Build Lockers - Not Buggies

Supplying the homeless population with shopping carts is a ridiculous idea. How can we complain and complain about wanting the streets of Kelowna "cleaned up" and then oppose the action that has finally been taken? The members of the RCMP in Kelowna are trying to deal with this situation in the best way they can. A whole team has been set up specifically for this problem. They have listened to the concerns of the community, they have acted in a way they feel is appropriate. They enforce the new by-laws that we as a community have insisted be passed, and now we don't support them?

Obviously the issue of homelessness is not easily solved. It has proven to be a very uneasy ethical dilemma. Yet instead of contributing funds to "upstream" programs that may give the homeless population some hope for a decent future, we are wasting the money on shopping carts so that these people continue to live on the streets. I have never heard of such a ridiculous idea. Can we not think of a better way to use our money?

Maybe the members of the BCGEU and all other unions and community programs could put their heads together and come up with a decent idea. What about lockers at the Gospel Mission? Wouldn't this be a more appropriate action? The shopping carts would be gone (a huge eyesore for our beautiful city) and the homeless could have a place to store their valuables. Not only would their possessions be protected but this would also encourage them to use the services of the Gospel Mission rather than having to sleep in the back alleys, parks, and streets in order to protect their shopping carts.

This issue draws a very close resemblance to the issue of panhandling. We complain that the homeless are continually asking for money, yet we still dish it out to them on a daily basis. Maybe if the community was aware that on any given day a homeless person can get a free warm meal from a number of different places in the downtown, we wouldn't continue to supply handouts.

-S.H.