Action needed to address homeless situation

By Lethbridge Herald on December 8, 2022.

LH EDITORIAL BOARD

Fires lit in doorways, drug paraphernalia scattered along sidewalks, pedestrians being harassed for money.

This isn’t East Vancouver, it’s downtown Lethbridge.

Our downtown core, which many try to focus efforts and money revitalizing, has some serious problems that need to be dealt with now.

When the drug situation began escalating several years ago, many residents expressed fears about being downtown. Businesses lost customers because of those fears which escalated when the Supervised Consumption Site opened.

While a great idea in theory, in reality this effort to assist drug addicts was poorly executed and eventually was shut down and replaced with a mobile unit adjacent to Alpha House.

The atmosphere downtown changed swiftly with the closure of the SCS. It became clear this facility was the epicentre of the problems businesses, residents and shoppers were enduring.

With the closure of the SCS, relief swept over downtown. It felt safe to walk here again. There were fewer addicts doing their business in Galt Gardens and doorways or near convenience stores. There was less panhandling and less loitering. People felt safe again, especially after dark.

But the pendulum is swinging back in the other direction again. Those who head to work in the dark or leave in the dark don’t feel safe anymore. We know that from our experiences here, where once again some staff are carefully scanning the surroundings before exiting their vehicles enroute to work or before leaving the safety of the building and walking to their vehicles whether parked in our lot or on the street after their shifts end.

The homelessness situation is growing and it’s time for the province to take action. The provincial government – as we’ve often heard and printed in the paper – is the body responsible for shelters.

 But some in this community feel city council and administration need to shoulder some responsibility, as well. 

Perhaps the city could have diverted some of the money spent on the tent camp cleanups to provide temporary assistance to the unhoused, not all of whom – let’s be realistic – are actually homeless or merely victims of circumstance.

It’s time for government to dispense with the red tape and talk and come up with the funding to deal with the lack of shelter space and transitional housing in Lethbridge. 

The city can spend money and time conducting surveys and open houses until the cows proverbially come home but that will not solve the situation we are in.

Some question what housing will do without treatment to help those battling addictions regain their health and the ability to stay off the streets. Housing and treatment supports must go hand-in-hand to get people off the streets and take control of their lives again. The SCS was unfortunately a failed initiative that provided an easy opportunity for drug dealers to prey upon their vulnerable customers outside that facility’s doors.

All levels of government need to play a role in making our communities safe again. 

They need to offer the supports that will get the homeless off the streets. Legislation needs to be enacted which will keep drug dealers and other habitual criminals in jail instead of being released shortly after they are arrested to continue wreaking havoc upon our communities.

 But contrary to what some advocates may believe, the unhoused and addicted need to make an effort to help themselves, as well. 

They need to accept offers of treatment and follow through to the end. They need to be willing to abide by rules when they have the chance to get into supportive housing. Addiction can be beaten as many know; the fight can be a horrible one but it can be won. If addicts want to live and survive, they must be willing to wage that battle until they are victorious. 

They must develop the strength to say ‘no’ to predators such as dealers who care only about what little cash addicts can pay for their next fix. And they need help doing so. Providing the supports to give them a fighting chance is a start and we need those supports in Lethbridge.

Our downtown has much to offer – the space that is Festival Square being a prime example – but businesses, workers and visitors are paying the price for government inaction on addictions and homelessness.

Downtown, at least in some areas, no longer feels safe. Our street – 5 Avenue South – and the blocks from Scenic Drive to Stafford Drive are a testament to that. 

While more police officers will certainly help, it could take a year to get recruits hired and trained.

Downtown can’t wait that long. It’s time for immediate action if downtown is going to survive, never mind actually thrive.

Those in our community who may shout “NIMBY!” when they read this need to consider something: would they think it’s unfair to feel unsafe walking out their back door or front? 

Would they feel it’s fine to deal with daily defecation, sex acts and fires on their properties? If not, they have no business criticizing those who speak out about the issues being experienced downtown by people who work here and contribute to the economic well-being, not only of downtown, but the community itself.