your reaction and the correlations you make.
No I don,t but is it just the start of these people migrating away from the big centres. Our neighbour had her man at the Campbellford Hospital recently where there was a man coursing laying on a stretcher. Two police officers in attendance .Two ambulances from Peterborough and the waiting room full. No room for a local that had apparent seizure. Perhaps some of these individuals that are hooked on drugs should be treated at a mental hospital, the govt. that legalized these drugs should make places available for them. Remember Whitby hospital. Does Campbellford hospital have Doctors to treat them. Perhaps you have the solution. Just saying.